Hot Topic

Hot Topic is owned by Sycamore Partners.

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 Hot Topic “Very Poor”. Unfortunately, Hot Topic does not publish sufficient information. You have a right to know how the products you buy affect the issues you care about.

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

• Some of its final stage is located in low risk countries or certified facilities, however it does not publish an aggregate breakdown of suppliers.
• The brand claims to audit some of its supply chain but doesn’t specify what percentage.
• Its Code of Conduct covers some ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles.
• There’s no evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in 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 Hot Topic “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It appears to use wool.
• It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, leather, shearling, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, or down.
• It uses few animal-derived materials.

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