J. Parker’s

How ethical is J. Parker’s?

J. Parker’s is a mail-order bulb and plant retailer which has fallen below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on our Ethical Garden Suppliers Ratings Table. J. Parker’s below-benchmark performance is driven by poor ratings for environmental reporting, peat free status, and packaging.

What does J. Parker’s do?

J. Parker’s was founded in Manchester in 1933 by Martin Parker, who moved from Beverwijk in the Netherlands to start a mail-order bulb business during the Great Depression. Now a fourth-generation family business, J. Parker’s is the UK’s leading mail-order supplier of bulbs and plants, operating from its headquarters in Old Trafford and a large production facility in Anwick, Lincolnshire. The company supplies spring and summer flowering bulbs, bedding plants, perennials, shrubs, roses, and fruit directly to UK consumers, and also operates a wholesale division serving councils, stately homes, and trade customers.

Why does J. Parker’s fall below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s benchmark?

J. Parker’s below-benchmark performance is driven by poor ratings across three environmental criteria, with no acceptable ratings across any criterion assessed. The poor rating for environmental report is the most significant. For a business with over 90 years of history and operations spanning Manchester, Lincolnshire, and now Ireland, the absence of a published environmental report means that J. Parker’s sustainability commitments and practices are not transparently disclosed. Publishing a comprehensive environmental report would address this gap and provide accountability commensurate with the company’s scale and heritage.

J. Parker’s also receives a poor rating for peat free status. As one of the UK’s leading bulb and plant suppliers, J. Parker’s is well placed to lead its supply chain towards peat-free growing media. The UK government has committed to phasing out peat compost sales to amateur gardeners, and transitioning to peat-free alternatives would align J. Parker’s with the direction of the wider horticultural sector.

The poor rating for packaging is a further area requiring improvement. Strengthening packaging standards across its mail-order operations would bring this rating in line with the stronger performance demonstrated across other criteria.

J. Parker’s does perform well across several criteria, achieving good ratings for fossil fuels, animal welfare, armaments, irresponsible marketing, and political donations, with no documented public record criticisms. These reflect solid ethical conduct across governance criteria. However, the combination of poor ratings across environmental reporting, peat free status, and packaging means that J. Parker’s falls below the benchmark required by The GOOD Shopping Guide.

Consumers seeking garden suppliers that meet The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark are encouraged to consult our Ethical Garden Suppliers Ratings Table and our guide to ethical garden suppliers, and seek out brands that hold The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation. Our how we rate page explains the criteria used to assess all brands in this sector.