Is Boohoo Ethical?
Boohoo’s overall rating remains “Poor” due to lack of transparency, poor practices in environmental, labour, and animal welfare categories, and reliance on an ultra-fast fashion model that is inherently unsustainable.
Overal rating
Planet
People
Animals
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (Very Poor) to 5 (Excellent), learn how we rate.
Environmental impact
Boohoo uses few lower-impact materials, lacks action on hazardous chemicals, and has no solid evidence of meeting its emissions reduction targets. It promotes ultra-fast fashion, leading to textile waste and a throwaway culture. Transparency is low, with only 19% disclosure on decarbonization efforts.
Labour conditions
Allegations of worker exploitation in Leicester and Pakistan, and poor conditions during the pandemic, persist. The brand's supply chain lacks certification ensuring health, safety, and living wages for workers. In a 2023 BBC investigation, Boohoo was found to still practice unethical behaviors, such as forcing overtime and driving down supplier payments.
Animal welfare
It has a policy that aligns with the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, prohibiting mulesed wool, but still uses materials like leather and down without fully tracing them.
FAQs
Is Boohoo fast fashion?
Is Boohoo sustainable?
Sources
- Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) - Report that named Boohoo one of the least sustainable fashion brands in the UK in 2019.
- Labour Behind the Label - Organization that reported on worker exploitation and safety issues in Boohoo's supply chain.
- Fashion Transparency Index - Report providing transparency ratings for Boohoo's practices.
- Fashion Revolution’s Global Transparency Report - An edition focused on decarbonizing fashion, highlighting Boohoo's low disclosure rates.
- 2023 Sustainability Report by Boohoo - Claims and initiatives the brand has outlined for improving sustainability.
- The Telegraph - Article discussing Boohoo's financial struggles and job cuts in May 2024.
- BBC Investigation - Undercover reporting revealing exploitative labor practices within Boohoo's supply chain.