ESSEN

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 ESSEN “Good”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It uses some lower-impact materials including recycled materials, however it does not publish an aggregate breakdown of materials used.
• To minimise waste, its products are made to order.
• It takes meaningful action to reduce emissions from transportation and distribution.
• To minimise plastic waste, it uses packaging that consumers can repurpose and reuse.
• There’s no evidence it minimises solvent-based chemicals, which can be harmful to workers and the environment in production.

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 ESSEN “Good”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• Its final production stage happens in medium risk countries for labour abuse, however it doesn't publish an aggregate breakdown of supplier locations.
• It partly traces its supply chain including the final and some of the second production stages.
• Its Code of Conduct covers ILO principles.
• The brand claims to audit some of its supply chain but doesn’t specify what percentage.
• There’s no evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in its supply chain.

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 ESSEN “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It appears to use leather and shearling.
• Some of its animal-derived materials consist of recycled or certified alternatives to conventional leather.
• It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, exotic animal skin, wool, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, or down.
• There’s no evidence it has an animal welfare policy.

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate ESSEN “Good” overall.