Marks & Spencer

How ethical is Marks & Spencer?

Marks & Spencer is a British grocery brand which sells bananas sourced from the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. Marks & Spencer has been given a below-benchmark score on The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Bananas Ratings Table. Although it has not yet met our ethical benchmark, we hope to see Marks & Spencer make progress in future.

Read more about the issues facing the Ethical Bananas sector and find out which companies have achieved accreditation for their commitment to being ethical and sustainable.

In which areas does Marks & Spencer perform poorly?

Marks & Spencer is awarded a bottom score for our Organic criterion as it has no certification. It also gets a poor rating for Animal Welfare, as it was recently alleged that some supermarkets which state they only sell eggs from free-range hens, are buying other fowl reared in cruel cages.

In which areas does Marks & Spencer score well for its ethics?

Marks & Spencer is given a middle rating for our Fair Trade criterion as its bananas are only partially Fairtrade. It also gets a top score for its Environmental Report which contains lots of clear targets.

We found no criticisms of Marks & Spencer relating to; GM, Nuclear Power, or Fossil Fuels, so it scores well for these criteria.

How can Marks & Spencer improve its ethical rating?

The below-benchmark score that Marks & Spencer is awarded is the result of an evaluation of multiple ethical criteria. To reach our minimum benchmark score and qualify for Ethical Accreditation, Marks & Spencer has some issues to resolve including its poor Animal Welfare record.

Were you aware that your brand could benefit from Ethical Accreditation? Brands accredited by The Good Shopping Guide can display our Ethical Mark, showcasing to consumers that it is an ethical and sustainable brand. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact us or complete a Free Initial Assessment form.