Primark

Primark is owned by Associated British Foods.

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

• It follows an unsustainable fast fashion model due to its consistently low price points and very large number of products.
• It uses some lower-impact materials including recycled materials, and it does not publish an aggregate breakdown of materials used.
• 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 offers clothing recycling to consumers to help address end-of-life textile waste.
• It avoids plastic 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 Primark “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• Some of its final stage is located in low risk countries or certified facilities, however it does not publish an aggregate breakdown of suppliers.
• There’s no evidence it supports diversity and inclusion in its supply chain.
• Its Code of Conduct covers ILO principles.
• It has initiatives to empower vulnerable women and girls in its supply chain.
• 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.
• 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 appears to use leather, wool, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, and down.
• Some of its animal-derived materials consist of recycled or certified alternatives to conventional cashmere, wool, mohair, alpaca, and down.
• It doesn’t appear to use angora, shearling, fur, or exotic animal skin.
• It states that it sources wool from non-mulesed sheep.
• It has a formal policy but it is not aligned with the Five Domains of Animal Welfare.

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