Local, Botanical Gins and Organic Vodka: Ethical Spirits
Which spirits brands are the most ethical and sustainable? For the answer, see our Ethical Spirits comparison table to see how brands score.
A new way of thinking about drinking
It’s not just millennials and Gen Z who are turning to non-alcoholic spirits, natural and organic, botanical spirits and vegan alcohol. Adults of all ages are finding ways to be kinder to our bodies and to our planet when it comes to drinking. The recent boom in independent, organic, sustainable distilleries and growers is testament to the consumer appetite for ethical spirits UK consumers can trust. The GOOD Shopping Guide has been independently researching and rating brands on ethical criteria since 2001, making our comparison tables one of the most trusted resources for ethical drinks choices.
Check out our Ethical Spirits comparison table to see how your favourite tipple ranks for its ethics relating to the Environment, Animals and People. For a full breakdown of how we assess spirits brands across all ethical criteria, visit our How We Rate page.
The craft spirits movement has accelerated significantly in recent years, with a new generation of independent UK distilleries demonstrating that ethical and sustainable production is not only achievable but commercially viable. From carbon-negative gins to Fairtrade rums, the best ethical spirits UK consumers can now find on the market represent a genuine step change from the practices of the major global corporations that still dominate the sector.
The biggest ethical issues in the Spirits industry
Ethical and modern consumers are aware of the full lifecycle of what we eat and drink; from where and how ingredients for spirits are grown, and who grows the ingredients. This consumer interest in sustainability includes the consumer and investor pressure for organic produce, hence the rise of ethical gin UK and organic vodka.
Organic spirits are grown without the use of pesticides, which are hugely damaging for farmers, for the soil, for consumer health, and ultimately hugely detrimental. Spirit brands who gain independent organic accreditation and verification are also prohibited from using genetically-modified crops; many of the big corporations are vague about their use of GMOs. Choose organic to ensure you’re not consuming genetically modified ingredients in your gin-and-tonic.
But consumers also want to know who profits from the spirit industry sales. In the case of some of the most popular and well-known drinks brands (including those that sell non-alcoholic spirits), it’s some of the biggest and most unethical global corporations who gain from spirit sales. Some of the most well-loved spirit brands are owned by corporations such as Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy. (This corporation also owns many Make Up and cosmetic brands.)
As well as big, unethical corporations owning popular brands of alcoholic and non-alcoholic spirits, many spirit brands are not organic, or suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Certain flavoured spirits contain ingredients such as milk and honey — The Vegan Society provides guidance on which spirits are vegan-certified — and so those looking to adhere to a plant-based diet should buy from brands who produce vegan alcohol.
It is also worth looking out for Fairtrade spirits. The Fairtrade Foundation certifies brands that pay fair prices to farmers and producers in developing countries. FAIR Vodka and FAIR Quinoa Vodka, for instance, use Fairtrade-certified ingredients, directly benefiting farming communities in the countries of origin. Choosing Fairtrade spirits is one of the most direct ways to ensure your purchase supports ethical supply chains.
Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy: dodgy donations, forced Uyghur labour, and tax avoidance
One corporation that has a large market share of the Spirit sector is LVMH. This company owns brands such as Belvedere and Hennessy. LVMH’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) track record is anything but clean.
According to Open Secrets, LVMH has donated over $271k in the 2018, 2020, and 2022 election cycles, and in 2019, its subsidiary, Sephora had to pay out US$159,349 to the State of Indiana to settle a tax fraud accusation. At least two of LVMH’s other subsidiary brands are registered in regions known for being tax havens.
Perhaps one of LVMH’s most concerning unethical business practices is its involvement in the forced labour of the Uyghur people. This ethnic group has been victim to horrific and inhumane treatment by the Government of the People’s Republic of China for many years, in what some critics call a genocide.
Some Uyghur people are forced to work under poor conditions in factories, in what amounts to slavery, and some big brands have been found to buy products from these factories. LVMH has been criticised for its inaction when it comes to distancing itself from these unethical factories and the People’s Republic regime. The UK Government’s Modern Slavery Act requires companies to report on supply chain transparency — yet many major spirit brands still fall short of this basic standard.
Additionally, LVMH’s brands, Hennessy (cognac) and Belvedere (vodka), are not certified-organic.
Another huge spirit company that owns popular brands such as Baileys, Captain Morgan, CÎroC, Gordon’s, Smirnoff, and Tanqueray, is Diageo Plc. This corporation also does not provide detail on its GMO policies, nor are any of its products certified-organic.
