Hermès

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

• It uses some lower-impact materials including organic cotton.
• 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 uses tanneries that are Leather Working Group certified.
• It produces long-lasting products.

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 Hermès “Not Good Enough”. 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 21-30% in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index.
• There’s no evidence it supports diversity and inclusion in its supply chain.
• It ensures some workers in the final production stage are paid living wages, though not in its entire 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 Hermès “Very Poor”. 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, wool, down, fur, exotic animal skin, shearling, exotic animal hair, horn, and silk.
• It doesn’t appear to use angora.
• It traces some animal-derived materials to the first production stage.

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate Hermès “Not Good Enough” overall.