Whitworths

How ethical is Whitworths?

Whitworths is a brand of sugar which has a below-benchmark score on The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Sugar Ratings Table. Although Whitworths has not yet met our ethical benchmark, we hope to see the brand make progress in the future.

We would have extra confidence in Whitworths if it submitted itself to apply for Ethical Accreditation, whereby The Good Shopping Guide would make further detailed assessment and recommendations for ethical improvement.

Find out more about the ethical issues facing the Ethical Sugar sector.

What does Whitworths do?

Whitworths was founded at the end of the 19th Century and initially traded dried fruit and flour as well as sugar.

In which areas does Whitworths perform poorly?

Whitworths was marked down under our criteria for Organic, GM and Fair Trade due to a lack of certification. It gets a middle rating for Environmental Report as its parent company, Tereos Group, does have a Sustainability Report but it is lacking in detail.

Find out more about how we rate by exploring our ethical criteria.

Past Criticisms of Whitworths’ record

Whitworths’ parent company, Tereos Group, was ordered to pay $10.2m for polluting a river flowing from France to Belgium in 2020, killing thousands of fish. In 2019 the group was also accused of maintaining deliveries of sorbitol, used in the manufacturing of weapons, to Syria.

In which areas does Whitworths score well for its ethics?

We found no public record criticisms of Whitworths relating to Nuclear, Fossil Fuels, Animal Welfare, Political Donations or Armaments so it scores well for these criteria.

How can Whitworths improve its ethical rating?

The below-benchmark score that Whitworths is awarded with on The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Sugar Ratings Table is the result of an evaluation of multiple ethical criteria. To reach our minimum ethical benchmark and qualify for Ethical Accreditation, Whitworths has some issues to resolve, including its lack of certification and basic Environmental Report. If it applies for Ethical Accreditation, The Good Shopping Guide will be able to give Whitworths some guidance to improve on these areas.

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.