Waitrose

Is Waitrose an ethical supermarket brand?

Waitrose, one of the UK’s biggest supermarket brands is unfortunately classed as unethical within The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Supermarkets sector.

Despite not yet reaching our minim Ethical Benchmark, we still encourage Waitrose to apply for Ethical Accreditation. After receiving its application, The Good Shopping Guide would then provide Waitrose with a thorough evaluation and suggestions on how it can improve its ethics and sustainability score.

Do you want to find out how other popular UK supermarkets within the Ethical Supermarkets sector compare against Waitrose? Visit the Supermarkets Ethical Ratings Table. Our Ratings Table can help you discover more about the criteria that a brand must reach before it can meet our minimum Ethical Benchmark.

Before submitting an application for Ethical Accreditation, The Good Shopping Guide suggests that all brands follow in the footsteps of our top-rated brands and introduce more ethical practices.

Does Waitrose sell any Fairtrade or Organic products?

Within its Essential range, Waitrose sells Fairtrade bananas. Waitrose also sells organic products which have been certified by either The Soil Association or the EU Leaf.

As a result, it receives a top score in The Good Shopping Guide’s Fairtrade and Organic categories.

What does Waitrose receive a bottom rating for?

Under our Human Rights category, Waitrose receives a bottom score. At an Ealing factory, a worker named Viraj who was making sushi for major British supermarkets (including Waitrose) says that bosses threw away the tips of two of his fingers after an industrial accident. He claims the bosses suggested he take a Bolt taxi to the hospital, rather than calling for an ambulance.

Viraj was not given sick pay for his time off work and was instead told to use his annual leave. As a result of the accident, Viraj is now permanently missing parts of two of his fingers.

What can Waitrose do to improve its score? 

Waitrose’s score on The Good Shopping Guide’s Supermarkets Ethical Ratings Table is the result of a calculation of multiple ethical criteria.

Even though its below-benchmark score means that Waitrose cannot yet be classed as one of the UK’s most sustainable supermarkets, we still encourage it to apply for Ethical Accreditation. The Good Shopping Guide would give Waitrose an assessment and some guidance on how it can improve its score and become one of our most ethical supermarket brands.

Would your Supermarket brand benefit from Ethical Accreditation? The Good Shopping Guide’s Ratings Tables show which other brands within the Ethical Supermarkets sector have received our ethics and sustainability accreditation. If you would like more information, contact us or fill out a rapid initial assessment form.