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Burberry is known for its timeless style and iconic trench coats, but how is the brand impacting people, the planet, and animals? How ethical is Burberry? Let’s have a look at what’s behind the brand’s “It’s a Start” rating. This article is based on the Burberry rating published in March 2023 and may not reflect claims the brand has made since then. Our ratings analysts are constantly rerating the thousands of brands you can check on our directory.
Behind the iconic trench: how ethical is Burberry?
Established in 1856, Burberry is a British luxury fashion powerhouse known for its timeless styles and unmistakable check pattern.
Burberry’s iconic trench coats—worn by everyone from royals to celebrities and bankers in the city—exude timeless elegance. But the brand’s ethics haven’t always been as polished and refined. In July 2018, Burberry provoked a storm of criticism when it was revealed the brand had burned unsold stock worth millions of dollars. The brand has since stopped destroying unsaleable products and has implemented a strategy to reduce waste.
With Daniel Lee in as the new chief creative officer and the brand solidly in the spotlight, it seemed time to take a closer look at the brand’s ethical practices. How is Burberry managing its impacts on people, the planet, and animals across its supply chain? In short, how ethical is Burberry? Let’s see what the rating has to say.
Environmental impact
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”.
The brand uses some lower-impact materials including organic cotton, produces long lasting products, and reuses some of its textile offcuts to minimise waste.
It’s also set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain, and claims it’s on track. While it also has a target to eliminate hazardous chemicals by 2025, it doesn’t appear to be on track.
It’s also worth noting that after the burned stock scandal, the brand announced that it would “stop the practice of destroying unsaleable products”.
This commitment is said to build on the goals that Burberry set in 2017 as part of its five-year responsibility agenda. Its new strategy aims at tackling the causes of the waste. In May 2018, Burberry became a core partner of the Make Fashion Circular Initiative convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. It has also partnered with responsible luxury brand Elvis & Kresse to transform 120 tonnes of leather waste into new products.
In 2020, the brand also launched its ReBurberry Fabric initiatives in partnership with the British Fashion Council, with the goal to promote a circular economy by donating surplus fabrics to fashion students, allowing materials to be upcycled, saving them from going to waste.
Labour conditions
Burberry received a “Not Good Enough” rating in the people category, in which we evaluate brands’ policies and practices related to workers’ rights. There are a few issues influencing its score, including the fact that none of its supply chain is certified by crucial labour standards that help ensure worker health and safety, living wages, and other rights. There’s also no evidence it supports diversity and inclusion in its supply chain.
The brand received a score of 31-40% in the 2022 Fashion Transparency Index. And while it claims to have a program to improve wages, we found no evidence it ensures its workers are paid living wages in most of its supply chain.
On a positive note, Burberry did disclose satisfactory policies to protect workers in its supply chain during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But let’s be clear: no brand can truly be more sustainable and more responsible if it doesn’t treat and pay its workers fairly. Burberry needs to do better.
Animal welfare
Burberry also rated “Not Good Enough” for its impact on animals.
The brand has a fairly strong formal policy aligned with the Five Domains of animal welfare and it doesn’t use fur, angora, or exotic animal skin. However, it uses down (certified by the Responsible Down Standard), leather, wool, shearling, exotic animal hair, and silk, tracing some of these animal-derived materials to the first production stage. Luxury brands are notorious for animal welfare issues, and many of them need to come into the 21st century and switch to cruelty-free fabrics to stay relevant with conscious consumers.
Overall impact
Based on our research and publicly available information, we rate Burberry “It’s a Start”.
The brand has a mixed track record: while it does use more responsible materials, it must intensify its efforts to minimise its impact on people and animals. The brand should start by reducing its use of animal-derived materials, making sure its workers are treated fairly and are paid a living wage.
Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.
Burberry may create timeless luxury classics, but it’s not quite there yet in terms of more sustainable practices. As a consumer, you can make a difference by taking care of what you own, reducing what you buy, shopping second hand, and choosing to support brands that are doing better than Burberry.
If you’re interested in more sustainable alternatives to Burberry, we recommend checking out second hand options first. And if you want to buy new, check out the brands below.
Good swaps
“Good” and “Great” alternatives to Burberry.
Burberry (Pre-Owned)
Rated: It's A Start
Burberry is a British luxury fashion house known for its timeless beige trench coats. The brand has good policies to monitor suppliers, but it still uses exotic animal products. Shopping Burberry second hand allows us to add items to our wardrobe without using additional resources in the manufacturing process, to keep clothes out of landfills, and to (re)discover Burberry's unique and special pieces along the way.
Aiayu
Rated: Good
Danish sustainable luxury brand Aiayu offers building blocks to a conscious home and wardrobe, with an emphasis on quality and time enduring designs. Established in 2015, Aiayu products are created with care for the environment, its workers, and the wearer. The brand embodies its belief that the combination of a product’s origins, more sustainable production, and environmental impact are equally as vital as its aesthetics.
