High5
| Category | Score | % | Callout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon & Emissions | 0 / 20 | 0% | ⚠ Gap |
| Nature, Biodiversity & Materials | 1 / 16 | 6% | ⚠ Gap |
| People & Supply Chain | 2 / 20 | 10% | ⚠ Gap |
| Business Ethos & Governance | 1 / 15 | 7% | ⚠ Gap |
| Transparency & Accountability | 3 / 10 | 30% | ⚠ Gap |
| Nutrition Category | 5 / 19 | 26% | ⚠ Gap |
What HIGH5 does well
HIGH5's packaging recycling programme has genuine infrastructure behind it: pre-paid return envelopes included with online gel orders, collection bins at 24 named UK endurance event partners (including Outlaw Triathlon, RideLondon, and Etape Loch Ness), and a named recycling partner processing collected wrappers into new products. A reusable gel flask and refill pouch system is also offered. The Sustainability page is commendably honest that single-use sachets are not widely recyclable through traditional UK infrastructure. Banned-substance certification is comprehensive: the Brighton manufacturing site holds Informed Manufacturer certification, and a dedicated Batch Tested product section offers individually Informed Sport certified products.
Where the gaps are
The complications begin with ownership. HIGH5 was acquired in 2017 by ABF Grain Products Limited, a subsidiary of Associated British Foods plc — the £15.6bn conglomerate that also owns Primark, Twinings, and a substantial sugar business. Ethical Consumer's 2026 assessment gave ABF its worst rating for likely tax avoidance based on documented subsidiaries in Mauritius, the Netherlands, and Ireland. ABF group reports group-level emissions but provides no disaggregated data for HIGH5 or AB Sports Nutrition. No B Corp, no Real Living Wage commitment at brand or division level, and no published Supplier Code of Conduct.
Verdict: HIGH5 is rated Listed under the Ethical Endurance Framework. Substantive packaging recycling infrastructure and full Informed Manufacturer banned-substance coverage are genuine strengths, attached to a parent group (ABF) with documented tax-avoidance concerns.
See how HIGH5 compares. This profile is one of several assessments in our Sustainable Sports Nutrition Buying Guide, or browse the full Brand Directory to search and filter across every brand we've assessed.