New Research: Discover the Top Ethical Pet Grooming Brands

Discover the Most Ethical Pet Grooming Brands in Our Newly Published Ratings Table

The GOOD Shopping Guide has just released brand-new research of 21 brands in our Pet Grooming Ethical Comparison Table, allowing consumers to compare the most and least ethical Pet Grooming brands on the market.

Pet Grooming products may be everyday essentials for pet owners and professionals, but the sector still faces significant ethical and environmental challenges. Our latest ratings reveal that some mainstream grooming brands are far less sustainable than their marketing suggests.

Which Pet Grooming brands have been assessed?

Our new Pet Grooming Ethical Comparison Table features a wide range of brands producing grooming products, including:

• Shampoos and conditioners
• Detangling sprays
• Paw and coat treatments
• Grooming wipes
• Specialist grooming formulas for sensitive skin

We have included well-known household names alongside smaller, sustainability‑focused newcomers. Explore how your favourite brands score and discover which options are best for ethical consumers who prioritise animal welfare, people-friendly policies, and environmental impact.

What are the key ethical and sustainable issues in the Pet Grooming market?

The Pet Grooming industry faces several important ethical concerns, particularly around ingredients, packaging, and animal welfare. For a more in-depth exploration of these issues, read our Pet Grooming feature here.

The environmental impact of pet ownership is not to be underestimated. Earth.org claims that a large dog can emit upwards of 2,500kg of CO2 emissions, twice as much as the emissions from driving a family car, per year. Many mainstream grooming brands still rely heavily on single‑use plastic bottles, non‑recyclable pumps, and mixed‑material packaging. As with the wider beauty and personal‑care sector, a large proportion of this packaging ends up in landfill.

Brands that are taking meaningful steps towards sustainability tend to offer:

• Recycled or recyclable plastic
• Aluminium bottles
• Refillable systems
• Concentrated or waterless grooming products to reduce packaging volume

However, not all “eco-friendly” claims stand up to scrutiny. Some brands promote sustainability while offering limited transparency about their materials and processes. Unregulated terms in the pet grooming industry include “hypoallergenic,” “green,” “natural plant extracts” and “itch-free”.

While Pet Grooming products are not typically tested on animals in the UK, some parent companies still engage in animal testing in other markets. Our ratings take these broader corporate practices into account so that you get the full picture.

How do we research ethical Pet Grooming brands?

All brands featured in our Pet Grooming Ethical Comparison Table have been assessed according to The GOOD Shopping Guide’s categories covering the Environment, Animals, and People.

Using thirteen research criteria, we investigate each brand and its parent company. This includes:

• Environmental reporting
• Animal welfare commitments
• Organic certification
• Public record criticisms
• Irresponsible marketing

For a full breakdown of what each of our criterion entails, take a look at our How We Rate article.

Which Pet Grooming brands should you look out for?

As always, the strongest choices are our top‑scoring Accredited brands, which have exceeded our ethical benchmark. WildWash and HOWND both demonstrate strong commitments to sustainability and animal welfare and have been awarded Ethical Innovator status in recognition of their deeply embedded ethical values.

Other brands that reach our ethical benchmark can be found in the green section of our table.

Some readers may be disappointed to learn that several well‑known Pet Grooming brands fail to meet our ethical benchmark due to issues such as weak environmental reporting, criticisms, and political donations.

You can explore all of the GSG Ethical Scores and their breakdowns in our Pet Grooming Ethical Comparison Table, or browse individual brand profiles to learn more.