Crocus

How ethical is Crocus?

Crocus is an online garden centre and plant nursery which has achieved The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on our Ethical Garden Suppliers Ratings Table. With a score of 94 out of 100, Crocus demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices, achieving good ratings across the majority of criteria assessed by The GOOD Shopping Guide and earning recognition as an Ethical Innovator.

Crocus has not yet received The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation, an editorial endorsement awarded to brands which achieve a high ethical score across our multi-criteria assessment. Receiving this endorsement would further strengthen the brand’s standing as a recognised ethical choice for consumers in the garden suppliers sector.

What does Crocus do?

Crocus.co.uk Ltd was founded in 2000 and is based at its nursery in Windlesham, Surrey, where it grows and cares for over 7,000 plant varieties — the largest range available from any UK online garden centre. The brand supplies plants, gardening tools, outdoor living products, and accessories directly to consumers across the UK. Crocus has grown plants for show gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show every year since its founding, working with leading garden designers to secure multiple gold medals. The company also operates a garden centre at Dorney Court in Berkshire.

Why does Crocus perform well ethically?

Crocus achieves good ratings across the majority of criteria assessed by The GOOD Shopping Guide. The brand receives good ratings for environmental reporting, fossil fuels, and packaging, reflecting its commitment to environmental transparency and responsible packaging practices. Crocus receives good ratings for animal welfare, armaments, irresponsible marketing, and political donations, and has no documented public record criticisms. The brand has achieved recognition as an Ethical Innovator, reflecting its approach to sustainable gardening and its stated commitment to driving sustainability improvements across its operations.

What could improve Crocus’s ethical positioning?

Crocus receives an acceptable rather than good rating for peat free status. Completing the transition to peat-free growing media across all product lines would bring this rating in line with the strong environmental performance demonstrated elsewhere.

Obtaining The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation would provide editorial recognition of Crocus’s ethical standards and make it easier for consumers to identify the brand as an editorially endorsed choice in the garden suppliers sector. For a brand of this calibre, with a score placing it among the strongest performers in this sector, this endorsement would be a natural complement to its existing credentials.

Crocus represents one of the stronger ethical profiles in the garden suppliers sector and is a straightforward recommendation for consumers seeking an extensive range of plants from a UK nursery with demonstrated sustainability commitments. Consumers can explore how it compares to other brands on our Ethical Garden Suppliers Ratings Table and learn more about how we rate brands on ethical criteria.