Ethical Over The Counter Painkillers
Which painkillers are the most ethical and sustainable? For the answer, see our Ethical Pain Remedies Ratings Table to compare brands’ ethical scores.
Are over the counter painkillers ethical?
Being in pain can have serious effects on our lives. One Australian study suggested that more than a third of menstruating children and adults have skipped work or school because of period pain. Employees suffering from migraines miss out on about a week of work every year. And one fifth of workers with back pain have to take six months off work. So over the counter painkillers have become a quick and easy way to keep things running smoothly! (For serious and long term pain, you should always see a doctor, as over the counter painkillers may not be appropriate or helpful.)
But big pharmaceutical companies who produce these drugs are involved in seriously unethical activities. In the UK, between 2009 and 2021, £693 million was spent on over the counter painkillers. And with sales increasing year on year, these big pharmaceutical companies look set to make more money than ever.
If you want to see the stats on how pain relief companies compare in our Environment, Animals and People criteria, check out our Ethical Pain Remedies Ratings Table. (You might be interested to see our Ethical Cold Remedies Ratings Table or article too!)
Is there palm oil in Ibuprofen?
One of the most common forms of over the counter painkillers is Ibuprofen. Nurofen can be used to treat lots of aches and pains, from fevers, to migraines, to period pain to muscle ache and headaches. But this popular pain remedy often contains palm oil, in the form of stearic acid. Stearic acid is used in some of Nurofen’s Ibuprofen products.
One of the largest Ibuprofen brands is Nurofen, a subsidiary of Reckitt Benckiser. An Amnesty International report found that Reckitt Benckiser buys palm oil from Wilmar International. The report found evidence that Wilmar International uses forced labour, child labour, pays below minimum wage and has denied pensions. Amnesty International also report on Wilmar International’s multiple instances of health abuse, overtime abuse, gender discrimination, pesticide and herbicide use, and air pollution, all during the production of palm oil.
Other controversies by pain remedy pharmaceuticals
It will not come as a shock to anyone that whilst pharmaceutical companies keep us healthy, they also cause widespread damage to the Environment, Animals and People. From government lobbying, to tax avoidance, to stealing indigenous knowledge and resources (biopiracy), to pesticide development, there is no end to the controversies that big pharmaceutical companies are involved in. See our Ethical Pain Remedies Ratings Table, and use the criteria to check how brands score on the issues that matter most to you.
Vegan painkillers
For vegans, it can be tricky to find over the counter painkillers that don’t contain animal-derived ingredients. Shellac and gelatin are often inactive ingredients that coat the tablets. A good guide is to avoid gel capsules, as these are often made with gelatin.
Whilst The Good Shopping Guide doesn’t advise you to skip pain relief altogether because of these ingredients, it’s good news for vegans that there are vegan-certified over the counter painkillers out there! ParavegianoⓇ is certified by The Vegan Society as the world’s first truly vegan painkiller, and contains 500mg of active paracetamol. ParavegianoⓇ can be used to treat mild to moderate pain and fever. (Users of ParavegianoⓇ should always contact a doctor if pain or fever is severe or long-lasting.) As this is such a new drug, it is only available in Germany, but the Make More Medicines Vegan campaign is pushing the UK government to make vegan painkillers widely available to the public.
Are over the counter painkillers tested on animals?
Many new over the counter painkiller products are required by UK law to be trialled on animals and humans before they are sold. However, as the case for animal trials becomes more and and more queried, we expect that the amount of new animal-tested pain remedies will decrease. In the meantime, many generic, current forms of over the counter painkillers are not animal-tested, because the formulas have been commercially available for decades.
Many supermarkets stock own-brand, generic forms of Ibuprofen, Paracetamol and Aspirin. Not only are these pain remedies cheaper, but also are not likely to have been tested on animals.
Medication overuse headache
For some people who suffer with frequent, severe migraines, taking over the counter painkillers might be a daily requirement. However, migraine specialists have identified that some patients experience medication overuse headaches after long-term, daily use of over the counter painkillers and prescribed painkillers. Medication overuse headaches are sometimes known as rebound headaches. A medication overuse headache feels like a dull pain in the head, rather than the searing pain of a migraine. Be wary of over the counter painkillers that are marketed as ‘quick fixes’ that can be used anytime you have a headache or migraine. The NHS recommends that you do not take painkillers more than two times a week on a regular basis.
Ethical alternatives to over the counter painkillers
The Good Shopping Guide does not offer medical advice. If you are experiencing serious or long-lasting pain, please seek help from a doctor or call NHS 111 (UK). If there is an emergency, please call 999 (UK).
Whilst there are some illnesses and conditions that do require the use of over the counter painkillers, there are ethical alternatives which can help to alleviate some common pains.
Heat packs are great for relieving very mild period cramps. Even better news, heat packs can be made at home for free! Place a damp towel in the oven for 5-10 minutes. Wrap the towel in a clean towel or jumper, and then place on your lower back or abdomen for cramp relief. Heat packs can also ease back pain, neck pain and arthritis, as warmth encourages blood flow. (Please note: pregnant people should not use heat packs on their lower abdomen.)
