The Best Energy Efficient TVs
Which television brands are the most ethical and sustainable? For the answer, see our Ethical TVs comparison table to compare brands’ ethical scores.
Everybody wants an energy efficient TV
TVs are one of the most popular electronic items to have in the home, with Ofcom reporting that around 95% of British households have at least one TV in their home. And as the cost of electricity rises, so does the demand for an energy efficient TV. But how do we ensure that purchasing and using a TV does not come with a negative impact on the planet and on people? As many TV brands are involved in unethical activities, it is important to consider who you are buying from. This article explores the ethical issues behind TV brands and the products they make. Our Ethical TVs comparison table also helps you to identify the best TV for your ethical values. To find out more about how The Good Shopping Guide assesses brands across ethical criteria, visit our How We Rate page.
Since 2001, The Good Shopping Guide has been independently researching and rating brands on ethical criteria, making our comparison tables one of the most trusted resources for UK consumers seeking the best ethical TV brands and the most energy efficient TV options available. Our research covers everything from conflict minerals and labour rights to environmental reporting and corporate political activity.
Which is the most energy efficient TV?
Energy-efficiency is an important issue to consider, both for energy use and budgeting! A TV box will cost at least 1p per hour, and an LCD TV screen will cost 3–5p per hour. If a person watches around 2 hours of television a night, then your TV screen and box alone will cost you £5 a month at the very least! So, buying an energy efficient TV can still save you time and money off your utility bills. To find an energy efficient TV, you can check the energy efficiency rating displayed on the product, or in the product manual. The Energy Saving Trust provides independent guidance on energy-efficient appliances, including televisions, and is a useful resource for UK consumers looking to reduce both their energy bills and their carbon footprint.
The carbon footprint of a television extends well beyond its daily energy use. Manufacturing a single TV generates significant greenhouse gas emissions, and many brands have been criticised for failing to publish credible, measurable carbon reduction targets. Choosing an eco-friendly TV from a brand with a transparent environmental report is one of the most effective steps consumers can take to reduce the overall environmental impact of their home entertainment setup.
Eco friendly TV disposal: Can my TV be recycled?
If your TV is not broken, but you still want to buy a new one, we recommend trying to sell it or trade it before throwing it away. Many electronics companies will buy and trade second-hand TVs, or you can do this yourself through Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Gumtree or other trading sites. We recommend trying to sell your old TV locally so that emissions associated with delivery are reduced. You might want to reach out to your friends and family too, to see if anyone wants your TV or will swap you something for it. TVs can be expensive luxuries and there will certainly be someone in your local community who would love a new TV! Some charities organise a collection service for TVs that they can donate to those who cannot afford one.
If your TV is beyond repairing or trading, you should not put it in a skip or landfill. Instead, check out the WEEE scheme to see which electronics manufacturers organise broken TV disposal. Recycle Now, the UK’s leading recycling resource, also provides a postcode-based tool to help you find your nearest electrical recycling point.
How many TVs do we throw away in the UK?
5 million TV sets are thrown away every year! E-waste leaks toxic substances into our soil and water. E-waste also contributes to the loss of tonnes of precious metals, such as gold, copper, and cobalt, which could be re-used for new products. The UK is one of the largest producers of e-waste in the world. According to the WEEE Forum, in the first half of 2021, the UK produced over 148,000 tonnes of e-waste, the equivalent of 15 Eiffel Towers!
The growing right to repair movement is directly relevant to TV e-waste in the UK. Many modern televisions are designed to be difficult or uneconomical to repair, encouraging consumers to replace rather than fix them. In the UK, right to repair legislation has already been extended to a range of electrical goods, and campaigners are pushing for TVs to be included. Choosing TV brands that support repairability and offer accessible spare parts is one of the most meaningful ways to reduce your contribution to the UK’s e-waste problem. See also our Ethical Mobile Networks comparison table for further guidance on ethical choices across the technology sector.
Our research: TV brands and conflict minerals
Many TV brands use conflict minerals, which you can find out more about in our Ethical Mobile Phones article.
Several brands receive a bottom rating for Conflict Minerals in our latest research, which indicates that they do not have a sufficient Conflict Minerals Policy and are not members of the Responsible Minerals Initiative, which encourages and facilitates responsible mineral sourcing. The brands that received a bottom rating include Hitachi and Toshiba.
Other human rights abuses, typically within a TV brand’s supply chain, also include the exploitation of factory workers, forced labour and even some reports of modern slavery.
Fortunately, our Ethical TVs comparison table shows you the TV brands with the best environmental and human rights practices, so you can find an ethical TV without having to do all the research yourself. Many of these TV brands offer energy efficient TV options for you to choose from.
