Ethical Soft Drinks

Soft drinks are mass-consumed products, and the industry has a large environmental footprint. Key issues include plastic pollution from bottles, high carbon emissions from global production and transport, and corporate practices linked to environmental harm. Because companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo sell billions of litres globally, their impact on ecosystems, waste systems and climate change is significant.

Plastic bottles are one of the biggest ethical concerns in the soft drinks industry. Millions of bottles are produced and discarded daily, contributing to landfill waste and ocean pollution. These plastics can take decades or centuries to break down and often become microplastics, harming wildlife and ecosystems. This makes packaging choices a major factor in ethical ratings.

Beyond plastic waste, soft drinks also contribute to high water use, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Large multinational companies often rely on global supply chains, increasing transport emissions. Some brands also lack strong environmental reporting or meaningful sustainability targets, which lowers their ethical performance in evaluations.

Some soft drinks score poorly because of weak policies on animal welfare in supply chains (for example, dairy-based ingredients or indirect sourcing impacts). Others are marked down for unclear use of genetically modified ingredients or lack of organic certification. These factors contribute to lower ethical ratings for many mainstream brands.

Brands such as Rubicon, Tango, Irn-Bru, Fruit Shoot, and Whole Earth tend to score above the benchmark. These brands generally perform better on environmental reporting, transparency, and in some cases avoid controversial ingredients or demonstrate stronger sustainability commitments compared with larger global competitors.

Major brands like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Sprite, Oasis, and Lucozade often score low due to issues such as heavy plastic production, weak sustainability performance, use of GM ingredients, and corporate concerns including political donations and limited transparency. Their scale of production also contributes significantly to global plastic pollution.

Consumers can choose drinks with better environmental reporting, support brands with stronger sustainability policies, and reduce reliance on single-use plastic bottles by opting for recyclable packaging or refillable alternatives. Choosing smaller or more transparent brands can also help reduce environmental impact and encourage better corporate responsibility in the industry.

GUTsy Captain sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental sustainability, organic production, and animal welfare criteria, although it falls short in formal Environmental Report strength. While it does not yet hold Ethical Accreditation, its strong score and Ethical Innovator Status demonstrate a clear commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.

Remedy sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in areas such as organic production, genetic modification avoidance, and fossil fuel criteria, although it falls short in Environmental Report strength and vegetarian/vegan verification. While it does not hold Ethical Accreditation, its strong overall performance and Ethical Innovator Status indicate a clear commitment to improving sustainable and ethical business practices.

Britvic sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in its Environmental Report, fossil fuel policy, animal welfare, and responsible marketing, although it falls short in organic certification strength. While it does not hold Ethical Accreditation, its above-benchmark performance and strong ethical scoring indicate a clear commitment to improving sustainable and ethical business practices.

Fruit Shoot sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in Environmental Report quality, fossil fuel policy, animal welfare, and responsible marketing, although it falls short in organic certification. While it does not hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status, its above-benchmark performance indicates a strong commitment to improving ethical and sustainable business practices.

J2O sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in Environmental Report strength, fossil fuel policy, animal welfare, and responsible marketing, although it falls short in organic certification. While it does not hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status, its above-benchmark performance indicates a strong commitment to improving ethical and sustainable business practices.

Purdey’s sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting, fossil fuel policy, animal welfare, and responsible marketing, although it falls short in organic certification strength. While it does not hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status, its above-benchmark performance indicates a clear commitment to improving ethical and sustainable business practices.

Robinsons sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting, fossil fuel policy, animal welfare, and responsible marketing, although it falls short in organic certification. While it does not hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status, its above-benchmark performance indicates a clear commitment to improving ethical and sustainable business practices.

Tango sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting, fossil fuel policy, animal welfare standards, and responsible marketing, although it falls short in organic certification. While it does not hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status, its above-benchmark performance indicates a clear commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.

Irn-Bru sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in Environmental Report quality, genetic modification policy, fossil fuel management, animal welfare standards, and responsible marketing, although it falls short in organic certification strength. While it does not hold Ethical Accreditation, its above-benchmark performance indicates a clear commitment to improving ethical and sustainable business practices.

Rubicon sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting, genetic modification policy, fossil fuel management, animal welfare standards, and responsible marketing, although it falls short in organic certification strength. While it does not hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status, its above-benchmark performance indicates a clear commitment to improving ethical and sustainable business practices.

VITHIT sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in Environmental Report quality, fossil fuel policy, animal welfare standards, and responsible marketing, although it falls short in organic certification and vegetarian/vegan verification. While it does not hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status, its above-benchmark performance indicates a clear commitment to improving ethical and sustainable business practices.