Other criticisms levelled against Diageo Plc include an environmental charge. Diageo Plc was fined over a million pounds by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for failing to properly declare its carbon emissions.
In its treatment of People, and particularly its workers, Diageo Plc has many accusations of unethical business practice. Union interventionists pleaded with Diageo Plc to halt work in its factories and distilleries during the COVID-19 pandemic, as employees were working in such close quarters that conditions were unsafe. Unions had to act again in September 2019 when Diageo Plc refused to give workers a fair pay rise to match the year before, despite its profits of over £4.2 billion. Union representatives organised a strike to act against this corporate greed.
The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits research
Our independent research team has analysed the Spirits sector, and the most popular brands in this market. Around one third of the brands we researched made it past our Ethical Benchmark, which shows which brands can be considered ‘ethical’, according to our research criteria relating to the Environment, Animals and People. Top-selling brands that didn’t reach The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Benchmark are: Belvedere, Hennessy, Smirnoff, Jack Daniel’s, Captain Morgan and Gordon’s.
Good, best ethical spirits UK brands found to be making organic gin, organic vodka, and vegan alcohol include: Juniper Green, Nc’Nean, and FAIR.
Our research criteria is based on environmental and social factors relevant to the Spirits industry, so in the case of this industry, the Organic/GM criteria, and treatment of brand employees (as well as the business practices of parent companies) were all considered when ranking and rating each one of these brands.
Ethical and organic spirits brands
So which brands can consumers buy from to make ethical shopping choices? Juniper Green is a small gin company that specialises in making organic gin, distilled near Clapham, in London. This brand is Soil Association certified, and the Vegetarian Society has also verified its ingredients. Plant-based consumers should look to Nc’Nean for vegan alcohol, as its sustainable whisky UK consumers are seeking — certified by The Vegan Society — meaning that this whisky’s impact on the Environment and on Animals has been considered and accounted for during production. Nc’Nean also runs its distillery entirely on renewable energy, making it one of the most carbon-conscious whisky producers in Scotland.
Avallen Spirits is another standout ethical brand, producing a climate-positive apple brandy with a low water footprint and sustainable packaging. Downton Distillery earns recognition for its use of recycled bottles, refillable packaging, and green energy. Sapling Spirits is a climate-positive London-based vodka and gin producer that plants a tree for every bottle sold — to date the brand has planted over half a million trees and saved over 310,000 bottles through its circular refill scheme, making it one of the most demonstrably sustainable spirits brands in the UK. These brands demonstrate that carbon neutral spirits and genuinely sustainable production are achievable — and commercially viable. Any brands in green on our Ethical Spirits comparison table are a sustainable shopping choice for conscientious consumers. For responsible drinking guidance, visit Drinkaware.
Your choice of spirits sits within a broader set of ethical drinks decisions. See our Ethical Beer, Lager & Cider comparison table and our Ethical Soft Drinks comparison table for further guidance on making sustainable choices across all your drinks. Brands that hold The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation have been independently verified to meet our ethical benchmark — find out more about the benefits of Ethical Accreditation. For a broader view of ethical brands across every drinks category, visit our Top 200 Ethical Businesses page.
The Good Shopping Guide has written in-depth reports on each brand that appear on our Ratings Tables. Click on any brand name below to find out more about its ethics and sustainability policies.
Absolut, BACARDÍ, Baileys, Beeble, Beefeater, Belvedere, Black Cow, Bombay Sapphire, Bullards, Captain Morgan, CÎROC, Dead Man’s Fingers, Disaronno, Downton Distillery, Edinburgh Gin, FAIR, Gordon’s, Grey Goose, Havana Club, Hendrick’s, Hennessy, Jack Daniel’s, Jameson, Jose Cuervo, Juniper Green, Malibu, Nc’Nean, No.3, One Gin, Sapling, Sierra, Slingsby, Smirnoff, Tanqueray, Tarquin’s, The Kraken, Whitley Neill
What are the main ethical issues people consider when choosing spirits brands today?
Ethical concerns around spirits include how the ingredients are grown (such as whether pesticides or GMOs are used), how workers are treated, corporate ownership and environmental transparency. Many consumers want organic and vegan options, clear sustainability reporting, and companies that prioritise environmental stewardship and fair treatment of people throughout the supply chain.
Why might some very popular spirits brands be seen as less ethical than others?
