Primark

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 Primark “Not Good Enough”. 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.
• There’s no evidence it minimises textile waste in its supply chain.
• It uses renewable energy in its direct operations (such as stores or offices) but not in its supply chain.

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

• Little of its supply chain is certified by crucial labour standards that help ensure worker health and safety, living wages, and other rights.
• It received a score of 31-40% in the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index.
• There’s no evidence it supports diversity and inclusion in its supply chain.
• There’s no evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in its supply chain.
• During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it disclosed adequate policies 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 Primark “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It has a formal policy aligned with the Five Freedoms of animal welfare but few clear implementation mechanisms in place.
• It appears to use leather and exotic animal hair.
• It states that it sources wool from non-mulesed sheep.
• Responsible Down Standard certifies some of the down it uses.
• It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, or exotic animal skin.
• It traces some animal-derived materials to the first production stage.

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