The Cookaway

How ethical is The Cookaway?

The Cookaway is a recipe box delivery company which has achieved an acceptable score on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Recipe Boxes Ratings Table but Ethical Accreditation has not yet been achieved. This is important because it provides additional approval on the company’s wider ethical, sustainable, and social policies and records.

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

What does The Cookaway do?

The Cookaway is a UK-based recipe box delivery company founded in 2018 by Sahil and Nidhi Verma. The company delivers recipe boxes featuring dishes from various countries including India, Greece, Malaysia, Japan, Spain and Britain. The Cookaway offers both subscription and one-time purchase options. The company has raised $3 million in funding and launched larder kits with Ocado in 2025.

In which areas does The Cookaway perform well?

The Cookaway performs adequately in packaging sustainability. The company states that 100% of its packaging can be recycled through council facilities, with 95% made from natural and renewable resources. However, 5% remains plastic-based material.

The company sources ingredients from suppliers and offers vegetarian and vegan options across its menu range. Recipe boxes are designed by chefs with relevant culinary backgrounds. The above benchmark score that The Cookaway is awarded on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Recipe Boxes Ratings Table is the result of an evaluation of multiple ethical criteria. Find out more about how we rate.

What can The Cookaway do to improve its ethical score?

The Cookaway lacks transparency in several key areas. The company provides limited public information about carbon-neutral delivery options, energy consumption in its operations, or comprehensive environmental impact data. The UK household food waste sector faces significant challenges, and while recipe boxes can reduce food waste through pre-portioned ingredients, The Cookaway has not published detailed reporting on its own waste management practices or carbon footprint.

Greater transparency around supplier relationships, worker welfare standards throughout the supply chain, and detailed environmental practices would significantly strengthen The Cookaway’s ethical credentials. The company would benefit from publishing comprehensive sustainability reports with measurable targets and progress updates, similar to industry leaders in the sector.

If it applies for Ethical Accreditation, The GOOD Shopping Guide would be able to offer guidance to enable The Cookaway to improve its score. Achieving Ethical Accreditation would allow The Cookaway 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.

If you’re interested in learning more about achieving Ethical Accreditation for your brand, please contact us or complete a Free Initial Assessment form.