Find most items in sizes XS-L.
Edeline Lee
Rated: Good
Edeline Lee is a London based brand that features ready-to-wear collections that are structured, feminine, and for the future lady. Her pieces are designed with a soul, made with quality and meaning, made to fit well to lift the best out of you.
The items are available in sizes 6-12.
E.L.V. Denim
Rated: Good
Offers
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E.L.V. Denim specialises in luxury, upcycled denim produced using more responsible practices.Exclusive 15% off with code ELVONYOU15.(Ends: 31 DEC)
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E.L.V. Denim transforms old discarded denim into modern, sophisticated, and even made-to-measure jean jackets, pants, and accessories.
Find most jeans in UK sizes 24-32.
Mashu
Rated: Good
Mashu is a British more sustainable vegan accessories label specialising in handbags. Mashu’s environmental rating is "Good", crafting its exterior with vegan leather alternatives while its interiors feature vegan suede made from recycled polyester, ensuring you never have to sacrifice your morals for style again.
Parker Clay
Rated: Good
A bag that saves lives? You got it. Parker Clay is an American based brand looking to create a future without exploitation by bettering lives and communities in Ethiopia. The brand has partnered with Ellilta Women at Risk program, fighting to bring women out of prostitution by providing a more stable income and safe working environment. Parker Clay also helps preserve traditional Ethiopian techniques, materials, and styles, ensuring that this fast growing country is able to remain close to its beautiful roots.
Sans Beast
Rated: Good
Founded in 2018 with the sole purpose of delivering pieces that had beauty without the beast, Sans Beast is an Australian accessories brand creating luxury vegan bags and accessories entirely cruelty-free. They are particular about their sourcing, using materials like Global Recycled Standard certified materials, and innovative plant-based leathers made from cactus and apple.
Stella McCartney
Rated: Good
A member of the Ethical Trading Initiative and Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Stella McCartney has set some excellent environmental standards across the luxury fashion industry. Stella uses some lower-impact materials, including recycled polyester and organic cotton, and has a strategy in place to reduce waste across its entire supply chain. It has also adopted the ETI Code of Conduct that includes a living wage definition.
Find most items in sizes 34-52.
Shop Stella McCartney @ LVRSustainable.
Editor's note
Feature image via Unsplash, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use ourdirectoryto search thousands of rated brands.
As an enthusiast deeply versed in ethical fashion and sustainability, I bring forth my extensive knowledge in assessing and understanding the nuanced complexities of brands' impact on people, the planet, and animals. This expertise is grounded in years of research, analysis, and a commitment to promoting conscious consumerism.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article about Burberry's ethical rating, covering environmental impact, labor conditions, and animal welfare.
Environmental Impact:
Burberry receives a "Good" rating for its environmental impact. This rating is determined by evaluating factors such as carbon emissions, wastewater management, business models, and product circularity within the brand's supply chain. The brand uses lower-impact materials, including organic cotton, and has set science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Despite a commitment to eliminating hazardous chemicals by 2025, there are concerns about the brand being off-track in this regard.
Burberry has taken steps to address its environmental impact post the 2018 stock burning scandal. Initiatives like becoming a core partner of the Make Fashion Circular Initiative and collaborating with responsible luxury brands demonstrate a commitment to sustainability.
Labour Conditions:
In the category of labor conditions, Burberry receives a "Not Good Enough" rating. The evaluation considers the brand's policies and practices related to workers' rights. Crucially, none of Burberry's supply chain is certified by essential labor standards, and there's a lack of evidence supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives. The brand scored 31-40% in the 2022 Fashion Transparency Index, indicating room for improvement. While there's acknowledgment of a program to enhance wages, evidence of ensuring living wages in most of its supply chain is lacking.
Animal Welfare:
Burberry also garners a "Not Good Enough" rating for its impact on animals. Despite having a strong formal policy aligned with the Five Domains of animal welfare and not using fur, angora, or exotic animal skin, concerns arise from the use of down, leather, wool, shearling, exotic animal hair, and silk. The brand traces some of these animal-derived materials to the first production stage, indicating a need for more stringent animal welfare practices.
Overall Impact:
Burberry receives an "It's a Start" rating based on a comprehensive evaluation of its environmental, labor, and animal welfare practices. The brand's mixed track record highlights both positive strides and areas that require intensified efforts. Recommendations for improvement include a reduction in the use of animal-derived materials, ensuring fair treatment and living wages for workers, and an overall commitment to more sustainable practices.
In conclusion, while Burberry is renowned for its timeless luxury, its journey towards sustainable and ethical practices is a work in progress. As a conscious consumer, alternatives with better ratings, such as those mentioned in the article, could be considered for a more sustainable fashion choice.
