Sarah Raven

How ethical is Sarah Raven?

Sarah Raven is a garden supplies brand which has achieved The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on our Ethical Garden Suppliers Ratings Table. With a score of 82 out of 100, Sarah Raven demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical business practices across the majority of criteria assessed, though one environmental area presents a meaningful opportunity for improvement.

Sarah Raven has not yet received The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation, an editorial endorsement awarded to brands which achieve a high ethical score across our multi-criteria assessment. Receiving this endorsement would strengthen the brand’s standing as a recognised ethical choice for consumers in the garden suppliers sector.

What does Sarah Raven do?

Sarah Raven’s Cutting Garden Ltd was founded in 1999 and is based at Perch Hill Farm in East Sussex, a working garden where products are trialled before commercial release. The brand produces and supplies seeds, plants, bulbs, cut flowers, gardening tools, and equipment, with a particular focus on cut-flower cultivation, pollinator-friendly planting, and biodiversity. Products range from dahlia collections and sweet pea seed ranges to vegetable seeds, perennial plants, and seasonal bulbs. The brand also hosts gardening courses and events at Perch Hill.

Why does Sarah Raven perform well ethically?

Sarah Raven achieves good ratings across the majority of criteria assessed by The GOOD Shopping Guide. The brand receives good ratings for environmental reporting, fossil fuels, and packaging, reflecting its commitment to environmental transparency and responsible packaging practices. Sarah Raven receives good ratings for animal welfare, armaments, irresponsible marketing, and political donations, and has no documented public record criticisms. These ratings reflect a brand whose core ethos is built around supporting pollinators, biodiversity, and environmentally conscious gardening.

What could improve Sarah Raven’s ethical positioning?

Sarah Raven receives a poor rating for peat free status. This is a particularly notable gap for a brand whose identity is rooted in ecological gardening, biodiversity, and support for pollinators. Peatlands are among the UK’s most biodiverse and carbon-rich habitats, and their extraction for horticultural use represents a direct environmental cost. The UK government has committed to phasing out peat compost sales to amateur gardeners. For a brand that advocates for ecologically responsible gardening, transitioning to peat-free growing media across its product range would bring this criterion in line with the values the brand promotes and the strong environmental performance demonstrated elsewhere.

Obtaining The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation would provide editorial recognition of Sarah Raven’s ethical standards and make it easier for consumers to identify the brand as an editorially endorsed choice in the garden suppliers sector.

Sarah Raven is a strong choice for consumers seeking pollinator-friendly, biodiversity-focused garden products from an established UK brand with a genuine environmental ethos. Consumers can explore how it compares to other brands on our Ethical Garden Suppliers Ratings Table and learn more about how we rate brands on ethical criteria.