Anchor

How ethical is Anchor?

Anchor is a brand of butter which has a below-benchmark score on The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Butter, Margarine & Spreads Ratings Table. Although Anchor has not yet met our ethical benchmark, we hope to see the brand make progress in the future.

Find out more about the ethical issues facing the Butter, Margarine & Spreads sector.

What does Anchor do?

Anchor is a brand of block and spreadable butter which is owned by Arla Foods.

In which areas does Anchor perform poorly?

We awarded a bottom rating to Anchor for Organic, as it does not have any certification for its products. It receives a middle rating for our GM criterion, as it is not clear from its website whether GMOs are present in Anchor’s products. Find out more about how we rate by exploring our ethical criteria.

Past Criticisms of Anchor’s record

An investigation by ITV News, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, and Greenpeace Unearthed has linked several brands, including those owned by Arla Foods, to the destruction of vast tracts of Brazilian forest through soya farming.

In which areas does Anchor score well for its ethics?

Anchor’s parent company, Arla Foods, has a number of Sustainability pages on its website containing lots of targets in areas including carbon emissions and food waste, so Anchor receives a top rating for its Environmental Report.

We found no public record criticisms of Anchor relating to Fossil Fuels, Animal Welfare or Armaments, so it scores well for these criteria.

How can Anchor improve its ethical rating?

The below-benchmark score that Anchor is awarded with on The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Butter, Margarine & Spreads Ratings Table is the result of an evaluation of multiple ethical criteria.

To reach our minimum ethical benchmark and qualify for Ethical Accreditation, Anchor has some issues to resolve, including its lack of Organic certification, and unclear GMO policy.

Were you aware that your brand could benefit from Ethical Accreditation? Brands accredited by The Good Shopping Guide can display our ethical mark, showcasing to consumers that it is an ethical and sustainable brand. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact us or complete a Free Initial Assessment form.