Arla

How ethical is Arla?

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

We would have extra confidence in Arla if it submitted itself to apply for Ethical Accreditation, whereby The Good Shopping Guide would make further detailed assessment and recommendations for ethical improvement.

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

What does Arla do?

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

In which areas does Arla perform poorly?

We awarded a bottom rating to Arla 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 Arla’s products. Find out more about how we rate by exploring our ethical criteria.

Past Criticisms of Arla’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 Arla score well for its ethics?

Arla’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 Arla receives a top rating for its Environmental Report.

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

How can Arla improve its ethical rating?

The below-benchmark score that Arla 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, Arla has some issues to resolve, including its lack of Organic certification, and unclear GMO policy. If it applies for Ethical Accreditation, The Good Shopping Guide will be able to give Arla some guidance to improve on these areas.

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.