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 Burberry “Good”. These are a few issues influencing its score:
- It uses some lower-impact materials including organic cotton.
- It produces long lasting products.
- To minimise waste, it reuses some of its textile offcuts.
- It’s set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain, and it claims it’s on track.
- It’s set a target to eliminate hazardous chemicals by 2025 but claims it’s not on track.
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 Burberry “Not Good Enough”. These are a few issues influencing its score:
- None 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 2022 Fashion Transparency Index.
- There’s no evidence it supports diversity and inclusion in its supply chain.
- 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 Burberry “Not Good Enough”. These are a few issues influencing its score:
- It has a formal policy aligned with the Five Domains of animal welfare.
- It appears to use leather, wool, shearling, exotic animal hair, and silk.
- Responsible Down Standard certifies 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 Burberry “It's a Start” overall.
As an expert in sustainability and ethical business practices, my extensive knowledge in the field allows me to critically evaluate and dissect the environmental, social, and animal welfare aspects of brands. Let's delve into the various concepts mentioned in the article about Burberry's sustainability rating.
1. Environmental Rating ("Planet"):
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Carbon Emissions and Wastewater: Burberry's supply chain is evaluated based on environmental policies, including carbon emissions and wastewater management. This indicates the brand's commitment to minimizing its environmental impact.
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Business Models and Product Circularity: The evaluation considers aspects like business models and product circularity, emphasizing sustainable practices throughout the brand's operations.
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Lower-Impact Materials: Burberry incorporates lower-impact materials, such as organic cotton, demonstrating a proactive approach towards sustainable sourcing.
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Long-Lasting Products and Waste Minimization: The brand produces long-lasting products and actively works to minimize waste by reusing textile offcuts. This reflects a commitment to reducing the environmental footprint.
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Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction: Burberry has set science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain. Claiming to be on track indicates a proactive approach to environmental responsibility.
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Hazardous Chemical Elimination: Although Burberry has set a target to eliminate hazardous chemicals by 2025, the claim of being off track indicates a need for improvement in this aspect of environmental responsibility.
2. Social Rating ("People"):
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Workers' Rights: The evaluation of workers' rights includes factors such as child labor, living wages, and gender equality. Burberry's "Not Good Enough" rating suggests shortcomings in these areas.
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Labor Standards Certification: None of Burberry's supply chain is certified by crucial labor standards, which raises concerns about worker health, safety, and rights.
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Fashion Transparency Index: Burberry received a score of 31-40% in the 2022 Fashion Transparency Index, indicating room for improvement in terms of transparency.
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Diversity and Inclusion: There's no evidence that Burberry supports diversity and inclusion in its supply chain, highlighting a gap in the brand's social responsibility efforts.
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Wage Improvement Program: While the brand claims to have a program to improve wages, the lack of evidence ensuring living wages in most of its supply chain impacts its social rating.
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COVID-19 Worker Protection: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Burberry disclosed adequate policies to protect workers in its supply chain, reflecting responsible crisis management.
3. Animal Welfare Rating ("Animals"):
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Formal Animal Welfare Policy: Burberry has a formal policy aligned with the Five Domains of animal welfare, indicating a commitment to ethical treatment of animals.
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Animal-Derived Materials: The brand appears to use various animal-derived materials, including leather, wool, shearling, exotic animal hair, and silk.
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Certification: Responsible Down Standard certifies the down used by Burberry, demonstrating a commitment to responsible sourcing.
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Non-Use of Fur, Angora, and Exotic Animal Skin: Burberry does not appear to use fur, angora, or exotic animal skin, reflecting a stance against controversial materials.
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Traceability: The brand traces some animal-derived materials to the first production stage, showcasing transparency in sourcing.
Overall Rating:
- Based on publicly available information, Burberry receives an "It's a Start" overall rating. This suggests that while the brand has made strides in certain sustainability aspects, there is still room for improvement across environmental, social, and animal welfare dimensions.
In conclusion, this comprehensive analysis highlights the multifaceted nature of sustainability assessments, emphasizing the importance of brands adopting holistic and responsible practices across their entire supply chain.
