The Best Ethical Supermarkets In The UK

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Wondering who the most ethical supermarkets are in the UK? Read on to learn the problems with most mainstream supermarkets, plus six online sustainable alternatives.

Love them or loathe them, supermarkets are a big part of our lives. So much so, that 88% of UK consumers regularly shop for food and everyday products from supermarkets. 

Grocery shopping in the UK is dominated by what is known as the ‘big six’ supermarkets – Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons. But just how ethical are the supermarkets we rely on?

You don’t have to look very far to find that the short answer is not very. In October 2023, a petition was launched demanding fairer treatment for farmers from these big six supermarkets. Farmers claim that the supermarkets are not buying what they agreed to buy, paying what they agreed to pay, and/or not paying on time, which is crippling the agricultural sector.

Over the last couple of years, supermarkets have also been criticised for not doing enough to cut their plastic use or their food waste. Campaigners have also uncovered human rights abuses in supermarket supply chains, as well as animal welfare abuse. Finding an ethical supermarket feels as fruitful as trying to find gold at the end of a rainbow.

Are Any Supermarkets Ethical?

Selection of plastic-free groceries with a blue text box that reads guide to the most ethical and sustainable supermarkets.

No major supermarket can be said to be truly ethical. This is because all of the Big Six supermarkets have inherent and systemic issues that don’t make any of them particularly ethical. Whilst some of them are making some progress, the single most ethical option is to avoid any mainstream supermarkets.

Some towns may still have independent shops, offering food and drink products. Zero-waste shops are also popping up in many towns and cities across the UK – from refill shops in London to zero-waste shops in Edinburgh, offering a more sustainable way to shop.

Whilst we should support our local independent and zero-waste shops where possible, depending on where you live, it’s not always an option. What we can all do though is to hold our supermarkets to account. This is key to bringing about ethical change, because supermarkets will only change their environmental practices when the Government introduces green legislation or taxes, or because of mounting public pressure.

It may feel like public pressure doesn’t do much. But do remember that many supermarkets and brands have switched to plastic-free teabags because of mounting consumer pressure. Therefore, any chance that you get to sign any petitions or send emails, Tweets, or Facebook comments to supermarkets related to their ethics, then it’s important to do so.

For example, Greenpeace is currently running a petition to ditch plastic packaging. Meanwhile, Chris Packham is running a petition to stop animal cruelty in supermarket supply chains. Any chance you get, basically, call supermarkets out for unethical behaviour.

There are also some things you might be able to do to make your supermarket shop more sustainable. These include:

  • Buying only what you need, to help avoid food waste.
  • Opting for vegan and vegetarian options, where possible.
  • Looking for organic produce, where possible.
  • Looking for Fairtrade produce, where possible.
  • Choosing plastic-free produce where possible.
  • Shopping for seasonal fruit and vegetables where possible.
  • Buying products that use sustainably sourced ingredients.

Guide To The Best Sustainable Supermarkets

As well as holding our supermarkets to account, there are also a few convenient ways to buy sustainable and plastic-free food and drink products in the UK.

I’ve found six of the best ethical supermarkets, with more sustainable business models, that you can shop online. Consider them the ‘Ethical Six’. Even buying some food from one of these sustainable retailers, and supplementing with produce from the local supermarket is one way to reduce your reliance on the supermarkets.

Ethical Superstore

Cake made with sustainable ingredients from the Ethical Superstore online supermarket

Ethical Superstore – one of the original ethical and eco-friendly shopping stalwarts – sells a huge range of sustainable food and drink products to cleaning products. As well as this, it sells ethical versions of products you can find in most large supermarkets, including health and beauty products, clothes, toys and more.

Shopping sustainably is easy. Use the tables to shop by product ethic. Whether it’s vegan-friendly, plastic-free, Fairtrade, or made in the UK, you can easily hone in on the exact groceries that match your needs and values.

