Full list of ingredients, components or materials used for product and packaging.

Certification of any compostable plastics used for product and packaging.


The brand does not sell any products using virgin plastics.

Products are 100% plastic free and product packaging (primary and secondary, including labels) are 96% plastic free.

Bioplastics certified as industrially compostable (e.g. starch-based polylactic acid (PLA) or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)) are excluded and can be used.

The brand must intend to maintain the plastic-free standard for the next 13 months from the date of accreditation application as a minimum.

Brick & mortar shops must not offer plastic carrier bags.

The organisation has also met ethy’s reduced plastic criteria.

Activities of the company cannot be related to extracting oil, fossil fuels or selling plastics (excluding industrially compostable bioplastics).

Plastic Free

The brand does not use virgin or recycled plastic in any of its products and uses nearly 100% plastic free primary and secondary product packaging. The organisation has also met ethy’s reduced plastic criteria.


Clean Planet

Completed plastic audit dated within the last 12 months.

Detailed breakdown of how the company has reduced plastic across products, packaging and/or operations, accompanied by supporting documentation.

While the company's products and packaging may not be fully plastic-free, notable steps have been taken to reduce the use of plastics, especially the use of virgin plastics.

The organisation has undertaken a plastic audit within the last 12 months.

There are measures and policies in place to minimise the use of plastics across offices or workspaces, e.g. employers providing refill water stations and removing single use catering plastics etc.

Brick & mortar shops do not sell plastic carrier bags.

Activities of the company can not be related to extracting oil, fossil fuels or either selling plastics (excluding industrially compostable bioplastics).

Reduced Plastic

The organisation is taking significant action towards reducing the use of virgin and recycled plastics in its products, packaging and operations.

Specification of the components of packaging which are recycled.

Information on where the recycled materials are sourced from, e.g. ocean plastic, post consumer waste, etc.

Supporting evidence in the form of a letter from the recycling manufacturer or alike.

Minimum 51% of the brand’s primary product packaging has been made from recycled materials.

Minimum 96% of the packaging material is recycled.

Applies to primary packaging only. This is the packaging in direct contact with the product itself.

Recycled Packaging

Significant amount of primary product packaging is made from recycled materials (minimum 96%) that have been recovered, reprocessed and converted into new materials.

Full list of materials used for the recyclable primary and secondary packaging.

At least one picture for each component of primary and secondary product packaging (exclude variations) with recyclability symbols displayed on the packaging.


Minimum 75% of the brand’s primary and secondary product packaging in total can be recycled through standard kerbside collection

A product packaging is considered recyclable if a minimum 96% of the packaging material can be recycled through standard kerbside collection.

Recycling symbols (by icons or words) must be displayed clearly on the packaging that can be recycled (excluding glass).


Recyclable Packaging

Significant amount of the brands primary and secondary product packaging can be recycled through standard kerbside collection.

List of upcycled ingredients, materials or components used in specified upcycled products.

Disclosure of the percentage of materials, ingredients or components that would have otherwise been discarded.

Declaration of how the waste material is sourced and upcycled into the product(s).

The company's upcycled products must help prevent a significant and quantifiable amount of waste.

At least 15% of the company's product range comprise upcycled material, ingredients or components.

Upcycled Products

The company's products contain materials, ingredients or components that would have otherwise gone to waste.

A detailed explanation of refillable products and refill system.

If an online store, the company can provide links to refillable products

If a brick & mortar store, the company can provide visual evidence for their refill system.

The company sells and/or facilitates the refilling of at least 1 product.

If the company sells a refillable product, they must also provide a means by which customers can refill it.

If a brick & mortar store, the company can enable customers to refill their own containers. The refill system must be a closed loop with no single-use plastic waste.

Refillable Products

The company operates a refill system or provides refillable products designed to reduce the production and use of single-use plastics.

A description of the main initiative and other initiative(s), a breakdown of how the brand prevents food from being wasted.

Data on the amount of waste diverted from landfill on a monthly or annual basis as a result of the initiative.

The brand must engage in one or more processes that help prevent food waste, either in its product, supply chain, method of production or both.

Products that are designed or made to prevent food waste are eligible. This includes innovative solutions such as engineering product packaging to prolong the life of food or alike.

Companies that facilitate or engage in food redistribution initiatives on an ongoing basis are eligible.

The food waste prevention initiative must be in practice at the time of application and also operative on an ongoing basis (min. 13 months from date of accreditation application) or whilst the product designed to prevent food waste is on sale.

The company must not send surplus food and food waste to landfill.

Composting surplus food waste as the main initiative or process is not eligible for a ‘Fights Food Waste’ trust mark.


Fights Food Waste

The brand currently operates one or more initiatives intended to prevent food from going to waste or to reduce the amount of surplus food produced. Food waste can occur anywhere throughout the entire supply chain.

Certification or documentation from a relevant organisation to demonstrate compliance with the above standard. E.g. OK compost HOME; Europe: prEN 17427 (2020) - Packaging.

Substantial percentage ( 51%+) of a brand's packaging or products must meet the home compostable criteria.