Gentle exercise can be good for some kinds of pain. Exercise releases endorphins which can act as natural pain relief! Exercise is also good for preventing pain, and is part of a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle. Seeking advice from a physiotherapist can mitigate long-term muscle or joint pain.
Alcohol can dehydrate us, which can lead to headaches, dizziness and nausea. Caffeine withdrawal can also cause headaches as blood vessels around the brain enlarge. Avoiding these substances may help to alleviate pain.
Check out the range of natural pain remedies from Neal’s Yard, which has received our Ethical Accreditation.
If you are taking any medication, are pregnant or have a serious long term health condition, please talk to your doctor before taking any pain relief. Even natural pain remedies can interact with some kinds of prescribed medicines or over the counter drugs.
See our Ethical Pain Remedies Ratings Table to compare brands
The Good Shopping Guide’s research team has created articles detailing the ethical and sustainability policies (or lack of) of individual pain remedy brands. Click on the pain remedy brands you buy to read more in-depth analysis.
Neal’s Yard Remedies, Flarin, Ibuleve, Superdrug, Deep Freeze, Deep Heat, Galpharm, Solpadeine, LloydsPharmacy, Nurofen, Nuromol, Anadin, Boots, Panadol, Voltarol, Calpol, Alka-Seltzer Tiger Balm and Feminax.
What are ethical concerns surrounding over‑the‑counter pain remedies?
Ethical concerns include how pharmaceutical companies source ingredients like palm oil (which may be linked to forced labour and environmental harm) and broader issues around animal testing, corporate lobbying, and lack of transparency in sustainability practices. These concerns can make seemingly simple pain relief products part of complex ethical choices for conscientious consumers.
How do ethical rating tables help consumers compare pain relief brands?
Ethical rating tables evaluate brands on environmental reporting, organic and non‑GMO use, animal welfare (including transparency about animal testing), and corporate behaviour. They assign scores so consumers can see how mainstream and natural pain remedies stack up, making it easier to choose brands with stronger sustainability and ethical policies.
Which pain remedy brand currently scores highest on ethical and sustainability measures?
Neal’s Yard Remedies scores top in ethical pain remedies evaluations with a perfect rating (100) because of its organic products, cruelty‑free certification, vegetarian/vegan verification, environmental targets like reducing carbon emissions, and involvement in ecological and charitable initiatives.
Why do some common pain relief brands score poorly on ethical assessments?
Some mainstream brands like Nurofen and Boots score low (below ethical benchmarks) due to poor animal welfare ratings (including animal testing practices), lack of organic or vegan product options, limited transparency on sustainability policies, and weak ethical reporting from their parent companies — despite strong performance in areas like environmental reporting.
Are there ethical alternatives to conventional over‑the‑counter painkillers?
Yes, the page highlights non‑pharmaceutical approaches such as heat packs (e.g., homemade warm towels), gentle exercise to encourage endorphin release, avoiding dehydration, and other lifestyle measures that may help reduce pain without relying on commercial painkillers. It also notes that some vegan‑certified painkillers exist, though availability is limited.
What should consumers know about vegan and vegetarian‑friendly pain relief?
Many standard painkillers contain animal‑derived ingredients like gelatin in gel capsules or shellac coatings, which aren’t suitable for vegans. Avoiding gel capsules and choosing products explicitly certified as vegan (such as those approved by The Vegan Society) can make pain relief choices more compatible with plant‑based lifestyles.
Is Neal’s Yard Remedies an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Neal’s Yard Remedies sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing strongly across all assessment areas including environmental sustainability, animal welfare and responsible practices, with high marks for its organic certifications and cruelty‑free stance. It holds Ethical Accreditation, appears on the Top 200 Ethical Businesses list, and has Ethical Innovator Status, underscoring its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Ibuleve an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Ibuleve sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas such as genetic modification, animal welfare and responsible business conduct, although it falls short in environmental reporting and organic practice. It does not currently hold Ethical Accreditation, so if it sought this accreditation it could further demonstrate its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Deep Freeze an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Deep Freeze sits at the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in environmental reporting and responsible business conduct, although it falls short in areas like organic and vegan offerings and animal welfare clarity. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, so if Deep Freeze pursued this certification it could better demonstrate its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Deep Heat an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Deep Heat sits at the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas such as environmental reporting, genetic modification and responsible business conduct, although it falls short in organic and vegetarian/vegan offerings and lacks clarity on animal‑welfare commitments. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, so if Deep Heat pursued this certification it could further demonstrate its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Flarin an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Flarin sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas like genetic modification, fossil fuels and people‑related criteria, although it falls short in environmental reporting and organic and vegan offerings. It is eligible for Ethical Accreditation — if Flarin applied for and gained this certification, it would further signal its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Anadin an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Anadin sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas like environmental reporting and responsible sourcing, although it falls short in animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan verification and public record criticisms. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, and readers looking for more ethical options can consult the Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table for brands that meet or exceed the ethical benchmark.
