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Ethical brand ratings and accreditation since 2001

Ethical Vegan Supplements and Organic Vitamins

Which vitamins brands are the most ethical and sustainable? For the answer, see our Ethical Vitamins & Supplements comparison table to compare brands’ ethical scores.

Why should I buy vegan supplements?

Many of us are now aware that taking vitamins and supplements can be beneficial for our mental and physical health. Since the coronavirus pandemic, we are more conscious than ever about protecting our health and boosting our immune systems. This is just one of the reasons why the vitamin industry is on the rise. Vegan supplements and organic vitamins are a great way to ensure that we are getting all of the nutrients that we might be missing in a plant-based diet, without compromising ethical beliefs. The GOOD Shopping Guide has been independently researching and rating brands on ethical criteria since 2001, making our Ethical Vitamins & Supplements comparison table one of the most trusted resources for ethical vitamins UK choices.

Whilst it is not always necessary for vegans and vegetarians to take supplements and vitamins, you should talk to your GP to discuss if these might support your diet. The NHS provides guidance on vitamins and supplements, including which nutrients are most commonly deficient and when supplementation may be beneficial. A GP can offer you vitamin and mineral deficiency tests, which will tell you which vitamins and minerals you might benefit from.

How you can help: Buy organic vitamins and vegan supplements

There are several options for becoming more ethical when purchasing vitamins. Buying from an ethical brand is the most important thing but opting for organic vitamins and vegan supplements is also beneficial. For a full breakdown of how we assess vitamins and supplements brands across environmental, animal welfare and people criteria, visit our How We Rate page.

Ethical shoppers can buy organic supplements UK consumers can trust. Organic vitamins are better for the environment, as organic produce is grown without the use of harsh chemicals that damage our ecosystems. Moreover, several studies have found that organic crops are more nutritious, so organic vitamins may also be more effective. Organic vitamins, such as organic Vitamin E, may even be more bioavailable than some forms of synthetic Vitamin E. Speak to your GP about the use of both organic vitamins and synthetic supplements, as bioavailability is affected by many other physiological factors. The Soil Association provides guidance on what organic certification means for supplements and health products.

Buy organic vitamins from ethical brands to avoid unethical corporations such as Bayer, and its subsidiaries who use harmful pesticides, fungicides and insecticides and produce genetically modified crops.

There’s no need to cut vitamins and supplements out from your diet, particularly if you are vegan or vegetarian. Finding the best vegan vitamins UK consumers can rely on is important for those wanting to invest their money into ethical and sustainable products and brands. Fortunately, many organic vitamins are also vegan, so you don’t have to choose between the two. Choosing organic vegan supplements is the most comprehensive ethical choice.

Are all supplements vegan?

No. Not all supplements are vegan. Unfortunately, the vitamins sector is plagued by several ethical issues, particularly issues with Animal Welfare. We therefore stress the importance of purchasing clearly labelled vegan supplements, so you can get all the nutrients you need without financially supporting animal cruelty.

There are many animal-derived ingredients used in traditional supplements that make the products unsuitable for vegans, such as collagen and gelatine. Some of the nutrients themselves, including Vitamin D3, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin A, may also be sourced from animal products in some formulations. Vegan Vitamin D3 UK options are increasingly available — traditionally, D3 was sourced from sheep’s lanolin, but plant-based D3 derived from lichen is now widely available and equally effective.

We have already highlighted that vegan supplements are much better for animal welfare than non-vegan products. But what about their environmental impact? Most people are now aware of the detrimental impact that the meat and fish industries have on our planet. Choose vegan supplements to reduce your role in contributing to issues such as deforestation and overfishing. When looking for cruelty-free vitamins UK consumers can trust, Cruelty Free International’s Leaping Bunny certification provides independently verified assurance that no animal testing has occurred at any stage of production.

It is also worth considering gut health supplements — one of the fastest-growing supplement categories in the UK. Probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics are increasingly recommended by nutritionists and GPs to support digestive health, immunity and mental wellbeing. As with all supplements, the ethical credentials of the brand matter: some probiotic supplements use gelatine capsules or are tested on animals. Our Ethical Vitamins & Supplements comparison table identifies brands offering vegan-certified gut health supplements so you can support your microbiome without compromising your values.

Ethical vitamins and supplements, overfishing omega 3 oil

Our research findings: The rise of vegan supplements and persisting animal welfare issues

Our latest research into the vitamins sector revealed that many brands are now offering vegan supplements. If you want to support your health, you no longer have to compromise your ethics.

