Outerknown

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

• It uses a medium proportion of lower-impact materials including organic cotton.
• It uses lower-impact materials that help limit the chemicals, water, and wastewater in its supply chain.
• It takes action to reduce process greenhouse gas emissions in its first production stage.
• While it offers resale of secondhand products, there’s no evidence it’s taking further action to address textile waste in its supply chain.
• It uses some recycled packaging.

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 Outerknown “Great”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• Its entire final production stage is certified by Fair Labor Association (FLA).
• Its Code of Conduct covers ILO principles.
• It audits some of its supply chain including all of the final production stage.
• 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.

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

• It appears to use wool and cashmere.
• A high proportion of its animal-derived materials consist of recycled or certified alternatives to conventional cashmere and wool.
• It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, exotic animal skin, leather, shearling, alpaca, mohair, or down.
• It uses few animal-derived materials.

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate Outerknown “Good” overall.