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Ethical brand ratings and accreditation since 2001

Eco Friendly Fridge Freezers

Which fridge freezer brands are the most ethical and sustainable? For the answer, see our Ethical Fridge Freezers Ratings Table to compare brands’ ethical scores.

Eco Friendly Fridge Freezers

Ethical issues to consider before buying an energy-efficient fridge freezer

The Good Shopping Guide has been independently researching and rating brands on ethical and sustainability criteria since 2001. Fridge freezers are one of the most energy-intensive household appliances, running continuously every day of the year. With the UK’s leading fridge freezer brands varying widely in their ethical and environmental performance, choosing the right brand matters as much as choosing the right model.

Our fridges and our freezers improve our food hygiene standards. They preserve our food and prevent us from creating too much food waste. However, they can also be energy-guzzlers if you are not using an energy-efficient fridge freezer. Our guide discusses the benefits of purchasing an eco-friendly fridge freezer. It also investigates the ethical issues behind the UK’s leading fridge freezer brands.

It is crucial to consider the ethics of the fridge freezer brands you purchase from. Some of the UK’s leading fridge freezer brands are involved in unethical practices such as poor environmental reporting, human rights abuses, and involvement in military activity. It is not worth purchasing an eco-friendly fridge freezer from an unethical company. The benefits of the product may be outweighed by the bad environmental practices of the brand.

Our Ethical Fridge Freezers Ratings Table gives you all the information you need to choose an eco-friendly fridge freezer from an ethical brand. Be reassured that your purchase is not harming the planet or people. The most ethical fridge freezer brands can be found in the green section of the table. Our research assesses brands across Environment, Animals, and People criteria — see our How We Rate page for full details of our methodology.

Are fridge freezers bad for the environment?

Fridge freezers are some of the only appliances that need to be switched on 24 hours of the day. This increases their overall energy consumption and the carbon emissions associated with energy usage. A study from the University of Birmingham states that the cooling industry is responsible for 10% of global CO2 emissions. We therefore recommend purchasing an eco-friendly fridge freezer to minimise your carbon footprint.

Beyond energy consumption, the refrigerant gases used inside fridge freezers can themselves be a significant environmental concern. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) — which were banned in new domestic fridge freezers sold in the EU from 2015 — have a global warming potential thousands of times greater than CO2. When purchasing a new fridge freezer, look for models using natural refrigerants such as isobutane (R600a), which have a far lower environmental impact. Brands such as Miele clearly state that their refrigeration products are HFC-free.

American-style fridge freezers, which have the freezer beside the fridge rather than above or below it, are particularly bad for energy efficiency. According to the Energy Saving Trust, these types of fridge freezers can cost up to three times more to run. This means they are not only using a lot more energy, but they will also cost you a lot more in electricity bills. Avoid these models if you want to find an energy-efficient fridge freezer.

Some fridge freezer brands fall short on environmental policies. Some brands refuse to be transparent about their environmental impact. Out of 30 brands assessed, only 16 brands received a top rating for their Environmental Report. Check our Ethical Fridge Freezers Ratings Table for more information about the environmental impact of fridge freezer brands. This is very disappointing, and we hope to see many fridge freezer brands improve their environmental commitments in the future. Choose from brands that receive a top rating for their Environmental Report if you want to purchase an eco-friendly fridge freezer from a brand that clearly shows its commitment to tackling climate change.

Our research: fridge freezer brands and unethical practices

The Good Shopping Guide’s independent research into the sector reveals other unethical practices that many fridge freezer brands are involved in. If you want to purchase from ethical fridge freezer brands, avoid these brands.

Several fridge freezer brands are involved in the defence and weapons industry. This means that some brands are selling military equipment to governments or military organisations, either directly or through a subsidiary of their parent company. These brands have been marked down under our Armaments category. This includes brands such as LG, Beko, Blomberg and Grundig.

Fortunately, there are also ethical options, including CDA, which was the first kitchen appliance brand to achieve Ethical Accreditation from The Good Shopping Guide.

