Absolut

Is Absolut an ethical spirits brand?

Despite being one of the most well-known vodka brands, Swedish brand Absolut receives a below-benchmark score within The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Spirits sector. Absolut is owned by Pernod Ricard, the parent company to multiple large alcohol brands.

To find out how other brands compare against Absolut, you can visit the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. Our Ratings Table can help you to find out more about the criteria that a brand has to meet to achieve meeting our minimum Ethical Benchmark.

The Good Shopping Guide encourages all brands to follow the example set by our Ethically Accredited brands and introduce more sustainable policies.

Does Absolut have an Environmental Report?

Pernod Ricard, Absolut’s parent company has an Annual Report which contains a brief section about the environment but lacks targets and detail. However, it does have a Sustainability Roadmap available on its website. This page contains a variety of targets for environmental issues such as packaging, waste and carbon emissions as well as detailed case studies on these issues at various points in their supply chains.

As a result, Absolut receives a top rating under our Environmental Report category.

What does Absolut receive a bottom rating for?

For The Good Shopping Guide’s Political Donations category, Absolut receives a bottom rating. Within recent election cycles, Pernod Ricard donated over $180k in recent US election cycles, which is above the ethical threshold in our Political Donations category.

What can Absolut do to improve its score? 

Absolut’s below benchmark score on The Good Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table is the result of a calculation of multiple ethical criteria.

As the parent company, Pernod Ricard should reconsider its unethical animal testing policy. As the brand, Absolut should explore an organic range or obtain Vegan/Vegetarian certification.

Could your Spirits brand benefit from Ethical Accreditation? The Good Shopping Guide’s Ratings Tables can show you which other brands within the Ethical Spirits sector have achieved our ethics and sustainability certification. If you would like more information about our brand ethics certification, please contact us or fill out a rapid initial sustainability assessment form.