Gap

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

• It follows an unsustainable fast fashion model due to its regular heavy discounts and very large number of products
• It uses some lower-impact materials, and it does not publish an aggregate breakdown of materials used..
• 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.
• It’s published a biodiversity protection policy that applies to some of its supply chain.
• It uses some recycled packaging.

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

• It has a basic policy to support diversity and inclusion in its direct operations and supply chain.
• Its Code of Conduct covers ILO principles.
• It has initiatives to empower vulnerable women and girls in some of 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 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 Gap “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It has a formal policy but it is not aligned with the Five Domains of Animal Welfare.
• It appears to use leather, wool, and cashmere.
• Some of its animal-derived materials consist of recycled or certified alternatives to conventional wool.
• It doesn’t appear to use fur, exotic animal skin, angora, shearling, alpaca, mohair, or down.

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