Shocking Discovery: Hennessy, Belvedere, and Smirnoff Rank Low in Ethical Spirits Brands
In The Good Shopping Guide’s ethical assessment of liquor brands, Hennessy, Belvedere, and Smirnoff were among the most negatively ranked items for sustainability.
The Good Shopping Guide’s independent corporate study ranked 36 spirits brands based on their ethical and sustainable practices.
The brands were given a score out of 100.
Belvedere vodka and Hennessy Cognac, both owned by LVMH, had the lowest ethical score of the alcohol brands evaluated, both receiving a 32.
In the organic, animal welfare, vegetarian/vegan, political donations, and public record critiques criteria, these two businesses obtained the lowest ratings. The two brands were also penalized under the public record critiques-plus criterion, which covers firms with a significant amount of objections.
Diageo-owned products received low marks as well, with Smirnoff vodka, Gordon’s gin, and Captain Morgan rum all getting 42.
Nc’Nean whisky and Juniper Green gin tied for first place on the sustainable and ethical scoring, both with a score of 92.
“We are delighted to see some strong ethical ratings in the spirits category, particularly from the most recent brand introductions,” said Kat Alexander, director of The Good Shopping Guide.
“Some of the more established alcohol brands still have work to do, particularly in terms of environmental effect. We hope to see development in all of the ethical parameters we study in the near future.”
Cut through greenwash is the new black
The ranking’s goal is to “cut through greenwash” and highlight the most ethical brands, as well as those that appear to be the least ethical.
Absolut vodka, Havana Club rum, and Malibu rum all scored a score of 46, while Bacardi rum, Hendrick’s gin, Whitley Neill, and Bombay Sapphire gin all obtained a score of 62.
The Good Shopping Guide looked at the environmentalism of the spirits brands, which included reviewing its environmental report (which had to be dated within the last two years for a brand to receive a top rating), as well as a brand’s relationship with nuclear power, genetic modification, organic farming, fossil fuels, and sustainable materials.
The brand’s animal welfare practices were also evaluated, as well as whether it worked with vegetarian and vegan items.
Furthermore, the Guide examined how the brand interacts with people, verifying that the company was not sponsoring political parties or engaging in problematic investments, such as arms or cigarettes, and whether the brand was a member of an ethical trade program.
Anora Group, the owner of Koskenkorva Vodka, unveiled its sustainability plan earlier this year, with the goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
