Positive Marks
For years, ours ratings were all about the negatives. We always figured that the good news can always be found elsewhere.
Then we decided that it's worth rewarding companies for making a positive difference and so we introduced two positive ratings categories:
1. Company Ethos
We rewards those companies which demonstrate an ethos committed to sustainability across their whole business.
Back in the 1990s, ethical products tended to be made by ethical companies. These days it's not so easy to tell what an 'ethical' company is, just by the products that it makes.
Included are co-operatives or not-for-profit trading structures, fully vegan companies, and those which only sell organic or fairtraded products.
All products are fair trade
All products comply with BUAV not tested on animals criteria
All products are innovative environmental alternatives
Company is a mutual organisation
All products are organic
Company is explicitly vegetarian in a sector where this is not the norm
All products are vegan
Not-for-profit trading structure
2. Product sustainability
Positive marks are awarded to products in a range of different sustainability areas including:
- organic products
- fairtrade products
- good energy efficiency ratings
- products certified as vegan or vegetarian
organic
Organic product certified
Product marketed as organic (personal care products only)
fairtrade product
Product is FTF (UK) or FLOI labelled
Product is marketed as fairtrade
energy plus label
A+ energy label
EU Flower Ecolabel
A++ Energy Label
FoE recommendation
Blue Angel Label
Greenpeace Recommended/High Scoring
Energy Saving Trust Label
Nordic Swan Label
EPEAT Gold
TCO label
other sustainability feature
Other significant
Other less significant
Rainforest Alliance certified
animal welfare
Product marketed as vegan
Vegan Society Approved Product
Product marketed as vegetarian
Vegetarian Society Approved Product
Download a pdf document with full details on all ratings