Home compostable materials undergo 90% degradation after 12 months at ambient temperature, in the presence of microorganisms and oxygen, in a domestic composting unit.

Home Compostable

The brand manufactures or sells products or packaging that are home compostable, meaning these materials will compost into soil at lower temperatures. Therefore these products or packaging are suitable for the compost heap at people’s homes.

Documentation demonstrating compliance with standards set out in EN 13432

Substantial percentage (51%+) of a brand's packaging must meet the industrially compostable criteria.

Materials undergo at least 90% biodegradation within 6 months in an industrial facility in the presence of oxygen, microorganisms and high temperatures (50–60°C).

Industrially Compostable

The brand manufactures or sells products or packaging that are industrially compostable, meaning these materials will degrade in an industrial compost environment.

Explanation of the on-site composting process.

Compost use and location distributed to.


Compostable food, garden, packaging or other waste generated on site will be processed with an on-site composter and used locally, creating a circular on-site system.

Typically this requires staff who manage the composter as part of their duties, as well as outdoor space and a use for the compost within the grounds or distributed within the local community.


On-Site Composting

The company ensures food and packaging waste generated is processed with an on-site composter and used locally, creating a circular on-site system.

Full list of all ingredients for all products.

The company sells or manufactures products that are 100% free from artificial ingredients or chemicals.

The company provides complete transparency on all ingredients that go into its products.

100% Natural

The company uses 100% natural ingredients and does not use artificial ingredients or chemicals in any of its products.

Healthy People

Full list of ingredients for all products.

The company sells or manufactures products that are free from aggressive ingredients and synthetic chemicals.

All formulations are free from drying alcohols, silicones, chemical screens, fragrance/dyes and SLS, parabens, mineral oils, sulphates, pegs, petroleum, silicones, propylene glycol, microbeads, artificial fragrances and colours.

Clean Beauty

The company does not use aggressive ingredients or synthetic chemicals in any of its products.

Vegan certification from a reputable third party.

Full list of ingredients, components or materials used.

All products are free from ingredients derived from animals – including honey, collagen, albumen, carmine, cholesterol and gelatin, keratin, lanolin, silk protein and beeswax.

The company provides full transparency on ingredients, materials and components that go into its products.

100% Vegan

The company exclusively offers 100% vegan products and does not use any ingredient or component derived from animals in any of its products, packaging and production processes.

Protecting Biodiversity and Animal Welfare

Full list of ingredients, components or materials used for all products that are labelled as vegan.

Products specified as vegan are free from ingredients derived from animals – including honey, collagen, albumen, carmine, cholesterol and gelatin, keratin, lanolin, silk protein and beeswax.

The company must clearly label which products are vegan.

Vegan products must make up a minimum of 30% of the company’s offering. For example, if the company has 10 products on offer, at least 3 of them must be vegan.

The company has not already received ethy's 100% Vegan trust mark.

Vegan Friendly

The company offers a selection of 100% vegan products. Products specified as vegan do not contain any ingredient or component derived from animals, which applies also to the packaging and production process.

Cruelty-free certification from a reputable third party.

The company is certified as cruelty-free by a reputable third party, demonstrating a commitment on behalf of the company and its suppliers, to not test ingredients, formulations or products on animals.

Cruelty Free

The company and its suppliers abide by cruelty free principles, meaning they ensure that no products, ingredients or components are ever tested on animals.

Assured by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification or International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC).

We do not accept the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) standard, or the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standard certifications.

The company must use 100% sustainable palm oil in all products, as evidenced or assured by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification or equivalent.

For food & drink products, the company’s sustainable palm oil must be at least 50% Segregated (SG) across the business as a whole.

For beauty and cosmetics products, which may have highly complex supply chains, a Mass Balance (MB) certification is required as minimum.

Please note that there are over 200 different names for palm oil. See 

 for the names that palm oil is also known as.


Sustainable Palm Oil

The company must use 100% sustainable palm oil in all products, as evidenced or assured by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification or ISCC – International Sustainability and Carbon Certification.

A detailed breakdown of how the company's champions the community.

The company engages with the wider community to deliver social and/or environmental value.

Community initiatives must be irrespective of commercial gain.

Community Champion

The company engages the wider community to deliver significant social and/or environmental value independent of commercial gain.

Thriving Communities

Documented evidence of how the company empowers employees to live more sustainably.

The company has implemented a minimum of three of the below policies to empower employees to live and work more sustainably:

Support employees to choose active and low carbon travel.

Flexible work from home options for employees.

Implement and promotes a plant-based, healthy food policy.

Review estate landscapes to improve spaces for employees and clients.

Employees are trained about climate action and environmental policies.

Employees are empowered to reduce carbon and resource use.

Climate responsibility is written into employee job descriptions.

Employees are encouraged to bring ideas about sustainability to management.

Offers a cycle to work scheme for employees.

Empowered Employees

The company takes action to empower its employees to be happier, healthier and live more sustainably.

Fair trade certification from fair trade standards auditors / accreditors such as: FLOCERT, The Fairtrade Foundation, Fairtrade International, Fair For Life, Naturland Fair

Or proof of membership as a Fair Trade Enterprise of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).