Is Galpharm an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Galpharm sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas like environmental reporting and genetic modification, although it falls short in organic standards, animal welfare and political donations. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, and readers seeking more ethical options can consult the Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table for brands that meet or exceed the ethical benchmark.
Is LloydsPharmacy an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
LloydsPharmacy sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas such as genetic modification policy, fossil fuels and responsible people‑related criteria, although it falls short on organic and vegetarian/vegan offerings and lacks broader environmental reporting. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, and readers seeking more ethical Pain Remedies brands can consult the Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table for options that meet or exceed the ethical benchmark.
Is Solpadeine an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Solpadeine sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas like environmental reporting and genetic modification, although it falls short in organic credentials, animal welfare and vegetarian/vegan verification. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, and readers looking for brands that meet or exceed the ethical benchmark can consult the Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table for more ethical options.
Is Superdrug an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Superdrug sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in environmental reporting and some people‑related criteria, although it falls short in vegetarian/vegan certification and has notable public‑record criticisms. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, and readers seeking brands that meet or exceed the ethical benchmark can consult the Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table for more ethical options.
Is Tiger Balm an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Tiger Balm sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in environmental reporting and genetic modification criteria, although it falls short in areas such as organic credentials, animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan verification, political donations and Ethical Accreditation. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, and readers seeking brands that meet or exceed the ethical benchmark can consult the Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table for more ethical options.
Is Panadol an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Panadol sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas such as environmental reporting, genetic modification and fossil fuel criteria, although it falls short in animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan verification and public record criticisms. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, and readers seeking brands that meet or exceed the ethical benchmark can consult the Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table for more ethical options.
Is Voltarol an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Voltarol sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing reasonably well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel criteria, although it falls short in animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan verification, irresponsible marketing and public‑record areas. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, and readers looking for brands that meet or exceed the ethical benchmark can consult the Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table for more ethical alternatives.
Is Boots an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Boots sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas like environmental reporting, genetic modification and fossil fuels, although it falls short in animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan verification, irresponsible marketing and political donations. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, and readers seeking brands that meet or exceed the ethical benchmark can consult the Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table for more ethical options.
Is Nurofen an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Nurofen sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in environmental reporting, genetic‑modification policy and fossil‑fuel criteria, although it falls short on animal‑welfare and vegetarian/vegan verification and has notable public‑record criticisms. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, and readers seeking brands that meet or exceed the ethical benchmark can consult the Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table for more ethical options.
Is Nuromol an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Nuromol sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in genetic modification and fossil fuel criteria but falling short in areas such as organic standards, animal welfare and public‑record criticisms. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, and readers looking for Pain Remedies brands that meet or exceed the ethical benchmark can consult the Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table for more ethical alternatives.
Is Calpol an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Calpol sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing reasonably well in genetic modification and fossil‑fuel criteria but falling short in organic certifications, animal welfare, irresponsible marketing and political donations. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, and readers looking for brands that meet or exceed the ethical benchmark can consult the Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table for more ethical alternatives.
Is Alka‑Seltzer an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Alka‑Seltzer sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in environmental reporting and fossil fuels, although it falls short in areas such as organic standards, animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan verification, irresponsible marketing, political donations and other public‑record concerns. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, and readers looking for brands that meet or exceed the ethical benchmark can consult the Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table for more ethical alternatives.
Is Feminax an ethical Pain Remedies brand?
Feminax sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in environmental reporting and fossil‑fuel criteria but falling short across key areas including animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan verification and public‑record concerns. It does not hold Ethical Accreditation, and readers seeking brands that meet or exceed the ethical benchmark can consult the Pain Remedies Ethical Ratings Table for more ethical alternatives.
How does The GOOD Shopping Guide's Ethical Accreditation complement other accreditations?
The GOOD Shopping Guide doesn’t replace existing certifications, it ensures your ethical credentials are clearly recognised so they are trusted by consumers. By appearing in our comparison tables, your brand reaches an audience that is actively seeking genuinely ethical options, while also being referenced by Google and AI search tools to enhance credibility and discoverability.
How is The GOOD Shopping Guide's Ethical Accreditation different from other accreditations?
Unlike many accreditations that focus mainly on compliance or internal audits, The GOOD Shopping Guide provides scored, research-led assessments across environment, people and animals. Our tables are consumer-facing and freely accessible, making it easy for shoppers and AI tools to compare brands based on verified performance, not just promises.
How does The GOOD Shopping Guide choose who is eligible for accreditation?
The GOOD Shopping Guide audits brands for their ethical impact across a variety of criteria in the human, animal and environment categories. We research the records of brands and their parent companies, and rate them across those criteria. If they are found to be above our benchmark, they are eligible to apply for Ethical Accreditation.
How can I apply for Ethical Accreditation?
You can apply for Ethical Accreditation if your brand is assessed as above our benchmark. Click on this link to fill out our online form, and our researchers will assess your brand’s viability for Ethical Accreditation.