Ethical website score: definition, method, examples
Last updated: 6 May 2026 · Author: Tugdual Launay, founder of Ethara
An ethical score is a rating assigned to a website that measures its behaviour on extra-financial criteria: environmental impact, working conditions, tax choices, animal welfare, use of dropshipping, health impact, and diversity policy. Ethara calculates this score for any website, free and independently, across seven distinct dimensions.
Why check a site's score before ordering?
Three concrete reasons:
- Spot dropshipping before paying. Three weeks waiting on a phantom package is the symptom of a site that holds no stock and resells from abroad without quality control.
- Align spending with values. Buying on a site funds a whole chain: production, taxes, employee treatment, marketing.
- Save time. The information already exists (ESG reports, press, NGOs, community reports) but is scattered. A score consolidates it.
How is an ethical score calculated?
Ethara cross-references four sources:
- Public ESG reports published by listed brands or through their subsidiaries.
- Vetted business press (investigations, independent audits).
- Sector NGOs specialised by industry (textile, food, tech).
- Moderated community reports reviewed by the editorial team.
Each source is weighted by reliability. Scores are reviewed twice a year. No brand can pay to alter its score.
The seven dimensions evaluated
| Dimension | What is measured |
|---|---|
| Ecology | CO2 emissions, materials, packaging, transport, end of life |
| Working conditions | Wages, safety, unions, subcontracting, social audits |
| Taxation | Profit location, optimisation, transparency |
| Animals | Testing, farming, animal-derived materials, certifications |
| Dropshipping | In-house stock, real lead times, quality control, origin transparency |
| Health | Controversial substances, certifications, ingredient traceability |
| Diversity | Representation, inclusion, pay gaps, accessibility |
Each dimension gets an independent score. The overall score is a weighted average, but users see the breakdown to decide what matters.
How to check a site's score?
Three steps with the Ethara app:
- Paste the URL into the app. The brand is identified in three seconds.
- Read the verdict. Overall score, written reasoning, detail per dimension. Confidence level shown.
- Find better if needed. If the site is problematic, Ethara suggests better-rated alternatives in the same category.
Download Ethara free on iOS and Android.
What does a good or bad score mean?
| Score | Verdict | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 8–10 | Exemplary | Transparent practices, few or no reports, consistent sources |
| 6–7 | Decent | Some documented weak points, visible room to improve |
| 4–5 | Mixed | Recurring issues on one or more dimensions |
| 0–3 | Problematic | Documented serious facts, opacity, major controversies |
Ethical score vs ESG score: what's the difference?
The ESG score targets investors and measures financial risk linked to a company's practices. It is often paid and calculated for listed companies.
The ethical score targets the consumer. It evaluates a website at the moment of purchase. Ethara draws on ESG data when available, but adds dimensions absent from the classic ESG framework: dropshipping, supply transparency, animal welfare.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a website is ethical? The fastest method: use a tool that consolidates sources (ESG reports, press, NGOs, community reports). Otherwise, manually check product origin, delivery times, supply chain transparency, and any presence in recent controversies.
Can a site's score change? Yes. Scores are reviewed twice a year, and a verified community report can trigger an early revision.
Why can a site without dropshipping have a bad score? Because the other six dimensions count. A brand that holds in-house stock but pays workers below local minimum or practices tax avoidance will score badly on those dimensions.
Is the service free? Yes, the app is entirely free. No ads, no affiliate commission. Funded by donations and an optional Pro subscription.
Want to check a specific site's score? Download Ethara and paste the URL.