Many big‑name spirit brands are owned by large global corporations with unclear policies on environmental impact, genetically modified ingredients, and worker treatment. Some parent companies have faced criticism for poor transparency and problematic practices, leading to lower ethical ratings for many mainstream labels compared with smaller, more sustainability‑focused producers.
What makes a spirits brand “ethical” or high rated from a sustainability perspective?
A spirits brand earns a higher ethical rating by publishing detailed environmental reports, reducing carbon and resource use, using organic or non‑GMO ingredients, offering vegan‑friendly products, and avoiding negative corporate issues like harmful political donations. Brands with strong transparency and clear social and environmental policies perform better in ethical evaluations.
Can you name some spirits brands that are considered more ethical or sustainable?
For example, Avallen Spirits is highly rated for its low water footprint, climate‑positive production, vegan natural apple brandy and sustainable packaging. Downton Distillery earns praise for using recycled bottles and refillable packaging, green energy, and vegan spirits. Other better‑rated labels include Nc’Nean and FAIR, which focus on organic and responsible practices.
How does organic or vegan certification affect the ethical score of spirits?
Organic certification shows that crops were grown without harmful synthetic pesticides and without GMOs, benefiting soil and ecosystems. Vegan certification means no animal products were used, which signals better animal welfare and broader environmental consciousness. Spirits with these certifications are generally seen as having lower ecological and ethical impact than those without them.
What can mainstream spirits brands do to improve their ethical standings in comparisons?
Mainstream brands could publish more detailed environmental impact reports, adopt organic or non‑GMO ingredient sourcing, increase transparency around labour and production practices, and pursue vegan‑friendly options. Pursuing third‑party ethical accreditation and addressing corporate social responsibility issues would also help raise their ethical scores.
Is Avallen Spirits an ethical spirits brand?
Avallen Spirits sits well above The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark in the Spirits category, performing strongly in areas like environmental reporting, animal welfare and transparency, though it has weaker performance in organic status. It has been awarded Ethical Accreditation and Ethical Innovator recognition, and being ethically accredited helps reinforce its position as a sustainability‑focused spirits producer.
Is Downton Distillery an ethical spirits brand?
Downton Distillery sits comfortably above The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on its Spirits ethical ratings, with strong performance in environmental reporting, vegan verification and responsible practices, though it’s weaker on organic certification. It holds Ethical Accreditation and also appears as an Ethical Innovator, and having this accreditation further underlines its commitment to sustainability and ethical standards.
Is Juniper Green an ethical spirits brand?
Juniper Green ranks above the minimum ethical benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table, especially shining in environmental reporting and organic practices, though it’s weaker on formal ethical accreditation. As a highly rated sustainable gin brand with Ethical Innovator status, gaining Ethical Accreditation could further strengthen its ethical and sustainability credentials.
Is Nc’Nean an ethical spirits brand?
Nc’Nean scores above The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark for spirits thanks to strong outcomes in environmental practices, organic certification and animal welfare, although it hasn’t yet secured formal Ethical Accreditation. It does hold Ethical Innovator status, and achieving Ethical Accreditation could further solidify its reputation as a sustainability‑focused organic whisky producer.
Is FAIR an ethical spirits brand?
FAIR ranks above The GOOD Shopping Guide’s minimum ethical benchmark on its Spirits Ethical Ratings Table, with strong showings in areas like animal welfare, vegan verification and public record criticisms, though it scores less well on organic status and hasn’t yet achieved formal Ethical Accreditation. It does have Ethical Innovator recognition, and gaining accreditation could boost its sustainability standing further.
Is Beeble an ethical spirits brand?
Beeble sits above The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits table, with solid marks for environmental reporting, animal welfare and public record, though it’s weaker on organic status and hasn’t yet attained formal Ethical Accreditation. It does hold Ethical Innovator status, and gaining accreditation could further enhance its sustainability and ethical credentials.
Is Bullards an ethical spirits brand?
Bullards sits comfortably above The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ratings Table with strong environmental reporting and animal welfare performance, though it falls short on organic certification and hasn’t secured Ethical Accreditation yet. It does have Ethical Innovator recognition, and earning formal accreditation could further strengthen its sustainability and ethical credentials.
Is One Gin an ethical spirits brand?
One Gin sits above The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table, with strong ethical ethos, environmental reporting and public record performance, though it scores less well on organic certification and vegetarian/vegan verification. It currently does not hold Ethical Accreditation but is recognised as an Ethical Innovator, and gaining accreditation could further highlight its sustainability credentials.