The brand holds a valid certification, membership or licence that demonstrates that the products that they manufacture and/or sell have been sourced from a fair trade supply chain and are fair trade certified.

Fair Trade Certified

The products are sourced from a verified fair trade supply chain and are fair trade verified.

Name of the female founder(s), co-founder(s) or CEO.

The company must have an active founder, co-founder or CEO that is female.

The company must notify ethy if its leadership member is no longer part of the company.

Female Led

The company has an active female founder, co-founder or CEO.

Disclosure of the charity to which the company supports.

Detailed breakdown of how the charitable initiative works, including frequency and amount of any donations.

The charitable donation or support must be provided to a registered charity.

The charitable initiative must be on an ongoing and not ad hoc.

Not applicable if the applicant is a charity.

Gives to Charity

The company provides either a monetary donation or other tangible support to a registered charity on an ongoing basis.

Evidence of active Living Wage accreditation as a Living Wage employer.

The company pays the Living Wage to all directly employed staff.

The company also pays Living Wage to regularly contracted staff. This is staff who work 2 or more hours a week, for 8 or more consecutive weeks a year. The Living Wage does not apply to contractors that supply your organisation with products e.g. stationery suppliers.

The real Living Wage rates are currently £9.90 across the UK and £11.05 in London for ages 18 and over. Exclude volunteers and apprentices. Real Living Wage is independently-calculated annually by the 

, based on the best available evidence on living standards in the UK and in London.

For more information on Living Wage requirements please 

Living Wage

The company pays the Living Wage to all directly employed staff ensuring a decent standard of living in the UK and in London. Real Living Wage is independently-calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission.

The company must be a UK registered charity.

Registered Charity

The organisation is a registered Charity in the United Kingdom.

Existing certification of Social Enterprise status by Social Enterprise UK, Social Enterprise Mark CIC, or alike.

If the organisation can provide evidence that they have met all of ethy’s Social Enterprise criteria for the past 12 months and do not hold an existing certification, then they can choose to provide the below proof to gain ethy’s Social Enterprise trust mark.

Governing documents (such as Memorandum and Articles of Association, SCIO Constitution, Trust Deed or other company Rules available in the public domain) which include the overarching social aims that the organisation is working towards achieving and rules on distributing at least half of annual profits towards achieving the social purpose.

Persons of Significant Control registrations, Shareholding Statements.

Company’s annual accounts and supporting statements.

Up to date (published within the last 12 months) social impact report with outcomes delivered for a minimum of 12 month period.


The organisation has set a defined primary social and/or environmental purpose, which means they are supporting the community in overcoming a need or a challenge.

The organisation must operate independently from the public sector or other corporate interests such as part or whole ownership by other companies with different interests.

The organisation reinvests or gives away 50% or more of any annual profits made towards achieving the social purpose.

The organisation obtains 50% or more of its income from trade.

The organisation is actively working towards and achieving the set social objectives, monitoring, evaluating and setting new targets.

The organisation is transparent about their purpose and activities through a social impact report​​ (published within the last 12 months) with outcomes delivered for a minimum of 12 month period.

Unincorporated organisations and start-up organisations (<24 months) are not eligible.


Social Enterprise

An organisation with a primarily social purpose, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners. They reinvest or donate at least half of their profits to support the community in overcoming a need or a challenge.

Confirmation that the company is structured as a cooperative.

The company is legally structured as a cooperative, owned and controlled by its members, to meet their shared needs.

The members can be its customers, employees, residents or suppliers, who have a say in how the co-op is run.

Cooperative

The company is structured as a Cooperative, meaning it is member-owned.

Detailed breakdown of how the company's business model drives the circular economy.

The company has embedded principles that design out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.

Circular economic principles must be inherent to the company and be ongoing.

Circular Economy

The company has a clearly defined circular business model, keeping products and materials in use and preventing waste.

Responsible Resource Usage and Production

Full list of supplier locations from which the company sources all of its food, products and/or materials.

The company sources 70% or more of their food, products and/or materials which are produced no further than 100 miles away by road.

The company is able to provide transparency as to the locations where it sources its food, products and/or materials.

Locally Sourced

The company sources minimum 70% of their food, products or materials within 100 mile radius.

Disclosure of the location of all factories or workshops used to produce products.


All products sold by the company must be manufactured in the UK.

The company may procure some material resources from overseas, as long as they manufacture in the UK.

UK Made

The company manufactures its products in the United Kingdom.


Full list of ingredients used in any waterless product formula.

The product(s) must be an alternative to conventional products that most often contain water.

Products that the company labels as waterless, must be formulated without any water, though they may contain other liquids as a base.

Our Standards

A sustainability framework developed in partnership with industry leaders

Circular Economy

Circular Economy

Locally Sourced

Locally Sourced

UK Made

UK Made

Waterless Products

Waterless Products

Water Efficient

Water Efficient

Waterless Products

Criteria

Accepted Proof

Sustainable Development Goals

Does your brand take sustainability seriously?