GU

GU is owned by Fast Retailing.

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 GU “It’s a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It uses some lower-impact materials including recycled materials.
• It offers clothing recycling to consumers to help address end-of-life textile waste.
• It takes some actions to reduce water use in its supply chain.
• It’s set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain but there’s no evidence it is on track.

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 GU “It’s a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• Its social auditing program covering its entire final production stage is accredited by Fair Labor Association (FLA).
• It received a score of 41-50% in the 2022 Fashion Transparency Index.
• There’s no evidence it implements practices to support diversity and inclusion in its supply chain.
• There’s no evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in its supply chain.
• During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it disclosed adequate 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 GU “Good”. 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 uses some recycled leather in its leather products.
• It doesn’t appear to use wool, down, fur, angora, exotic animal skin, or exotic animal hair.
• There’s no evidence it traces any animal-derived materials to the first production stage.

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