Assessment Limitations

It seems unfortunate that a company is seen as ‘outstanding' because it has commitment to be free from genetically engineered ingredients, or refrains from animal testing, or has made a voluntary agreement to minimise packaging waste. All these things should be normal practice for business, however the reality is that these things are often secondary to profit. Common business operation is based on reducing expenses by every possible means which for the most part involves exploitation – of our planet, its people, and each of us as consumers. Let us redefine what can be considered ‘acceptable' and raise the bar by holding companies to account, encouraging company responsibility.

In making this guide both concise and practical we offer a somewhat simplified version of what is a complex web of company ownership, assessments and related issues. Please view this website as a starting place in developing a greater understanding of the connections between how we act and its effect on the world around us.

You may note that some large companies tend to rate well given the sources and methodology used. This may be because: some sources focus only on large companies, or larger companies have more resources to put into sustainability reporting and policy, or simply that there is limited information available on smaller companies.

The choice of the assessment sources included and how these are used is, of course, critical in determining a company's rating. Please download our Ethical Shopping Calculator to 'customise your rating' by including or excluding various sources.