Several brands in our Ethical Vitamins & Supplements comparison table offer vegan supplements certified by The Vegan Society. The Vegan Society certification confirms the product is not only suitable for vegans, but is also free from animal testing. Brands that hold The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation have been independently verified to meet our ethical benchmark across all criteria. This includes Fushi Wellbeing, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Doctor Agon and Viridian — all of which appear in the green section of our Ethical Vitamins & Supplements comparison table. Find out more about the benefits of Ethical Accreditation.

The growing availability of vegan supplements is also important as our research found that many brands are still testing their products on animals. For instance, Bayer, the parent company of Berocca, Redoxon, and Sanatogen, operates its own animal testing lab and features on PETA’s list of companies that test on animals. Bayer also owns a subsidiary once known as Monsanto, who produce genetically modified crops and the infamous glyphosate-herbicide, Roundup.

Vegan supplements are now widely available. There is no excuse for continuing to subject animals to cruel experiments. We have therefore marked down all brands involved in animal testing under our Animal Welfare category.

Where does Omega-3 come from?

Overfishing is a big problem within the vitamins sector because many supplements are sourced from fish products. For instance, Omega-3 is produced by extracting the oils from mass-caught fish, which increases the demand for overfishing. When buying Omega-3 supplements, you should check the label to see if it is vegan, or check our Ethical Vitamins & Supplements comparison table. Algae-based vegan Omega-3 UK supplements are the most sustainable alternative — algae is the original source of Omega-3 in the marine food chain, meaning algae oil delivers the same beneficial fatty acids as fish oil without the environmental cost of trawling.

Overfishing is a major problem that affects the whole marine ecosystem. Depletion of fish species damages coral reefs. The Marine Conservation Society highlights overfishing as one of the most significant threats to the UK’s marine environment — choosing algae-based vegan Omega-3 supplements is one practical way consumers can help reduce demand for mass-caught fish. To find out more about the issues within the fishing industry, read our Ethical Tinned Tuna article.

A further advantage of algae-based Omega-3 is purity. Unlike fish oil, which can accumulate heavy metals and other contaminants from polluted ocean waters, algae-based supplements are typically grown in controlled, pollution-free environments. The WHO recommends a daily intake of 250–500mg combined EPA and DHA for general health maintenance — a level easily achieved with a quality algae-based supplement. When choosing an algae Omega-3, look for products that list specific milligrams of both EPA and DHA on the label, and check that the capsule itself is vegan, as many softgels use gelatine.

Purchasing vegan supplements from ethical, vegan brands is the best way to avoid the animal welfare and environmental concerns associated with non-vegan vitamins. Our Ethical Vitamins & Supplements comparison table shows you a range of ethical companies offering vegan supplements, as well as organic vitamins, saving you the time and effort of doing the research yourself.

Your choice of vitamins and supplements sits within a broader set of ethical health and personal care decisions. See our Ethical Vegan Food comparison table for guidance on making ethical choices across your whole diet. For brands that have earned The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation across every health and personal care category, visit our Top 200 Ethical Businesses page.

See our Ethical Vitamins & Supplements comparison table to compare brands

The Good Shopping Guide has researched every brand that appears on our Ethical Ratings Tables in great depth. Click on any brand name to read more exclusive information about companies’ ethics and sustainability efforts and policies.

Fushi Welbeing, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Oxford Vitality, True Veda, Viridian, Floradix, Haliborange, Healthspan, BioCare, Feel, Higher Nature, Wild Nutrition, Pukka, Simply Supplements, Starpowa, Vitabiotics, Holland & Barrett, M+E, Superdrug, Bio-Kult, Boots, Centrum, Seven Seas, Bassetts, Solgar, Berocca and Sanatogen.

Why should I consider buying vegan supplements?

What are organic vitamins and why are they a better choice?

Are all supplements vegan?

Why is Omega-3 a sustainability concern?

Which supplement brands have been flagged for animal testing?

How can I find the most ethical vitamins and supplements?

Is Fushi Wellbeing an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Neal’s Yard Remedies an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Oxford Vitality an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is True Veda an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Viridian an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is NothingFishy an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Floradix an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Wild Nutrition an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Ancient + Brave an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Healthspan an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Vitabiotics an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Absolute Collagen an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Bach’s Rescue Remedies an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is M+E an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Starpowa an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Feel an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Haliborange an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Simply Supplements an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Zooki an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is BioCare an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Higher Nature an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Holland & Barrett an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Superdrug an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Centrum an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Boots an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is HABI an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Modern Chemistry an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Bassetts an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Seven Seas an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Berocca an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Bio-Kult an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Pukka an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Redoxon an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Sanatogen an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?

Is Solgar an ethical Vitamins and Supplements brand?