Is Sapling an ethical spirits brand?
Sapling sits above The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on its Spirits Ethical Ratings Table, scoring well on environmental reporting, innovation and public record, though it performs less strongly on organic certification and formal accreditation. It currently does not have Ethical Accreditation, but is recognised as an Ethical Innovator, and gaining accreditation could further endorse its sustainability and ethical credentials.
Is Black Cow an ethical spirits brand?
Black Cow sits above The GOOD Shopping Guide’s minimum ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table, with solid ethical ethos and strong performance in public record and environmental reporting, though it’s weaker on organic and vegan status and currently does not hold Ethical Accreditation. It does have Ethical Innovator status, and gaining accreditation could further validate its sustainability credentials.
Is No.3 an ethical spirits brand?
No.3 scores above The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table, with solid marks for environmental reporting and animal welfare, though it falls short on organic and vegan certification and does not yet hold Ethical Accreditation. Without formal accreditation, its ethical credentials are less visible, but its above‑benchmark performance points to a generally responsible approach.
Is Tarquin’s an ethical spirits brand?
Tarquin’s sits above The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table, performing strongly in environmental reporting and animal welfare, though it scores poorly for organic certification, vegan status and does not hold Ethical Accreditation. Being above benchmark while lacking formal accreditation suggests that earning accreditation could further underline its ethical and sustainability credentials.
Is Edinburgh Gin an ethical spirits brand?
Edinburgh Gin sits above The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table, with commendable scores in areas like animal welfare and public record, though it scores poorly on organic and vegan verification and does not hold Ethical Accreditation at present. Securing formal accreditation could further bolster its ethical and sustainability profile.
Is Dead Man’s Fingers an ethical spirits brand?
Dead Man’s Fingers sits below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. While it performs well in areas with limited public criticisms, it scores poorly on environmental reporting, organic certification, and vegan verification, keeping its overall ethical rating below the benchmark.
Is Slingsby an ethical spirits brand?
Slingsby sits below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table, showing stronger results in areas such as animal welfare, nuclear power and fossil fuels, but weaker performance on environmental reporting, organic certification and vegan verification, keeping its overall ethical rating under the benchmark.
Is The Kraken an ethical spirits brand?
The Kraken sits below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table, with stronger marks in areas like animal welfare and fossil fuels but weaker performance for environmental reporting, organic and vegan verification. Its overall ethical rating remains under the benchmark.
Is Whitley Neill an ethical spirits brand?
Whitley Neill sits below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table, scoring well in areas like animal welfare, nuclear power and fossil fuels but performing poorly for environmental reporting, organic status and vegetarian/vegan verification. Its overall ethical rating remains under the benchmark.
Is Grey Goose an ethical spirits brand?
Grey Goose sits below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. It performs well in areas such as environmental reporting, nuclear power, fossil fuels and animal welfare, but scores poorly on organic certification, vegan verification and political donations, leaving its overall ethical performance under the benchmark.
Is Hendricks an ethical spirits brand?
Hendricks sits below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. It scores relatively well in areas like animal welfare, nuclear power and fossil fuels, but underperforms in environmental reporting, organic status and vegan verification, leaving its overall ethical rating under the benchmark.
Is Bacardi an ethical spirits brand?
Bacardi sits below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas such as environmental reporting, nuclear power, fossil fuels and animal welfare, but scoring poorly on organic certification, vegan verification and political donations, keeping its overall ethical rating under the benchmark.
Is Bombay Sapphire an ethical spirits brand?
Bombay Sapphire sits below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. It does well on environmental reporting, nuclear power and fossil fuels, but scores poorly in areas like organic certification, vegan verification and political donations, leaving its overall ethical performance under the benchmark.
Is Jose Cuervo an ethical spirits brand?
Jose Cuervo sits below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table, doing well in categories like animal welfare, fossil fuels and nuclear power but scoring poorly for environmental reporting, organic status and vegetarian/vegan verification. Its overall ethical performance remains under the benchmark.
Is Sierra an ethical spirits brand?
Sierra sits below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. It receives good marks for categories like nuclear power and animal welfare, but scores poorly in environmental reporting, organic status, vegan/vegetarian verification and people‑related criteria, leaving its overall ethical performance under the benchmark.
Is Disaronno an ethical spirits brand?
Disaronno sits below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on the Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. It performs reasonably well in areas like nuclear power, fossil fuels and animal welfare, but scores poorly in environmental reporting, organic production and vegan verification, leaving its overall ethical performance under the benchmark.
