Image credit: Lululemon

Lululemon

Rated: It's a start

price:
$$$$

location: Canada

Lululemon sustainability rating

Planet

2 out of 5

People

2 out of 5

Animals

3 out of 5

Overall rating: It's a start

Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We avoid) to 5 (Great) How we rate


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

  • It uses some lower-impact materials including recycled materials.
  • There's no evidence it minimises textile waste when manufacturing its products.
  • There’s no evidence it’s taking actions to protect biodiversity 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.
  • It’s eliminated some hazardous chemicals but has not made a commitment to eliminate all hazardous chemicals in manufacturing.

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

  • It partly traces its supply chain including the final and some of the second production stages.
  • Some of its final production stage is certified by Fair Labor Association (FLA).
  • Its Code of Conduct covers ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles.
  • There’s no evidence it supports diversity and inclusion in most 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.
  • It’s taken insufficient steps to remediate its links to cotton sourced from Xinjiang, a region in China at risk of Uyghur forced labour.

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

  • It uses few animal derived materials.
  • It appears to use wool, and exotic animal hair.
  • Responsible Down Standard certifies the down it uses.
  • It doesn’t appear to use leather, shearling, fur, angora, or exotic animal skin.

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

Last updated 2025-01-31