Products Available

Ethical Superstore has a wide range of ethical grocery items for sale. Here’s a quick summary of what it offers:

Fresh ProduceNo
Free-From ProductsYes
Meat AlternativesYes
Baked GoodsNo
Ready MealsYes
Dried FoodsYes
Tinned FoodsYes
CerealsYes
Sauces & PreservesYes
Softs Drink & CordialsYes
AlcoholYes

Areas Served

UK-wide


Abel & Cole

Abel & Cole seasonal vegetable box with bottles of refill milk.

If you are based in England or South Wales and are looking for organic fruit and vegetable box deliveries, then have a look at Abel & Cole.

As well as fresh fruit and vegetables, you can also add fresh goods – including milk in refillable bottles – and plastic-free store cupboard staples to your order. Abel & Cole will then drop your food delivery to your door on the same day each week in returnable cardboard boxes.

Abel & Cole champion organic, wild and innovative, sustainably-grown food, so you can be sure your food is top quality. And while Abel & Cole champion reduced packaging, for any packaging you can’t reuse or recycle, Abel & Cole will collect it to ensure it does get recycled.

Products Available

Here’s a brief overview of what produce is available at Abel & Cole:

Fresh ProduceYes
Free-From ProductsYes
Meat AlternativesNo
Baked GoodsYes
Ready MealsYes
Dried FoodsYes
Tinned FoodsYes
CerealsYes
Sauces & PreservesYes
Softs Drink & CordialsYes
AlcoholYes

Areas Served

England and parts of South Wales.

💷 Get 50% off your 1st and 4th box fruit and vegetable box, by using the code VEGBOX4 at the checkout.


Social Supermarket

jar of tomato relish made from wonky tomatoes

Social Supermarket is a UK-based social enterprise marketplace. What this means is that brings together businesses that are a force for good all under one virtual roof. 

Here you can shop for products from purpose-led brands that help tackle human and environmental issues – such as brands that help tackle food waste and brands that help tackle homelessness. From food and drink products to cleaning products, health and beauty products, and more, it’s a supermarket with a conscience.

Products Available

Whilst Social Supermarket doesn’t have as large a range as some other ethical supermarkets, it still has a solid range that’s worth exploring – particularly if you’re looking to treat yourself or a friend:

Fresh ProduceNo
Free-From ProductsYes
Meat AlternativesNo
Baked GoodsYes
Ready MealsNo
Dried FoodsNo
Tinned FoodsYes
CerealsNo
Sauces & PreservesNo
Softs Drink & CordialsYes
AlcoholYes

Areas Served

UK-wide


Riverford

Riverford seasonal vegetable box

For deliveries of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as other fresh produce – from baked goods to dairy products – Riverford makes for a great sustainable supermarket alternative.

Its seasonal organic vegetable boxes bring you the best of every season. These are delivered straight to your door, direct from Riverford Farms, within 48 hours.

As vegetable growers, pickers, packers, and deliverers – this means that Riverford is able to create a closed-loop system to minimise the amount and impact of its packaging. This includes packaging its fruit and vegetables in home compostable packaging. Riverford also collects and reuses packaging, including the boxes the produce comes in.

Products Available

Fresh ProduceYes
Free-From ProductsYes
Meat AlternativesNo
Baked GoodsYes
Ready MealsYes (recipe boxes and kits)
Dried FoodsNo
Tinned FoodsNo
CerealsNo
Sauces & PreservesNo
Softs Drink & CordialsNo
AlcoholNo

Areas Served

England and Wales.


Suma Wholefoods

person cooking curry with Suma sustainable grocery products

Selling only vegetarian and vegan products, Suma is an online supermarket with a difference. Owned by workers, it’s an equal-pay co-operative that does business sustainably. Everyone gets paid the same wage and takes equal responsibility for the business.

Suma specialises in whole food essentials. These include organic beans and pulses, herbs and spices, oils and vinegar, as well as rice, grains and pasta. As well as these, you’ll also find ready-to-eat vegan alternatives and plant-based meat and fish substitutes.

