The White Company

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 The White Company “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It uses some lower-impact materials including organic cotton.
• It uses renewable energy in its direct operations (such as stores or offices) but not in its supply chain.
• There’s no evidence it’s taking actions to protect biodiversity in its supply chain.
• It claims to use Leather Working Group certified tanneries but doesn’t specify details about its certification.

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 The White Company “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• More than half its final production stage is certified by Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit - SMETA Best Practice Guidance.
• There’s no evidence it provides financial security to its suppliers, which can result in poor working conditions and wages.
• Its Code of Conduct covers ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles.
• 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 The White Company “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It appears to use leather, shearling, wool, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, and down.
• A high proportion of its animal-derived materials consist of recycled or certified alternatives to conventional cashmere, wool, mohair, alpaca, and down.
• It has a formal policy aligned with the Five Domains of Animal Welfare.

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