Coffee: Ethical Comparison - The Good Shopping Guide

How can we get our caffeine boost without contributing to global warming or human rights abuses? Irresponsible coffee farming has a devastating effect on rainforests. Many popular British coffee brands source beans from coffee plantations who use slavery, debt bondage, wage theft and child labour to farm. This is your guide to ethical coffee; from single origin beans, to traceability, to Fairtrade coffee, don’t compromise on your cup o’ joe!

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Benchmark score within the category

Coffee: Ethical Comparison Ratings Table

Bird & Wild

100

Bird & Wild Ethical Rating

Parent company: Magic Bean Trading Ltd

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

N/A

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Good
Public Record Criticisms

Good
Ethical Innovator

Good

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

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CRU Kafe

CRU Kafe Ethical Rating

Parent company: CRU Kafe Ltd

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

N/A

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good
Ethical Innovator

Good

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

Learn more about this brand

Cafédirect

Cafédirect Ethical Rating

Parent company: Cafédirect Plc

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Acceptable

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good
Ethical Innovator

Good

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

Learn more about this brand

Grumpy Mule

Grumpy Mule Ethical Rating

Parent company: Cafédirect Plc

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Acceptable

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

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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Clipper

Clipper Ethical Rating

Parent company: Ecotone Ltd

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

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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Percol

Percol Ethical Rating

Parent company: CCL Products (India) Ltd

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Poor
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good
Ethical Innovator

Good

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

Learn more about this brand

Equal Exchange

Equal Exchange Ethical Rating

Parent company: EE WHOLESALE (UK) LTD

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Acceptable
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Good

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good
Ethical Innovator

Good

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

Learn more about this brand

Raw Bean

Raw Bean Ethical Rating

Parent company: Raw Bean Ltd

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

N/A

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Acceptable

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good

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

Learn more about this brand

Source Climate Change Coffee

Source Climate Change Coffee Ethical Rating

Parent company: Source Sustainable Supply Chains Ltd

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

N/A

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good
Ethical Innovator

Good

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

Learn more about this brand

GRIND

GRIND Ethical Rating

Parent company: Grind Coffee Roasters Ltd

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Good

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good
Ethical Innovator

Good

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

Learn more about this brand

Origin Coffee

Origin Coffee Ethical Rating

Parent company: Origin Coffee (Holdings) Ltd

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

N/A

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good
Ethical Innovator

Good

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

Learn more about this brand

Little’s

Little’s Ethical Rating

Parent company: Little's Ltd

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

N/A

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good

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

Learn more about this brand

Löfbergs

Löfbergs Ethical Rating

Parent company: Löfbergs Lila AB

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Good

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

Learn more about this brand

Taylors of Harrogate

Taylors of Harrogate Ethical Rating

Parent company: Bettys & Taylors Group Ltd

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Poor
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor

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

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illy

illy Ethical Rating

Parent company: Illycaffè S.p.A.

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Poor
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Good
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Acceptable

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

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Carte Noire

Carte Noire Ethical Rating

Parent company: Luigi Lavazza S.p.A.

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Acceptable
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Poor
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor

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

Learn more about this brand

Lavazza

Lavazza Ethical Rating

Parent company: Luigi Lavazza S.p.A.

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Acceptable
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Good

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Poor
Political Donations

Good
Fairtrade

Poor

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Poor
Public Record Criticisms

Poor

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

Learn more about this brand

L’Or

L’Or Ethical Rating

Parent company: Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Good
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Poor
Political Donations

Poor
Fairtrade

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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Costa

Costa Ethical Rating

Parent company: The Coca-Cola Company

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Poor
Political Donations

Poor
Fairtrade

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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Douwe Egberts

Douwe Egberts Ethical Rating

Parent company: Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Poor
Political Donations

Poor
Fairtrade

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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Kenco

Kenco Ethical Rating

Parent company: Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Poor
Political Donations

Poor
Fairtrade

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

Nescafé

Nescafé Ethical Rating

Parent company: Nestlé S.A.

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Poor
Political Donations

Poor
Fairtrade

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

Starbucks

Starbucks Ethical Rating

Parent company: Nestlé S.A.

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Poor
Political Donations

Poor
Fairtrade

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

Tassimo

Tassimo Ethical Rating

Parent company: Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.

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

Environment

Environmental Report

Good
Organic

Poor
Fossil Fuels

Good
Packaging

Poor

Animal

Animal Welfare

Poor

People

Armaments

Good
Irresponsible Marketing

Poor
Political Donations

Poor
Fairtrade

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

Coffee: Ethical Comparison Ratings Table

Coffee: Ethical Comparison Ratings Table

Bird & Wild

Bird & Wild Ethical Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Organic

Fossil Fuels

Packaging

Animal

Animal Welfare

People

Armaments

Irresponsible Marketing

Political Donations

Fairtrade

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Public Record Criticisms

Ethical Innovator

CRU Kafe

CRU Kafe Ethical Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Organic

Fossil Fuels

Packaging

Animal

Animal Welfare

People

Armaments

Irresponsible Marketing

Political Donations

Fairtrade

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Public Record Criticisms

Ethical Innovator

Cafédirect

Cafédirect Ethical Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Organic

Fossil Fuels

Packaging

Animal

Animal Welfare

People

Armaments

Irresponsible Marketing

Political Donations

Fairtrade

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Public Record Criticisms

Ethical Innovator

Grumpy Mule

Grumpy Mule Ethical Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Organic

Fossil Fuels

Packaging

Animal

Animal Welfare

People

Armaments

Irresponsible Marketing

Political Donations

Fairtrade

Other

Ethical Accreditation

Public Record Criticisms

Ethical Innovator

Clipper

Clipper Ethical Rating

Environment

Environmental Report

Organic

Fossil Fuels