Image credit: Athleta

Athleta

Rated: It's a start

price:
$$$$

location: United States

Athleta is not taking adequate steps to ensure payment of a living wage for its workers.

Athleta sustainability rating

Planet

3 out of 5

People

3 out of 5

Animals

3 out of 5

Overall rating: It's a start

Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We avoid) to 5 (Great) How we rate


Athleta is owned by GAP, Inc.

Our “Planet” rating evaluates brands based on the environmental policies in their supply chains, from carbon emissions and wastewater to business models and product circularity. Here we rate Athleta “It’s a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

  • It uses some lower-impact materials including recycled materials.
  • There's no evidence it minimises textile waste in its supply chain.
  • It’s set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain, and it claims it’s on track.
  • There’s no evidence it’s taking actions to protect biodiversity in its supply chain.

Workers’ rights are central to our “People” rating, which assess brands’ policies and practices on everything from child labour to living wages and gender equality. Here we rate Athleta “It’s a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

  • None of its supply chain is certified by crucial labour standards that help ensure worker health and safety, living wages, and other rights.
  • It received a score of 41-50% in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index.
  • It has a basic policy to support diversity and inclusion in its direct operations and supply chain.
  • It claims to have a program to improve wages but there’s no evidence it ensures its workers are paid living wages in most of its supply chain.
  • During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it disclosed some policies to protect workers in its supply chain from the virus.

Brands’ animal welfare policies and, where applicable, how well they trace their animal-derived products are the focus of our “Animals” rating. Here we rate Athleta “It’s a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

  • It has a basic animal welfare policy with no clear implementation mechanisms in place.
  • It appears to use leather, wool, and exotic animal hair.
  • Responsible Down Standard certifies the down it uses.
  • It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, or exotic animal skin.
  • It traces some animal-derived materials to the first production stage.

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate Athleta “It’s a Start” overall.

Last updated January 2024