Go Green, Buy British: UK Swaps for 8 Iconic American Brands

Table of Contents

Tariffs, levies, duties, imposts – taxes on imported goods inflate prices and shrink disposable incomes.

Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ saddled the UK with a 10% across-the-board tariff on all goods it exports to the country.

The UK has yet to respond, but for argument’s sake, if it responds in kind, that will be an extra 10% tariff on all US products.

That’s an extra 10% on everything from albacore tuna and almonds to zinc and zirconium imported from our friends across The Pond.

As such, there’s never been a more opportune time to think about switching to locally produced, eco-friendly alternatives.

The products below have been selected because they’re sourced and made right here in Blighty. Some may be more expensive than the American brand, but you’ll reduce carbon emissions by buying local, and they’re green, too – the UK companies that make them put sustainability and eco-friendliness at the heart of everything they do.

All the product prices quoted below are in accordance with what UK retailers sell them at. They were correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

1. US Cereal Lucky Charms | £4 (300g)

Many of us like a sugar hit in the morning, and Lucky Charms certainly deliver on the sugar.

A typical serving contains anywhere from 9 to 12 grams of sugar.

Bowfuls of puffy wheat treats might be tasty, but tariffs on them will be hard to swallow.

It’s time to switch to a classic British-made cereal, packed with wholesome goodness and harvested sustainably.

Buy British

Doves Farm Organic Ancient Grain Cereal Hoops (£3.80, 300g): Crunchy hoops made with organic buckwheat, quinoa, and teff. The cereal, harvested in Hungerford, is high in fibre, contains no processed sugars, no added salt, and can be eaten by vegans. Buy here.
Alara Golden Crisp Granola (sold in packs of 6 at £32.94; £5.49, 320g each): A gluten-free, organic breakfast cereal made with whole grain Scottish oats, crispy rice, coconut blossom nectar, apricots, and toasted coconut chips. Alara is committed to sustainability with initiatives such as net-zero carbon emissions, zero waste, 100% renewable energy use, and home-compostable packaging. Buy here.

2. US Skin Care Neutrogena Ultra Sheer® Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70 | £14.50 (88ml)

US-made face cleansers, toners, exfoliators and sunscreens from one of the country’s largest conglomerates (Kenvue, formerly Johnson & Johnson) are popular in the UK.

Unfortunately, many of the chemicals that go into their face-care products are sourced exclusively in China, which is being battered more than most by Trumpian tariffs.

This means we can expect the price of something like Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer® Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 70 (3 fl. oz) to skyrocket this summer.

The good news is we have plenty of organic UK face sunscreen similar to Neutrogena’s in British stores and online.

Buy British

Green People Scent Free Sun Lotion SPF 30 (£32.50, 200ml): Plant-based (over 80% of its ingredients) and certified organic, this fragrance-free sun lotion is suitable for sensitive skin types and contains no harmful chemicals like Oxybenzone or Octinoxate. Buy here.
Neal’s Yard Remedies Wild Rose Moisturising SPF 30 (£28, 50ml): A high-protection sunscreen from one of London’s most famous boutique skincare brands. It’s perfect for sensitive and delicate skin types and is infused with an indulgent blend of sunflower, calendula, and other organic goodies. Buy here.

3. US Chocolate Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar | £22 for 4x40g bars (£0.92 per bar)

Pennsylvania’s favourite chocolate bar is also popular in the UK.

But tariffs and the inexorable rise of world cocoa prices mean all chocolate is going to become more expensive, not least US chocolate treats that have a fan base in the UK.

If you’re a fan of the famous Hershey’s ‘tang’, you might find it difficult to find a UK choccy bar that fits the bill.

Butyric acid, which gives Hershey’s its distinctive taste, is not commonly used in the UK, but there are still plenty of sustainably produced UK chocolates to replace tariff-hit treats.

Buy British

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate (£2.50, 90g): Founded in 1991, Green & Black’s is a British chocolate brand known for its commitment to organic ingredients and Fairtrade-certified cocoa. Their products are free from artificial additives and are suitable for vegetarians, with many options also vegan-friendly. Buy here.
Co-op Irresistible Organic Fairtrade Chocolate (£2.10, 100g): The Co-op’s ‘Irresistible’ range is both organic and Fairtrade-certified. Buy here.

4. US Whiskey Jim Beam White Label 70cl | £20.75

Oak-aged American bourbon is hard to beat.

Kentuckians have spent decades perfecting the process, distilling, mashing and ageing their golden brown nectar in charred American white oak barrels, a process that imparts its signature flavour profile of sweetness with vanilla undertones.

Our recommendations below seek to replicate Jim Beam White Label’s signature sweetness and its smooth flavour and vanilla notes.

Buy British

Doghouse Distillery: ‘Debt Collector’ Bourbon-Style Whisky (£49.95, 70cl): Based in Battersea, London, Doghouse Distillery is the UK’s first grain-to-bottle bourbon producer. Made using authentic American bourbon methods, the company’s bourbon-like alcohol uses a mash bill with at least 51% corn, giving it a sweet, smooth character reminiscent of Jim Beam. Buy here
English Spirit: ‘No.12 Cornish Bourbon’ (£45, 50cl): A limited-edition spirit, this bourbon is made at Treguddick Manor in Cornwall. A delicate mash of corn and malted barley, fermented for five days, then triple-distilled in 200-litre copper pot stills. It is aged for two years in American oak barrels, resulting in that recognisable sweet, smooth bourbon taste. Buy here.

