Our Buyer's Guides and Ethiscore tables are compiled using a system of ethical ratings, covering 5 main areas:
Click on the areas above to see a general description of each section.Download a pdf of the full detailed definitions of all the categories we use to rate companies.
Rating Companies
Some websites or magazines just look at products, but Ethical Consumer is the only organisation which
looks at the companies behind the brand.
Some products might be considered 'ethical', but the company that owns the brand might not be.
Isn't it better to buy a cruelty-free product from a company that doesn't test its other
items on animals, or recycled toilet paper from a firm that isn't cutting down virgin forests for its other
ranges?
Using the tables in the magazine or our online databases, you can see which companies own each brand, and
their ethical record across all the different categories.
If you would like your company or products to be considered by Ethical Consumer, please
download and complete this request form.
Information Sources
Most of our information comes from previously published sources. These sources
include publications and reports by campaign groups like Oxfam, Friends of the Earth and
War on Want.
We look at the daily newspapers, public records on pollution and health &
safety prosecutions and use directories on the defence and nuclear industries.
We also request information directly from the companies on their environmental policies and reporting,
and other policies, such as their attitude towards animal testing and to workers in their supply factories.
