Company

Our Sustainability Commitment

Sustainability is not a product category for us. It is the reason we exist.

How we approach sustainability

There is a great deal of greenwashing in the corporate gifting industry. Feel-good labels applied without evidence. Eco-friendly claims with nothing behind them. We have built the ethical gift box specifically to be different.

Our approach is based on transparency, verification and honesty — including honesty about where we are still improving. We do not claim to be perfect. We claim to be intentional, documented and continuously improving.

Read the full detail behind each criterion

Our 14 ethical criteria

Every product in our range is assessed against our 14 ethical criteria before it is listed. Each product must meet at least two. The criteria met by each product are published transparently on every product page.

B Corp Certified

The brand behind this product holds B Corp certification — the highest verified standard of social and environmental performance.

Carbon Conscious

This product or brand actively measures, reduces or offsets its carbon footprint.

Certified Organic

The materials used in this product are certified organic, grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers.

Circular Economy

This product is designed with end of life in mind — it can be recycled, repaired or returned as part of a circular system.

Diverse Ownership

This business is owned or led by people from underrepresented groups.

Educational

This product or the brand behind it has a defined educational mission or purpose.

Fair Trade

This product is made under fair trade principles — workers are paid fairly and work in safe, ethical conditions.

Gives to Charity

The brand behind this product donates a proportion of revenue or profits to charitable causes.

Palm Oil Free

No palm oil or palm oil derivatives are used in this product or its production.

Plastic Free

This product contains no unnecessary plastic — materials, packaging and components are plastic-free alternatives.

Recycled

This product is made from recycled materials, giving new life to waste and reducing demand for virgin resources.

Sustainably Made

This product has been produced with sustainability at its core — from materials through to manufacturing process.

UK Made

This product is manufactured in the United Kingdom, supporting local industry and reducing transport emissions.

100% Vegan

No animal products or by-products are used in the production of this item.

Our certifications and commitments

Certified social enterprise

the ethical gift box is a certified social enterprise. We operate to a defined social purpose and our business model reflects that commitment. Giving back is built into how we operate — not bolted on as an afterthought. As we grow, so does our contribution to the causes we care about.

Working towards B Corp certification

We are working towards B Corp certification — the most rigorous independent standard for ethical business practice. We expect to achieve certification in 2027 or 2028. In the meantime, our social enterprise certification and publicly available sourcing framework represent our commitment to transparency and continuous improvement.

Giving back

As a certified social enterprise, we return a proportion of our revenue to good causes as the business grows. Previously we have supported Survival International, Ecologi and Anti-Slavery International. As the business develops, our commitment to giving back will grow with it.

Want to know more about how we source our products or verify our claims?