How ethical is Golden Hooves?
Golden Hooves, a dairy producer (milk and cheese) owned by First Milk, is one of The Good Shopping Guide’s top-rated ethical brands and is featured on our list of the Top 200 Ethical Businesses.
Golden Hooves is passionate about regenerative farming, reversing biodiversity loss and sequestering carbon. Its cheese is produced with 100% regenerative milk and its mission is to encourage more people to make a positive impact on the planet through food, by accelerating the conversation about regeneration. Animal welfare is also a top priority which is reflected in its Animal Welfare Policy.
Although Golden Hooves does not appear on our ethical rating tables, its ethical status has been independently verified by The Good Shopping Guide. We encourage other companies to follow Golden Hooves’s example and adopt more ethical policies and practices.
In which areas does Golden Hooves perform well?
First Milk states that all of its members are assured to Red Tractor Dairy standards, which is verified by independent auditing to ensure compliance. The standards require farmers to ensure animals in their care are kept according to the five freedoms and specifically cover safe housing, handling, adequate food and water, animal health record keeping, treatment of sick animals, rearing of youngstock, use of medicines, husbandry procedures and staff training and transportation.
Additionally, all milk used in Golden Hooves products is produced according to extra “Pledge” commitments made by its members that includes ensuring all cows have access to pasture when weather and ground conditions are suitable (minimum of 120 days pa), guaranteeing that no healthy animal shall be euthanised on farm, and that members implement an annual Animal Health and Welfare plan drawn up in conjunction with their vet.
What makes Golden Hooves so sustainable?
First Milk has an Annual Report 2022 with a Sustainability section which contains several targets in areas such as renewable energy and carbon emissions. One of the main strands of its net zero strategy is the use of regenerative agriculture. First Milk will be working with Agricarbon on a pilot project to prove soil carbon levels and help achieve net zero across primary agriculture. Golden Hooves also states in its report that it is looking to play its part in restoring balance to nature by taking an holistic approach enhancing ecosystems and giving back to the land.
How did Golden Hooves attain Ethical Accreditation?
Golden Hooves has attained Ethical Accreditation from The Good Shopping Guide. This involved an application process and a full review of the brand’s ethical policies and practices. Golden Hooves is subject to regular review to ensure the company maintains high ethical standards.
As a result, Golden Hooves is permitted to use our Good Shopping Guide Ethical mark, which certifies the brand’s ethical status and allows consumers to recognise Golden Hooves as an ethical brand.
Visit our ratings tables to see which brands have achieved The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation. To find out more about how it works, please get in touch or complete a Free Initial Assessment form.