Shopping Guide FAQ

Shopping Guide FAQ

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 to help you make ethical choices every time you shop.

1. What is the purpose of the shopping guides?
Our shopping guides aim to help you make informed ethical choices by providing an ethical score and transparent, in-depth information about brands and companies, including their ethical practices, sustainability, and social impact.

2. How do you choose which brands to include?
Our researchers select brands based on their market presence, consumer visibility, and relevance to the product category. Our goal is to offer a diverse mix of widely recognised names and ethical alternatives.

3. What do the ethical scores represent?
The ethical scores reflect a brand's performance across various criteria, such as environmental impact, workers' rights, animal welfare, and transparency. They help you understand how each brand aligns with your values.

More information on our scores and rating system >

4. How are the rating categories determined?
Our rating categories focus on key ethical areas, including environmental responsibility, human rights, political activities, and more. These categories are tailored to highlight the most important ethical issues for each product type.

5. Are smaller or niche brands included?
We include smaller or niche brands when they provide ethical alternatives or are particularly relevant to the product category. However, space and research capacity may limit our coverage.

6. How often are the guides updated?
Our guides are updated regularly to reflect new research, company changes, and the latest ethical and sustainability practices developments. We currently have a 2-3 year production cycle.

7. Can brands improve their scores or ratings?
Yes, brands can improve their scores by adopting better ethical practices, addressing concerns, and increasing transparency. We monitor and update scores as changes occur.

8. Why isn’t [Brand Name] included in the guide?
While we strive to cover the most relevant brands, not all are included due to space or research capacity. Let us know if you’d like us to consider a specific brand for future updates.

9. Do you endorse the brands in the guide?
Yes, we give our Best Buys and recommended buys in each guide.

10. Can I trust the information in the shopping guides?
We try to ensure our information is accurate, transparent, and based on up-to-date research. However, we encourage you to verify the details and reach out with any questions or concerns.

11. What if a company challenges its score or rating?
We are open to reviewing any new information companies provide and will update scores where necessary to reflect the most accurate assessment.

12. How can I use the guides to make more ethical purchasing decisions?
By reviewing the ethical scores and information provided for each brand, you can choose products that align with your values and ethical considerations.

13. Do the guides cover international brands or only those available in the UK?
While our focus is primarily on brands available in the UK, we include international brands with a significant presence or impact in the UK market.

14. How do you handle brands with complex ownership structures?
We research and disclose information about parent companies and associated brands to provide transparency about corporate ownership and its potential ethical implications.