UK fashion retailers failing to commit to reduce environmental impact

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The Environmental Audit Committee publishes the retailers' answers, and analyses companies according to their commitment to environmental sustainability and labour market initiatives. A group of retailers including JD Sports, Sports Direct, Amazon UK and Boohoo were found to be lagging behind the rest of the industry.

None of these have signed up to SCAP (Sustainable Clothing Action Plan) to reduce their carbon, water and waste footprint or the ACT (Action, Collaboration, Transformation) labour rights and living-wage agreement.

The Interim Report is published in the sustainability of the fashion industry inquiry which is considering the ‘fast fashion' business model amid concerns that it encourages over consumption and generates excessive waste.

Chair's Comments

Environmental Audit Committee Chair Mary Creagh MP said:

“We want to see a thriving fashion industry that employs people fairly, inspires creativity and contributes to the economic success of the UK.

“It's shocking to see that a group of major retailers are failing to take action to promote environmental sustainability and protect their workers. It's disappointing that only a third of the retailers we wrote to are signed up to ACT, an important global initiative working towards getting a living wage for all garment workers.

“By publishing this information, customers can choose whether they want to spend money with a company that is doing little to protect the environment or promote proper wages for garment workers. We hope this motivates underperforming retailers to start taking responsibility for their workers and their environmental impact.”

Report Findings

Each retailer was asked about a range of actions and initiatives, including the use of organic or sustainable cotton, limiting the discharge of hazardous chemicals, and the re-use or recycling of unsold stock.

Retailers were then grouped into three categories that reflect their commitment to sustainable fashion and labour market initiatives. These are: less engaged, moderately engaged and engaged retailers.

The Committee noted that retailer Kurt Geiger did not respond to requests for written evidence.

Least Engaged: JD Sports; Sports Direct; TK Maxx; Amazon; Boohoo; and Missguided

Sustainability action: none of the ‘least engaged' retailers have signed up to SCAP targets to reduce their carbon, water and waste footprint and none of them use organic or sustainable cotton in their garments. Of the six only Boohoo and Sports Direct use recycled material in their products. Only TK Maxx offers an in store take back scheme.

Labour market initiatives: none of the six retailers are signed up to the ACT living wage initiative and only one, Missguided, is a member of ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative), which aims to improve working conditions for workers globally. The Committee acknowledges efforts Missguided has made to improve working practices in Leicester.

Amazon UK, a patron of the British Fashion Council, is singled out for its ‘notable' lack of engagement with questions put by the Committee. Though Amazon and TK Maxx are subsidiaries of international corporations that manage their initiatives, the Committee believes this does not absolve them of responsibilities. MPs were concerned about Boohoo's approach to trade union representation.

Moderately engaged: Next; Debenhams; Arcadia Group; and Asda Stores

Sustainability action: each ‘moderately engaged' retailer in this group has taken some steps to address environmental sustainability issues. Arcadia Group and Next are signed up to SCAP targets, whilst Asda Group and Debenhams are not.

It is noted that Next does not run a ‘take-back' schemes for discarded clothes, citing cost as a barrier, whilst all other retailers in this group do. All retailers excluding Asda Group make use of organic cotton.

Labour market initiatives: all retailers excluding Asda are members of ACT. All except for Arcadia Group, are members of ETI.

The Committee noted that Debenhams deserves credit for the range of programmes it is involved with.

Most engaged: ASOS; Marks and Spencer; Tesco; Primark; and Burberry

Sustainability action: all ‘most engaged' retailers use organic or sustainable cotton and recycled material in their products as well as having in store take back schemes. Except for Burberry, all other retailers are signed up to the SCAP targets.

The Committee welcome Burberry's commitment to end the incineration of unsold stock and acknowledge that the company is engaged with a range of other sustainability initiatives to reduce environmental impact.

Labour market initiatives: all five retailers are members of the ETI and ASOS, Tesco and Primark are members of ACT whilst Burberry and Marks and Spencer are not.

The Committee welcome ASOS becoming the first online retailer to sign a Global Framework Agreement with IndustriALL, committing to the highest possible standards on trade union rights, health and safety, and labour relations.

The report concludes:

• Current business model for UK fashion industry is unsustainable
• Exploitative practices must end
• Retailers must lead change through labour market and environmental sustainability practices
• Retailers should show leadership through engagement with industry initiatives

Further information

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