Esprit

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 Esprit “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It uses some lower-impact materials including recycled materials.
• It follows an unsustainable fast fashion model with quickly changing trends and regular new styles.
• It’s set an absolute target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its direct operations but not its supply chain.
• 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 Esprit “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• Some of its supply chain is certified by Business Social Compliance Initiative Code of Conduct - BSCI.
• It received a score of 41-50% in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index.
• There’s no evidence it supports diversity and inclusion in its 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 did not disclose adequate policies or safeguards 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 Esprit “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It has a formal policy aligned with the Five Freedoms of animal welfare but no clear implementation mechanisms in place.
• It appears to use leather, exotic animal hair, and silk.
• Responsible Wool Standard certifies some of the wool it sources.
• It uses recycled down in all of its products.
• 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 Esprit “Not Good Enough” overall.