5. US Chocolate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups 42g | £1 for a 2-pack

There’s something uber hedonistic about popping a Reese’s Buttercup in your mouth – its shell-like carapace giving way as it bursts in your mouth, spilling its creamy, slightly salty peanut butter filling.

But with cocoa prices on the rise and the fact that they’re imported from the USA, they are likely to become a bit pricey.

The good news is we have manufacturers of premium grade buttercup choccies right here on our doorstep in Britain.

Buy British

Pip & Nut: Nut Butter Cups (£18.25 x 15 bars; £1.21 per bar): Pip & Nut offers a variety of nut butter products, including their Nut Butter Cups made in the UK with real nut butter and ethically sourced chocolate from Tony’s Open Chain. They are the first UK confectionery brand to join Tony’s mission, which aims to end exploitation in the cocoa production. Buy here.
Montezuma’s: Peanut Butter Chocolate Treats (£4.99, 500g): Montezuma’s is committed to never using palm oil to help preserve rainforests. They offer various peanut butter chocolate treats, including their moreish peanut butter and milk chocolate mini eggs and indulgent dark chocolate peanut butter mini eggs. Buy here.

6. US Drink Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice 1 Litre | £2.40

North America pretty much has a monopoly on the world’s cranberries, so it might be difficult to find a cranberry-infused drink that isn’t hit by tariffs going forward.

Of course, North America contains Canada, so if you want a tariff-free beverage, you might have to shop in America’s northern neighbour, but if you want a drink made right here that can rival American cranberry juice, we have a few below that should quench your thirst.

Buy British

Biona organic cranberry pure juice (£6.29, 0.3L): Made from 100% organically grown, freshly pressed cranberries, this juice contains zero preservatives or concentrates. Also available in 750ml. Buy here.
Scarlet Cranberry Juice (£20.82, sold in 6×0.25L packs; £3.47 per individual item): A UK-based producer specialising in 100% fruit-based juices, Scarlet collaborates with local growers, primarily sourcing cranberries from regional suppliers, ensuring the use of British-grown fruit. The juice is cold-pressed, not from concentrate, and free from additives. Buy here.

7. US Sportswear New Balance ‘Made in USA’ | £200 – £220 per Pair

The famous American sportswear brand has production in the UK, but its Made in USA brand, as the name suggests, is exclusively hand-manufactured in the USA.

The Made in USA mark is famous among sneakerheads for its iconic heritage and performance sneakers, including classics like the 990 series, 993, 992, and 996.

The good news is that there are plenty of sustainable UK sneaker brand alternatives to New Balance Made in the USA.

Buy British

LØCI: LØCI is a London-based sustainable sneaker brand that combines luxury with eco-friendly materials such as recycled plastics, corn waste, and organic cotton. Their sneakers are stylish, bio-leather (vegan), and crafted sustainably. Price range: £90-£140. Buy here.
GORAL Shoes: Sustainability runs through everything this Sheffield-based shoe company does. Each pair is handcrafted and made to order in England. They use high-quality leather and produce shoes that are designed for durability and long-term use, offering a free lifetime repair service. Price range: £270-£720. Buy here.

8. US Whiskey Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 1L | £19.96

Every bottle of JD is distilled in Lynchburg, Tennessee. It’s America’s most recognisable whisky and is a fixture in UK bars.

An accessible, protean American whisky, Jack Daniel’s can be sipped neat, poured over rocks and goes well in all manner of cocktails.

The Brit equivalents we have listed below sport some of the same accessibility as JD and mix well with others, so they are perfect if you’re looking to cook up a few cocktails with a whisky.

Buy British

The Lakes Distillery: The One Fine Blended Whisky (£38, 70cl): A versatile blended whisky that combines select grain and malt Scotch whiskies from Speyside and Islay, with The Lakes Single Malt at its core. This distillery in the UK’s iconic Lake District ticks all the boxes when it comes to sustainability. It uses biomass heating, water conservation, and the repurposing of waste materials. Buy here.
Adnams Triple Malt Whisky (£42.99, 70cl): Aged in American bourbon barrels for five years, you should find some of the recognisable US bourbon-like mellowness of Jack Daniel’s. The distillery is big on sustainability, using only local East Anglian rye and barley in its brews. Buy here.

Ditch US Brands for UK Brands – Support British Farmers & Businesses!

The U.S. is the largest market for British agri-food products outside of the EU. The emerging trade war should make all consumers reflect on their shopping choices.

Not only the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has expressed concern about the 10% tariff imposed by the U.S. on UK exports. Many more UK businesses will be impacted.

By buying British-made goods we have listed above, you’ll be helping UK farmers and producers weather the adverse Trumpian winds blowing in from across the Atlantic.