Whole Earth sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in Environmental Report quality, organic production, fossil fuel policy, and animal welfare standards, although it falls short in vegetarian/vegan verification strength. While it does not hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status, its above-benchmark performance indicates a clear commitment to improving ethical and sustainable business practices.

TRIP sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in fossil fuel policy, animal welfare standards, and responsible marketing, although it falls short in environmental reporting and organic certification. While it does not hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status, its above-benchmark performance indicates a clear commitment to improving ethical and sustainable business practices.

Bottlegreen sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting, fossil fuel policy, animal welfare, and responsible marketing, although it falls short in organic certification and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Fentimans sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in fossil fuel management and animal welfare, although it falls short in environmental reporting, organic certification, and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Firefly sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in fossil fuel policy, genetic modification and animal welfare criteria, although it falls short in environmental reporting, organic certification, and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Juice Burst sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in fossil fuel policy, animal welfare standards, and responsible marketing, although it falls short in environmental reporting, organic certification, and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can compare stronger-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table.

Shloer sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting, fossil fuel policy, and animal welfare, although it falls short in organic certification and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Vimto sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting, fossil fuel policy, and animal welfare criteria, although it falls short in organic certification and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Capri-Sun sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in genetic modification policy, fossil fuel use, and animal welfare, although it falls short in environmental reporting, organic sourcing, and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Copella sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs relatively well in fossil fuel policy and animal welfare criteria, although it falls short in environmental reporting, organic certification, and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Naked sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs relatively well in fossil fuel policy and genetic modification criteria, although it falls short in environmental reporting, organic certification, and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Tropicana sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs relatively well in fossil fuel policy, genetic modification criteria, and animal welfare standards, although it falls short in environmental reporting, organic certification, and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Monster sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs relatively well in areas such as fossil fuels, genetic modification policy, and animal welfare, although it falls short in environmental reporting, organic certification, and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Prime Energy sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs relatively well in areas such as fossil fuel policy and genetic modification criteria, although it falls short in environmental reporting, organic certification, and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Red Bull sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in fossil fuel management, environmental reporting, animal welfare standards, and responsible marketing, although it falls short in genetic modification policy, organic certification, and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Lucozade sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel policy, although it falls short in genetic modification, organic certification, animal welfare, and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Orangina sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel policy, although it falls short in genetic modification, organic certification, animal welfare, and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Ribena sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel policy, although it falls short in genetic modification controls, organic certification, animal welfare standards, and vegetarian/vegan verification. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Innocent sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel criteria, although it falls short in organic certification, genetic modification policy, animal welfare standards, and responsible marketing. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

7Up sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel criteria, although it falls short in genetic modification policy, animal welfare standards, organic certification, and responsible marketing. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Appletiser sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel policy, although it falls short in genetic modification controls, organic certification, animal welfare standards, and responsible marketing. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Coca-Cola sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel criteria, although it falls short in genetic modification policy, organic certification, animal welfare standards, political donations, and responsible marketing. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Dr Pepper sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel policy, although it falls short in genetic modification controls, organic certification, animal welfare standards, political donations, and responsible marketing. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Fanta sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel policy, although it falls short in genetic modification controls, organic certification, animal welfare standards, political donations, and responsible marketing. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Lipton sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel policy, although it falls short in genetic modification policy, organic certification, animal welfare standards, and responsible marketing. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Mountain Dew sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel policy, although it falls short in genetic modification controls, organic certification, animal welfare standards, responsible marketing, and political donations. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Oasis sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel criteria, although it falls short in genetic modification policy, organic certification, animal welfare standards, political donations, and responsible marketing. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Pepsi sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel criteria, although it falls short in genetic modification policy, organic certification, animal welfare standards, political donations, and responsible marketing. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Powerade sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel criteria, although it falls short in genetic modification policy, organic certification, animal welfare standards, responsible marketing, and political donations. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

San Pellegrino sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel criteria, although it falls short in genetic modification policy, organic certification, animal welfare standards, political donations, and responsible marketing. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Schweppes sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel criteria, although it falls short in genetic modification policy, organic certification, animal welfare standards, political donations, and responsible marketing. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.

Sprite sits below the benchmark on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in environmental reporting and fossil fuel criteria, although it falls short in genetic modification policy, animal welfare standards, organic certification, political donations, and responsible marketing. Asit does not meet the benchmark; readers can explore higher-performing brands on The Good Shopping Guide’s Soft Drinks Ethical Ratings Table for stronger ethical alignment.