NEUW

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

• It uses some lower-impact materials including organic cotton.
• There’s no evidence it’s taking meaningful action to reduce water use.
• It claims to use Leather Working Group certified tanneries but doesn’t specify details about its certification.
• To minimise waste, it recycles some of its textile offcuts.

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

• Some of its supply chain is certified by Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit - SMETA Best Practice Guidance.
• It traces most of its supply chain.
• It claims it has a Code of Conduct but does not publicly disclose it.
• There’s no evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in its supply chain.

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 NEUW “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, wool, and exotic animal hair.
• It doesn’t appear to use down, fur, angora, or exotic animal skin.

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