Britain’s most and least ethical garden suppliers

The Good Shopping Guide has published ethical rankings on 22 garden suppliers for the first time ever.  As always, the scores are based on an assessment of the companies’ practices towards the Environment, Animals and People.

Homebase received the worst overall score of 45, whilst The Range, which received a score of 60, came second last. Kabloom, with a score of 98, received the best rating overall. Other top scoring brands include Crocus, Patch Plants, Sarah Raven and Gardening Express. Check out our Garden Suppliers Ethical Comparison Table for the full breakdown.

Homebase’s low score is primarily a result of its ownership by Hilco Global, a multinational financial services company that operates across many different industries. Hilco Global is involved in controversial business practices, such as donating to political parties and having links to the Aerospace & Defense industry.

Additionally, both Homebase and The Range received the lowest score in the Environmental Report category, as neither company has a detailed report containing clear and concrete targets for improving their sustainability performance. This means Homebase and The Range do not provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate that they are working to reduce their environmental impact.

On a positive note, we were pleased to see high scores from companies like Kabloom, Crocus and Patch Plants. All three of these companies received a top rating for their Environmental Report, as their sustainability information reflects a clear commitment to being eco-friendly businesses. Additionally, Kabloom and Crocus have taken strides towards becoming peat free.

See full Garden Suppliers Ethical Comparison Table here.