Our research: TV brands and sweatshops
The Good Shopping Guide’s latest research has shed light on the unethical practices from some TV brands.
Sharp, a well-known TV brand owned by Foxconn, has previously been criticised for labour abuses in its factory in Hengyang, China. A report by China Labor Watch revealed that agency staff recruited to work in the factory were not allowed holiday or sick pay and were not paid extra for their overtime hours, a clear violation of Chinese employment laws. Electronics Watch, a UK-relevant NGO monitoring labour rights in global electronics supply chains, has similarly documented systemic worker exploitation across the broader consumer electronics sector.
Several leading TV brands, including Hisense, Panasonic, Sharp, and more, have been criticised by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute for using Uyghur forced labour in China in their supply chains. The Uyghurs, an ethnic group local to the Xinjiang region of China, have been exploited by these brands, as well as the Chinese government itself, whilst being denied political and religious freedom.
Unfortunately, these are just some examples of brands involved in human rights abuses. If these issues concern you, look for brands that receive a top ethical rating under Human Rights in our research. These TV brands have been found to have a clean record on human rights issues, so you will not be funding any of these unethical practices.
Buy a second hand TV!
If you want to reduce your environmental impact and are not concerned about buying a brand-new TV, consider purchasing a second-hand or refurbished TV instead. Buying a pre-loved product will help you to reduce waste and avoid the carbon footprint of a newly manufactured product. (These products are often a whole lot cheaper too!) When choosing a new or refurbished TV, look out for brands that hold our Ethical Accreditation, which identifies companies that have been independently verified as meeting The Good Shopping Guide’s rigorous ethical standards. For further ethical technology choices, see our Ethical PCs, Laptops & Tablets comparison table and Ethical Printers, Scanners & All-in-Ones comparison table.
See our Ethical TVs comparison table to compare brands
The Good Shopping Guide has ranked and rated the most well-known tech brands so that consumers can buy socially and environmentally responsible PCs, laptops, and tablets. But in addition to ranking the companies in each research field, we have also collected in-depth information about every brand listed in our tables and written detailed brand articles. Click on the name of a brand to read more about its history, values, sustainability certifications, and policies.
Bang & Olufsen, JVC, Logik, Cello, Ferguson, LG, Philips, Sharp, TCL, Hitachi, Toshiba, Sony, Bush, Panasonic, Hisense and Samsung.
What ethical concerns are associated with buying a TV, beyond just price and specs?
TVs have ethical and environmental impacts from the moment materials are mined to when they’re eventually discarded as e‑waste. Key concerns include hazardous materials in components, energy consumption during use, poor repairability, and corporate practices tied to transparency, human‑rights policies and sustainability reporting. These factors affect how responsibly a TV brand operates overall.
Why does energy use matter when comparing the ethics of different TVs?
TVs are often on for hours each day, so models with poor energy efficiency can use lots of electricity over their lifetime. Higher energy use increases household carbon emissions and contributes more to climate change. Energy‑efficient TVs — especially those with good ratings like A+ or A++ labels — reduce environmental impact and electricity bills.
How does repairability factor into ethical TV choices?
Many modern TVs are designed to be difficult or expensive to repair, making consumers replace them sooner. Poor repairability increases electronic waste, uses more new resources, and burdens landfills with toxic materials. Ethically conscious shoppers look for brands that offer spare parts, repair manuals or services to extend the lifespan of their devices.
What role does transparent corporate reporting play in TV ethics?
Some brands publish detailed environmental and social responsibility reports, disclosing commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve supply‑chain standards and handle e‑waste responsibly. Transparent reporting makes it easier for consumers to judge how seriously a company takes sustainability, and it often correlates with better ethical performance across other criteria.
Which TV brands tend to score better on ethical and sustainability criteria?
Brands such as Panasonic and TCL often perform better in ethical rankings due to stronger environmental policies and clearer sustainability reporting. LG and Hisense also tend to score higher than many competitors, though ethical performance still varies across models and regions.
Why do some big TV brands receive lower ethical ratings?
Major brands like Samsung, Sony and Philips may score lower because their sustainability policies lack transparency, they provide limited public reporting on environmental impacts or labour conditions in supply chains, and their products can be difficult to repair. These gaps make it harder to assess and trust their ethical performance.
What practical steps can consumers take to make more ethical TV purchases?
To make more ethical choices, consumers can select energy‑efficient models, buy refurbished or second‑hand TVs to extend product life, favour brands that publish transparent environmental reports, and choose companies that support repairability and recycling. Reducing the frequency of upgrades also lowers overall environmental impact.
Is Philips an Ethical Television brand?
Philips sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas like environmental reporting and human‑rights‑related criteria, although it scores poorly for Ethical Accreditation. While it does not currently hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status, applying for recognised ethical accreditation could further demonstrate its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Bang & Olufsen an Ethical Television brand?
