Frive

How ethical is Frive?

Frive is a ready meal delivery company which has not achieved The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on our Ethical Recipe Boxes Ratings Table and therefore cannot be classed as an ethical company based on its current practices and policies.

Companies that fall below the benchmark often lack transparency or demonstrate insufficient commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices. We recommend consumers consult our Ethical Recipe Boxes Ratings Table to find companies above the benchmark with Ethical Accreditation.

What does Frive do?

Frive is a UK-based ready meal delivery company founded in 2016 by George Taylor as Lions Prep. The company rebranded to Frive in 2024, shifting from a fitness-focused meal prep service to a mainstream ready-to-eat meal brand. Frive delivers chef-prepared meals on a subscription basis, with deliveries twice weekly. The company claims to have delivered over seven million meals since its launch.

Why does Frive fail to meet the benchmark?

Frive scores below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s benchmark, indicating significant gaps in ethical and sustainable business practices. The company provides minimal public information about its environmental impact, supply chain ethics, or comprehensive sustainability reporting.

While Frive makes claims about using “100% natural ingredients” and removing artificial additives, the company does not provide transparent, independently verified data about its sourcing practices, carbon footprint, or waste management. The stated goal of becoming “100% organic” remains aspirational with no published timeline or measurable targets.

The company acknowledges using recyclable and reusable packaging but provides no detailed reporting on packaging waste reduction, recycling rates, or lifecycle environmental impact. Delivery is stated to use “eco-friendly” packaging, but there is no evidence of carbon-neutral delivery options or published transportation emissions data.

Frive’s website emphasises sourcing British produce “where possible” but lacks transparency about what proportion of ingredients are actually British-sourced, organic, or fair trade certified. There is no public information about worker welfare standards, living wages, or ethical treatment of workers throughout the supply chain.

The UK household food waste sector faces significant challenges, and while meal delivery services can reduce household food waste, Frive has not published data demonstrating its own waste reduction achievements or environmental credentials compared to industry standards.

What can Frive do to improve?

To meet The GOOD Shopping Guide’s benchmark, Frive would need to demonstrate substantial improvements across multiple areas. The company should publish comprehensive sustainability reports with independently verified data on carbon emissions, waste management, and environmental impact. Transparent reporting on supply chain ethics, including worker welfare standards and fair trade practices, would be essential.

Frive should provide clear evidence of carbon-neutral or carbon-offset delivery options, detailed packaging sustainability metrics, and measurable progress toward stated goals such as 100% organic ingredients. The company would benefit from third-party certification such as B Corp status or similar independent verification of ethical claims.

If Frive applies for Ethical Accreditation, The GOOD Shopping Guide would be able to offer guidance on specific improvements needed. Achieving Ethical Accreditation would allow Frive to display The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Mark on its packaging and marketing materials, making it instantly recognisable to consumers as a verified ethical brand. This mark helps shoppers quickly identify companies that have been independently audited and certified for their commitment to ethical and sustainable practices, removing the guesswork from ethical purchasing decisions.

Consumers seeking ethical ready meal options should consult companies above the benchmark on our Ethical Recipe Boxes Ratings Table, particularly those with Ethical Accreditation. Find out more about how we rate brands on ethical criteria.