Is Jack Daniel’s an Ethical Spirits Brand?
Jack Daniel’s sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. While it earns positive marks for having an environmental report and some environment-related areas, it fares poorly in key areas like genetic modification, organic status, vegetarian/vegan verification, political donations and public record criticisms. Without ethical accreditation, improving sustainability credentials could help its overall ethical perception.
Is Baileys an Ethical Spirits Brand?
Baileys sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. While it achieves acceptable marks in some areas like environmental reporting and vegetarian/vegan verification thanks to products such as Baileys Almande, it does poorly in categories including organic status, political donations and public record criticisms. Enhancing its ethical recognition could improve how sustainably and ethically it’s perceived.
Is Belvedere an Ethical Spirits Brand?
Belvedere sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. While it earns positive marks for having an environmental report and even an organic range, it performs poorly in areas like animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan verification and political donations. Strengthening its ethical policies and seeking accreditation could enhance its sustainability reputation.
Is Absolut an Ethical Spirits Brand?
Absolut sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. While it earns top marks for having an environmental report and acceptable performance in some environment-related areas, it scores poorly on animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan verification and political donations. Boosting ethical credentials through recognised sustainability accreditation could enhance its ethical reputation.
Is Beefeater an Ethical Spirits Brand?
Beefeater ranks below the ethical benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. While the brand earns good recognition for its environmental reporting and some climate‑related factors, it underperforms in areas like animal welfare, vegan/vegetarian verification and political donations. Pursuing ethical certification could strengthen its sustainability and overall ethical reputation.
Is Havana Club an Ethical Spirits Brand?
Havana Club sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. While it does well for having an environmental report and good marks on issues like nuclear power and fossil fuels, it underperforms in areas including animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan verification and political donations. Gaining recognised ethical accreditation could help strengthen its sustainability profile.
Is Jameson an Ethical Spirits Brand?
Jameson sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. While it does well in areas such as environmental reporting and scores positively on factors like fossil fuels and nuclear power, it performs poorly on animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan verification and political donations. Improving sustainability practices or securing ethical credentials could help elevate its ethical standing.
Is Malibu an Ethical Spirits Brand?
Malibu ranks below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. It earns positive recognition for its environmental reporting and some climate‑related areas, but scores poorly in key categories like animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan verification and public record criticisms. Securing recognised ethical accreditation could boost its sustainability and ethical credentials.
Is Captain Morgan an Ethical Spirits Brand?
Captain Morgan sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. It earns positive marks for having an environmental report and for its corporate parent’s lack of ties to fossil fuels and nuclear power, but underperforms in areas like organic status, vegetarian/vegan verification, political donations and public record criticisms. Gaining recognised ethical accreditation could enhance its ethical reputation.
Is Cîroc an Ethical Spirits Brand?
Cîroc sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. While it earns favourable points for having an environmental report and some environmental criteria, it scores poorly in areas like animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan verification and political donations. Enhancing its ethical credentials through recognised sustainability measures could improve how responsibly it’s viewed.
Is Gordon’s an Ethical Spirits Brand?
Gordon’s sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. While it performs reasonably well in areas like animal welfare and nuclear/fossil fuel factors, it scores poorly on organic status, vegetarian/vegan verification, political donations and public record criticisms. Gaining formal ethical accreditation could help boost its sustainability and overall ethical reputation.
Is Smirnoff an Ethical Spirits Brand?
Smirnoff falls below the ethical benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. While it scores well on factors such as the absence of ties to nuclear power, fossil fuels and armaments and decent animal welfare performance, it performs poorly in key areas including organic status, vegetarian/vegan verification, ethical accreditation and political donations. Strengthening its sustainability efforts and gaining recognised ethical credentials could enhance its ethical profile.
Is Tanqueray an Ethical Spirits Brand?
Tanqueray sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. It earns good marks for its environmental reporting and some governance‑related factors, but underperforms in areas like organic status, animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan verification and political donations. Pursuing recognised ethical accreditation and strengthening sustainability efforts could help lift its ethical reputation.
Is Hennessy an Ethical Spirits Brand?
Hennessy sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Spirits Ethical Ratings Table. While it gains positive marks for its environmental reporting and its absence of negative criticisms in areas like nuclear power and armaments, it underperforms in key areas including organic status, animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan concerns and political donations. Strengthening sustainability efforts or gaining ethical accreditation could enhance its ethical credibility.
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.