Skip to content

Community Best Buy: Application Form & Questionnaire

This application form is only for companies with an overall turnover of under £100,000. If you're turnover exceeds this, you may be eligible for our main Best Buy scheme. Contact birch@ethicalconsumer.org for more information.

Please note that our approach to transparency means that any information you include here may be published on our website if you meet the standard for accreditation. You will have the opportunity to make redactions prior to publication.
Contact information
1.Your full name:
2.Email address:
Section 1. Company Details
3.Name of company:
4.Company type: (eg. Ltd, CIC, sole trader etc.)
5.What products / services does the company sell?
6.Number of employees:
7.Date started:
8.Registration number:
9.Sales in the last two financial years (or planned sales for current year if start up):
10.Company web address:
11.Please state if the company or any of the directors has ever been fined for a breach of the law in the last five years.
12.Please state if any of the directors own more than 25% of another company, and if so the name of that company. Include any imminent change of ownership if known.
13.Please state if more than 25% of your company is owned by another company and if so which one(s). Include any imminent change of ownership if known.
Section 2. Company Ethos


This is the core of the questionnaire. Demonstrate how your business provides a social or environmental alternative within its sector.
14.How does your product/service provide a measurable social/environmental improvement over conventional alternatives in your sector? Examples may include: 50%+ of revenue from products/services reducing plastic waste, products are second hand, fair trade certified etc. / company has a cooperative, mutually owned, a charity, or a social enterprise, Community Interest Company (CIC) business model.

(bullet points are fine, 300 words max)
Section 3. Climate & Environment

Have you taken action to reduce your carbon emissions and environmental impact, or is your business primarily focused on providing a low carbon alternative? Answer in relation to the following:
15.Does your business address its direct climate impact? This is sector dependent but may include emissions associated with in-house production, impact of packaging, electricity use, waste management etc.

(bullet points are fine, 300 words max)
16.Does your business address its indirect impact? This includes your supply chain (raw materials / purchased goods and services) and how your products are used and disposed of. E.g. preference for local sourcing, consideration of materials used in your products/materials to be used in your business operations - such as choosing more environmentally friendly materials, second hand sourcing.

(bullet points are fine, 300 words max)
17.If appplicable, do your products avoid common toxic materials/substances in your sector? Provide examples.
Section 4. Workers
18.If applicable, how does your business address workers’ rights in its supply chain? Examples may include: sourcing fairtrade certified products, working directly with suppliers, ethical purchasing practices.

(bullet points are fine, 300 words max)
19.If applicable, how does your business support its employees? E.g. paying above living wage, workers rights policies/practices you’ve implemented.

(bullet points are fine, 300 words max)
Section 5. Tax Conduct

See our list of tax havens here
20.Is your company or companies registered in a tax haven?
Section 6. Animals

Note that Ethical Consumer will not accredit companies which derive a significant proportion (>10%) of their income from animal based products. We will not certify meat and dairy, but small amounts of byproducts such as honey can be accepted.
21.Do you produce or retail any animal-derived products? Or do your services include or impact upon animals in any capacity? If so, are they covered by any animal welfare certifications / policies?

(bullet points are fine, 300 words max)
Section 7. Anything else to support your application?
22.Is there anything else that you'd like to add?
23.Confirm that all above information is correct to the best of your knowledge, and that you consent to the collection and storage of your information for the purposes outlined in this questionnaire