Wacoal

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

• It uses few lower-impact materials, and it does not publish an aggregate breakdown of materials used.
• There’s no evidence it takes action to minimise its packaging, which is a driver of plastic waste.
• It offers clothing recycling to consumers to help address end-of-life textile waste.
• It’s set an absolute target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain but there’s no evidence it’s on track.
• There’s no evidence it’s taking meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals in manufacturing.

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

• Some of its final stage is located in low risk countries or certified facilities.
• 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.
• The brand claims to audit some of its supply chain but doesn’t specify what percentage.
• There’s no evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in its supply chain.
• It has not taken sufficient steps to remediate its links to cotton sourced from Xinjiang, a region in China at risk of Uyghur forced labour.

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

• It appears to use wool, cashmere, and down.
• It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, leather, shearling, alpaca, or mohair.
• There’s no evidence it has an animal welfare policy.

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