NA-KD

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

• It uses some lower-impact materials including recycled materials.
• It follows an unsustainable fast fashion model with quickly changing trends and regular new styles.
• It trains its designers to improve the circularity of its products.
• 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.

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

• More than half its final production stage is certified by Business Social Compliance Initiative Code of Conduct - BSCI, Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit - SMETA Best Practice Guidance, and Social Accountability International - SA8000.
• There’s no evidence it supports diversity and inclusion in its supply chain.
• It sources its final stage of production from countries with extreme risk of labour abuse.
• 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 NA-KD “It’s a Start”. 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, and exotic animal hair.
• It uses recycled wool in some of its wool products.
• It uses some recycled down in its products.
• It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, or exotic animal skin.
• 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 NA-KD “It’s a Start” overall.