Ethical fridge and freezers

Supply chains and conflict minerals

Beyond the environmental and armaments issues, the supply chains behind fridge freezers raise further ethical concerns that are often overlooked. Electronic components in home appliances — including circuit boards, compressors, and motors — can contain minerals such as tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold, collectively known as conflict minerals. These are frequently mined in regions such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where extraction has been linked to human rights abuses and armed conflict. The Good Shopping Guide’s research found that several fridge freezer brands have no conflict mineral policy at all, meaning consumers have no assurance that the components in their appliances are free from these supply chain risks. When choosing a fridge freezer, look for brands that demonstrate supply chain transparency and have published credible conflict minerals policies. Our Ethical Fridge Freezers Ratings Table helps you identify which brands are making progress in this area.

Our advice: how to find the most energy-efficient fridge freezer

Fridge freezers are more energy efficient now than ever before. The European Commission estimates that fridge freezers will be 64% more energy efficient by 2030.

Look for the kilowatt hour (kWh) figure displayed on the product’s energy label when purchasing an energy-efficient fridge freezer. The higher the figure, the more energy a product uses. Simply compare different energy-efficient fridge freezer options and see which one has the lowest kWh figure.

Pay attention to the rating on the energy label, which is now ranked from A–G (with A being the best). The energy labelling system has recently been updated to be stricter on companies and encourage greater energy efficiency. Remember that a new D-rated product is similar to an old A+++ rating.

The energy efficiency rating is also assessed in relation to the size of the appliance. So, if you have two products with an A rating, the smaller model will be a more energy-efficient fridge freezer.

It is therefore important to buy a fridge freezer that suits your needs. Do not purchase one that is bigger than necessary, or you will be wasting energy and money. It is also worth considering the longevity and repairability of your appliance. Under the UK’s Right to Repair regulations, which came into force in 2021, manufacturers of domestic appliances are required to make spare parts available for up to ten years — supporting longer product lifetimes and reducing the environmental impact of premature replacement. When your old fridge freezer reaches the end of its life, ensure it is disposed of responsibly via a registered WEEE recycler, as the refrigerants inside must be safely recovered.

Ethical kitchen appliances: the bigger picture

Choosing an ethical fridge freezer is one part of building a more sustainable kitchen. The Good Shopping Guide has been independently rating kitchen appliance brands since 2001 across a range of categories. See our Ethical Cookers Ratings Table and Ethical Washing Machines Ratings Table to apply the same independent ethical criteria to your other large appliance purchases. For businesses in the kitchen and home sector that want their ethical credentials independently recognised, find out more about The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation.

See our Ethical Fridge Freezers Ratings Table to compare brands’ ethical scores.

The Good Shopping Guide has compiled a huge number of individual brand page articles, comprising of our exclusive and independent research, and detailing more information. Click on any brand name to read our in-depth research on the sustainability policies, certifications, practices and ethics of hundreds of brands.

Miele, Amica, CDA, Kenwood, Smeg, Swan, AEG, Belling, Electrolux, Lec, Montpellier, Prima, Stoves, Zanussi, Beko, Blomberg, Grundig, Fridgemaster, Hisense, Hotpoint, Indesit, Whirlpool, Bosch, Gaggenau, Neff, Siemens, Baumatic, Candy, Fisher & Paykel, Hoover, LG and Samsung.

Why should I consider the ethics of fridge freezer brands?

Are fridge freezers bad for the environment?

Why are American-style fridge freezers less energy-efficient?

Which fridge freezer brands are involved in unethical practices?

How do I find the most energy-efficient fridge freezer?

Which fridge freezer brands are the most ethical?

Is CDA an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Amica an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Miele an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Belling an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Kenwood an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Lec an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Montpellier an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Smeg an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Stoves an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is AEG an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Electrolux an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Prima an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Swan an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Zanussi an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Fridgemaster an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Beko an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Blomberg an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Bosch an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Gaggenau an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Grundig an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Hotpoint an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Indesit an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Neff an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Siemens an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Whirlpool an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Baumatic an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Candy an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Fisher & Paykel an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Hoover an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is LG an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?

Is Samsung an ethical Fridges & Freezers brand?