Gousto

How ethical is Gousto?

Gousto is a recipe box 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.

Despite holding B Corp certification, Gousto’s score falls short of the benchmark. Companies that fall below the benchmark often lack sufficient transparency or demonstrate inadequate 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 Gousto do?

Gousto is a UK-based recipe box delivery company founded in 2012 by Timo Boldt and James Carter. The company delivers pre-portioned ingredients and recipe cards on a subscription basis. Gousto has raised $541 million in funding across 14 rounds and achieved unicorn status with a valuation of $1.7 billion as of January 2022. The company operates fulfilment centres and delivers approximately 250,000 meal kits per week.

Why does Gousto fail to meet the benchmark?

Gousto scores below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s benchmark despite its B Corp certification, indicating significant gaps in ethical performance. The company’s B Corp score of 83.4, while above the certification threshold of 80, does not translate to meeting the more comprehensive ethical standards assessed by The GOOD Shopping Guide.

While Gousto claims that its packaging is 72% recyclable, this means 28% of packaging is not recyclable, which remains a substantial environmental concern. The company has stated an aim for 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging by 2025 in line with the UK Plastics Pact, but published progress toward this target is unclear. The company’s packaging still includes non-composite plastics and other materials requiring specialist disposal.

Gousto states it offsets carbon emissions and aims for net-zero by 2030, but there is limited independently verified public reporting on actual emissions reductions achieved to date. A study by Foodsteps claimed Gousto meals produce 23% fewer carbon emissions than supermarket equivalents, but this comparison depends on variables that may not reflect all customer circumstances. The company operates fulfilment centres using renewable energy, yet comprehensive lifecycle emissions data from farm to delivery is not transparently published.

The company emphasises responsible sourcing and supplier relationships but provides limited public information about fair trade certification, living wages throughout the supply chain, or independent verification of worker welfare standards. The UK household food waste sector faces significant challenges, and while Gousto claims almost zero food waste in fulfilment centres and customer homes through pre-portioning, detailed waste management data is not publicly available for independent verification.

What can Gousto do to improve?

To meet The GOOD Shopping Guide’s benchmark, Gousto would need to demonstrate substantial improvements in transparency and independently verified ethical performance. The company should publish comprehensive sustainability reports with third-party verified data on waste management, actual carbon emissions reductions (not just offsets), and detailed progress toward packaging goals.

Gousto should provide transparent reporting on supply chain ethics, including evidence of fair trade practices, living wage commitments, and independent audits of worker welfare throughout its supply chain. The company would benefit from publishing detailed lifecycle environmental impact assessments and demonstrating measurable progress toward stated goals rather than aspirational targets.

Enhanced transparency around the remaining 28% of non-recyclable packaging, concrete timelines for achieving 100% recyclable materials, and independently verified carbon footprint data would strengthen Gousto’s ethical credentials. The company should also provide clearer information about what proportion of ingredients are organic, locally sourced, or fair trade certified.

If Gousto applies for Ethical Accreditation, The GOOD Shopping Guide would be able to offer guidance on specific improvements needed. Achieving Ethical Accreditation would allow Gousto 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 recipe box 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.