Bang & Olufsen sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas like environmental reporting, animal welfare and human‑rights practices, although it scores poorly for Eco Labels, Conflict Minerals and lacks Ethical Accreditation. While it does not currently hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status, pursuing recognised ethical accreditation could further demonstrate its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is JVC an Ethical Television brand?
JVC sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, with strong performance in areas such as environmental reporting and various people and animal‑related ethical criteria, although it falls short in Eco Labels and lacks Ethical Accreditation. While it does not yet hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status, seeking recognised accreditation could further evidence its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Logik an Ethical Television brand?
Logik Televisions sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, with solid marks for environmental reporting, people and animal welfare metrics, although it is held back by a poor Eco Labels rating and lack of Ethical Accreditation. While it does not currently hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status, pursuing recognised accreditation could further demonstrate its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Cello an Ethical Television brand?
Cello sits above the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas such as human rights, animal welfare and armaments, although it is weaker in Eco Labels and some environmental reporting and lacks Ethical Accreditation. While it does not currently hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status, applying for recognised ethical accreditation could further demonstrate its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Is Loewe an Ethical Television brand?
Loewe sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, with stronger marks in areas such as fossil fuels and some people/animal criteria, although it scores poorly for environmental reporting, eco labels, conflict minerals and Ethical Accreditation, and does not hold recognised accreditation. As a result, consider looking at brands that reach the ethical benchmark on the Television Ethical Ratings Table for more ethical choices.
Is LG an Ethical Television brand?
LG sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas such as eco labels and various environmental and people‑related criteria, although it scores poorly for human rights, other criticisms and Ethical Accreditation. As it does not meet the ethical benchmark, consider exploring brands that reach the ethical benchmark on the Television Ethical Ratings Table for more responsible options.
Is Hisense an Ethical Television brand?
Hisense sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, with stronger marks for areas like fossil fuels, animal welfare and responsible lending but weaker performance in environmental reporting, eco labels and human rights, and it does not hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status. As it fails to meet the ethical benchmark, consider exploring brands that reach the ethical benchmark on the Television Ethical Ratings Table for more responsible options.
Is Hitachi an Ethical Television brand?
Hitachi sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, with stronger marks for animal welfare and some people‑related criteria, although it performs poorly on eco labels, fossil fuels, conflict materials and lacks Ethical Accreditation. As it does not meet the ethical benchmark, consider exploring brands that reach the ethical benchmark on the Television Ethical Ratings Table for more responsible choices.
Is Toshiba an Ethical Television brand?
Toshiba sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, performing relatively better in areas like animal welfare and some people‑related criteria, although it scores poorly for eco labels, fossil fuels, conflict minerals and lacks Ethical Accreditation. As it does not meet the ethical benchmark, consider exploring brands that reach the ethical benchmark on the Television Ethical Ratings Table for more responsible choices.
Is Sharp an Ethical Television brand?
Sharp sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in areas like environmental reporting and animal welfare, although it scores poorly for human rights and lacks Ethical Accreditation. As it does not reach the ethical benchmark, consider exploring brands on the Television Ethical Ratings Table that better meet ethical and sustainability criteria.
Is Sony an Ethical Television brand?
Sony sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, performing better in areas like environmental reporting and some people/animal criteria, although it scores poorly for eco labels, political donations, human‑rights issues and lacks Ethical Accreditation. As it does not reach the ethical benchmark, consider looking at brands on the Television Ethical Ratings Table that better meet ethical and sustainability criteria.
Is TCL an Ethical Television brand?
TCL sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, performing well in some areas such as fossil fuels, animal welfare and political donations but falling short in environmental reporting, eco labels, code of conduct and human‑rights criteria, and it does not hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status. As it does not meet the ethical benchmark, consider looking at brands on the Television Ethical Ratings Table that better meet ethical and sustainability criteria.
Is Panasonic an Ethical Television brand?
Panasonic sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, with stronger marks for environmental reporting and animal welfare but weaker performance in areas such as eco labels, fossil fuels, human rights and political donations, and it does not hold Ethical Accreditation or Ethical Innovator Status. As it does not reach the ethical benchmark, consider exploring brands on the Television Ethical Ratings Table that better meet ethical and sustainability criteria.
Is Samsung an Ethical Television brand?
Samsung sits below the benchmark on The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Television Ethical Ratings Table, doing relatively well in areas like animal welfare and code of conduct, although it is weak in environmental reporting, eco labels, fossil fuels and human‑rights criteria and does not hold Ethical Accreditation. Because it fails to meet the ethical benchmark, consider exploring brands on the Television Ethical Ratings Table that better satisfy ethical and sustainability criteria.
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.