Butter, Margarine & Spreads: Ethical Comparison

With vegan butter and margarine brands more popular than ever before, it can be difficult for ethical shoppers to find truly ethical spreads. Learn more about the environmental issues with dairy farming and soy production. Find out which butter and margarine brands invest in deforestation, fossil fuel acquisition and damage indigenous communities…

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Benchmark score within the category

Butter, Margarine & Spreads: Ethical Comparison Ratings Table

Naturli’

Naturli’ Ethical Rating

Parent company: Orkla ASA

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Good
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good
Ethical Innovator

Good

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

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Calon Wen

Calon Wen Ethical Rating

Parent company: Calon Wen Organic Milk Co Operative Ltd

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Good
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good
Ethical Innovator

Good

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

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Yeo Valley

Yeo Valley Ethical Rating

Parent company: Yeo Valley Ltd

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Acceptable
Genetic Modification

Good
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good
Ethical Innovator

Good

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

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All Things Butter

All Things Butter Ethical Rating

Parent company: All Things Butter Ltd

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Acceptable
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good
Ethical Innovator

Good

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

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Benecol

Benecol Ethical Rating

Parent company: Raisio plc

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Good
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

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Isigny Sainte-Mère

Isigny Sainte-Mère Ethical Rating

Parent company: Isigny Sainte-Mère

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Acceptable
Genetic Modification

Acceptable
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

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Castle Dairies

Castle Dairies Ethical Rating

Parent company: Castle Dairies Ltd

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Poor
Genetic Modification

Acceptable
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

St Helen’s Farm

St Helen’s Farm Ethical Rating

Parent company: St Helen's Farm

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Acceptable
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Acceptable

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

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Trewithn

Trewithn Ethical Rating

Parent company: Ehrmann SE

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Poor
Genetic Modification

Acceptable
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

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Pure

Pure Ethical Rating

Parent company: Kerry Group Plc

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Acceptable
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

Kerrygold

Kerrygold Ethical Rating

Parent company: Ornua Co-operative Ltd

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Acceptable
Genetic Modification

Acceptable
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Acceptable

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

Lurpak

Lurpak Ethical Rating

Parent company: Arla Foods A.M.B.A.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Acceptable
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Acceptable

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

Anchor

Anchor Ethical Rating

Parent company: Arla Foods A.M.B.A.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Acceptable
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

Arla

Arla Ethical Rating

Parent company: Arla Foods A.M.B.A.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Acceptable
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

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President

President Ethical Rating

Parent company: Groupe Lactalis S.A.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Acceptable
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor
Public Record Criticisms+

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

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Vitalite

Vitalite Ethical Rating

Parent company: Saputo Inc.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Poor
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Poor
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor
Public Record Criticisms+

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

Clover

Clover Ethical Rating

Parent company: Saputo Inc.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Poor
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Poor
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor
Public Record Criticisms+

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

Country Life

Country Life Ethical Rating

Parent company: Saputo Inc.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Poor
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Poor
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor
Public Record Criticisms+

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

Utterly Butterly

Utterly Butterly Ethical Rating

Parent company: Saputo Inc.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Poor
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Poor
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor
Public Record Criticisms+

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

Willow

Willow Ethical Rating

Parent company: Saputo Inc.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Genetic Modification

Poor
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Poor
Political Donations

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor
Public Record Criticisms+

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

Stork

Stork Ethical Rating

Parent company: KKR & Co Inc.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Acceptable
Genetic Modification

Poor
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Good

People

Armaments

Poor
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor
Public Record Criticisms+

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

Violife

Violife Ethical Rating

Parent company: KKR & Co Inc.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Acceptable
Genetic Modification

Poor
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Good

People

Armaments

Poor
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor
Public Record Criticisms+

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

Flora

Flora Ethical Rating

Parent company: KKR & Co Inc.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Acceptable
Genetic Modification

Poor
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Acceptable

People

Armaments

Poor
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor
Public Record Criticisms+

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

ProActive

ProActive Ethical Rating

Parent company: KKR & Co Inc.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Acceptable
Genetic Modification

Poor
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Acceptable

People

Armaments

Poor
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor
Public Record Criticisms+

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

Bertolli

Bertolli Ethical Rating

Parent company: KKR & Co Inc.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Acceptable
Genetic Modification

Poor
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Poor
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor
Public Record Criticisms+

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

Elmlea

Elmlea Ethical Rating

Parent company: KKR & Co Inc.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Acceptable
Genetic Modification

Poor
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Poor
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor
Public Record Criticisms+

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Ethical Rating

Parent company: KKR & Co Inc.

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Acceptable
Genetic Modification

Poor
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor
Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

Poor

People

Armaments

Poor
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor
Public Record Criticisms+

Poor

= GSG Top Rating = GSG Middle Rating = GSG Bottom Rating

Learn more about this brand

Butter, Margarine & Spreads: Ethical Comparison Ratings Table

Butter, Margarine & Spreads: Ethical Comparison Ratings Table

Naturli’ Ethical Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Genetic Modification

Organic

Fossil Fuels

Animal

Animal Welfare

Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

People

Armaments

Irresponsible Marketing

Political Donations

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Public Record Criticisms

Ethical Innovator

Calon Wen Ethical Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Genetic Modification

Organic

Fossil Fuels

Animal

Animal Welfare

Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

People

Armaments

Irresponsible Marketing

Political Donations

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Public Record Criticisms

Ethical Innovator

Yeo Valley Ethical Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Genetic Modification

Organic

Fossil Fuels

Animal

Animal Welfare

Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

People

Armaments

Irresponsible Marketing

Political Donations

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Public Record Criticisms

Ethical Innovator

All Things Butter Ethical Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Genetic Modification

Organic

Fossil Fuels

Animal

Animal Welfare

Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

People

Armaments

Irresponsible Marketing

Political Donations

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Public Record Criticisms

Ethical Innovator

Benecol Ethical Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Genetic Modification

Organic

Fossil Fuels

Animal

Animal Welfare

Vegetarian/Vegan Verified

People