Is John Lewis ethical?
Our research highlights several ethical issues with John Lewis, including a lack of animal welfare policies, more action needed to tackle packaging waste, and a mixed record on migrant workers’ rights.
Below we outline of some of these issues. To see the full detailed stories, and John Lewis' overall ethical rating, please sign in or subscribe.
Lack of animal welfare certifications
John Lewis has some positive policies when it comes to animal welfare.
For example, all eggs sold by its supermarket chain Waitrose were organic or free-range, and it sold some organic meat and dairy products. John Lewis also banned mulesing – a practice used on sheep that produce merino wool, which involves carving away an area of skin, often without anaesthetic, to avoid flies laying their eggs there.
However, the company also sold lots of meat, dairy and other animal products that were not covered by any certification. This meant that they were not likely to meet higher welfare standards, and were likely produced by animals in confined and distressing conditions on intensive indoor farms.
John Lewis scored poorly in Ethical Consumer’s animal products rating overall.
Waitrose’ own-brand cruelty free
Ethical Consumer also reviewed Waitrose’ policies on animal testing, as the company sold a range of cosmetics and other products from sectors where animal testing is widespread.
It stated: "All of our own brand cosmetic and personal care products and household and cleaning products are approved under the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny programme, the internationally recognisable gold standard for cruelty free products.” Leaping Bunny is the most stringent animal testing certification scheme.
However, John Lewis also sold products from other companies that did not have robust animal testing policies, and therefore received a middling score overall.
Action needed on packaging
John Lewis has taken some steps to reduce packaging, for example, working with suppliers on the issue.
However, as of 2025, it appeared to have taken only minimal steps to reduce its packaging for the goods it supplies to consumers. For example, Waitrose was using recycled plastic for its Indian ready meals, but did not appear to use a significant percentage of plastic-free single use packaging overall.
The company scored poorly in Ethical Consumer’s packaging rating.
Mixed record on workers’ rights
John Lewis has a strong supply chain policy, outlining criteria that it expects its suppliers to meet, such as no discrimination, safe limits on working hours, and payment of living wages.
The company also published all of its immediate suppliers - a crucial step for workers, unions and civil society groups to hold it to account.
However, John Lewis and Waitrose have also faced some criticisms over workers’ rights issues.
In April 2023 Ethical Consumer published the report Produce of Exploitation, which found that workers in Spain supplying UK supermarkets with fresh produce faced endemic workers' rights abuses. Violations ranged from underpayment to forced labour. No UK supermarkets were found to have addressed the risks from the region.
Worker-owned company
John Lewis is owned by its workers – meaning that they receive a share of its profits. It therefore received some positive marks under Ethical Consumer’s company ethos rating.
The text above was written July 2026, and most research was conducted in August 2025.
Additional information
You can buy some recommended and Best Buy brands from John Lewis, particularly home appliance white goods, through our affiliate scheme with them.