Products Available

Fresh ProduceNo
Free-From ProductsYes
Meat AlternativesYes
Baked GoodsNo
Ready MealsYes
Dried FoodsYes
Tinned FoodsYes
CerealsYes
Sauces & PreservesYes
Softs Drink & CordialsYes
AlcoholNo

Areas Served

Mainland UK


Planet Organic

Selection of products from ethical supermarket Planet Organic

As the name suggests, Planet Organic offers a wide range of organic foods and products. As well as being organic, Planet Organic became the first zero edible food waste business in 2018, by redistributing leftover food to the community through the sustainability apps Olio and Too Good To Go.

Its online orders are delivered across the UK in cardboard boxes made from 75% recycled fibres. These are padded out with recycled scrunched paper and compostable air pockets. Chilled products are also kept cool with biodegradable plant gel ice packs.

Products Available

Fresh ProduceYes
Free-From ProductsYes
Meat AlternativesNo
Baked GoodsNo
Ready MealsYes
Dried FoodsYes
Tinned FoodsYes
CerealsYes
Sauces & PreservesYes
Softs Drink & CordialsYes
AlcoholYes

Areas Served

England, Wales and Scotland.


What I’ve Looked For In An Ethical Supermarket

To help find the most ethical supermarkets, I used a set of criteria to help guide me:

Reducing Waste

Does the supermarket actively work to reduce waste? Do they offer package-free or bulk items, or use compostable packaging materials or takeback schemes? I was particularly impressed by Riverford’s closed-loop packaging schemes, and

Product Sustainability

Are food and drink products organic? Are vegan alternatives offered? Does the supermarket source Fairtrade items?

How Ethical Is The Supermarket’s Supply Chain

What conditions do workers work in? How are they treated? What are they paid? These are just some of the questions that go into determining whether a supermarket is ethical or not. Suma’s worker’s cooperative was the biggest stand out in this guide.

Animal Rights

How does the brand ensure there is no animal exploitation or abuse in its supply chain?

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6 Comments

  1. The good news is Abel & Cole cover the whole of Wales too & now have many meat-free alternatives! They cover household products, etc as well. I get all my shopping from them now. It can be more expensive than the Big Six but not too much, and I think it’s worth it for their ethical practices. I actually spend less per week because I’m not tempted by all the displays and discounts! I’m more conscious about what I buy, which then means less food waste. Win, win!

    1. Thanks so much Alison, I hadn’t spotted the information about Wales or the meat-free alternatives so I will update this post. All the displays and discounts can be SO tempting – I can see why it would be cheaper!!

  2. Please don’t buy your vinegar from Amazon. They don’t pay their employees fairly, have zero hours contracts and dodge their taxes.

  3. Try Suma in Elland Yorkshire. Fantastic ethical company. Dry goods and chilled foods, cleaning products, hair and body products and loads more. There is a minimum order but think ahead and only order once for the year. All run by a workers cooperative where everybody earns the same. No shareholders.

  4. I’ve been pondering over this a lot recently as well. I buy all of my meat from my local butcher (who’s thankfully only a 10 minute walk away) and get our veggies delivered by Riverford, which I’ve found to be the best of the ones we’ve tried. We’ve cut back on cleaning products and opt to buy in bulk (5L bottles of white vinegar!) from Amazon instead. Everything else is either from Waitrose/Ocado or Infinity Foods.
    It’s taken a lot of trial and error to get to this point, and I’m still pretty unorganised! But we eat a whole lot better since abandoning Tesco!

    1. It sounds like you’re doing really well Lucy! Thanks for sharing – it’s really useful! There didn’t seem to be a lot of choice for veg boxes near us, and even though we eat a lot of veggies we could never seem to get through them all even though we got the smallest box, so seemed to be wasting a lot of food. I’ve also found 5L bottles of vinegar on Summer Naturals – http://www.summernaturals.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=341 £4.99! That’s a whole lot of cleaning!!