This is a buyers' guide from Ethical Consumer, the UK's leading alternative consumer organisation. Since 1989 we've been researching and recording the social and environmental records of companies, and making the results available to you in a simple format.
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Score Ratings
Our ratings are live updated scores from our primary research database. They are based on primary and secondary research across 19 categories. Find out more about our ethical ratings.
Score table
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Full Scorecard
The Full Scorecard shows the 'black marks' for each product, by each of the 19 categories. The bigger the mark, the worse the score. So for example a big black circle under 'Worker Rights' shows that the company making this product has been severely criticised for worker abuses.
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Customising Rating Scores
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Stories and Data behind the scores
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This easter, Ethical Consumer recommends bypassing the traditional easter egg and buying a bar of Fairtrade chocolate instead. "Even though many brands have pledged to reduce the amount of packaging on their eggs, we still think it's still excessive" says Jane Turner from Ethical Consumer. "Of course, it's positive that they're making the effort, but you'll still get much more chocolate for your money - and much less packaging too - by buying a large bar of chocolate instead".
When Ethical Consumer last looked at chocolate bars, the top five to buy were: Plamil organic, Malagasy chocolate, Vegan Organica Chocolate Bar, Peter Rabbit Organics Chocolate Bar and Divine Fairtrade chocolate.
If, however, there will be too many tantrums without a real easter egg, then Ethical Consumer recommends buying fairtrade eggs where possible, ensuring that the farmers receive more money for their cocoa. Ethical Consumer also recommends eggs packaged using recycled materials and those avoiding plastic altogether.