Smitten Merino

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

• It uses few lower-impact materials.
• It manufactures its products closer to home to reduce the climate impact of long-distance shipping.
• To minimise waste, it reuses some of its textile offcuts.
• There’s no evidence it’s taking meaningful action to reduce water use.

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

• Its final production stage happens in Australia a low risk country for labour abuse.
• There's no evidence it has a Code of Conduct but it has a formal statement covering workers rights.
• It traces most of its supply chain.
• 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 Smitten Merino “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It appears to use fur, exotic animal hair, and silk.
• Responsible Wool Standard certifies the wool it sources.
• It doesn’t appear to use leather, down, angora, or exotic animal skin.

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