The Good On You ethical brand rating system gives you the power to make better choices as an informed shopper. Choices that reflect your commitment to doing better by the planet, people and animals. We believe fashion brands have a responsibility and should be transparent about their impact. How did the clothes you’re wearing get to you and how do your favourite brands stack up?
People
We look at brands impact on workers across the supply chain. These include policies and practices on child labour, forced labour, worker safety, freedom of association (the right to join a union) and payment of a living wage. We also consider the brand’s supplier relationships and auditing practices.
Planet
We consider each brand’s resource use and disposal, energy use and carbon emissions, impacts on water, as well as chemical use and disposal.
Animals
We identify the use of fur, angora, down feather, shearling, karakul and exotic animal skin and hair. We also consider wool use including ‘mulesing’ and whether and how the brand uses leather.
For each of people, planet and animals we also consider if brands are taking positive steps – such as providing industry leadership on issues – or whether they engage in ‘negative citizenship’ like lobbying against legislation to increase transparency or reduce harm.
Information sources
Good On You ethical brand ratings build on the great work done by certification schemes and other independent rating projects. One of the most reliable sources of information about how a brand performs on an issue comes from certification schemes like Fair Trade, Cradle to Cradle and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). However only a small minority of brands offer certified products and so in addition, we look at the standard systems brands may choose to follow and the other actions that they claim to take. We take into account information from more than 50 certifications schemes, standards systems and independent ratings or assessment methods that are available for use by brands.
Where an issue is not fully covered by a standard system or rating, we consider the brand’s own public statements. We only put weight on those statements where they meet certain conditions that increase their reliability and usefulness. In particular, we look for statements that make relevant and specific claims which, if false, would breach misleading advertising laws.
Rating System
We avoid
These brands provide little to no relevant or concrete information. In some cases, the brand may make ambiguous claims that look like greenwash. We think you have a right to comprehensive and accurate information about how a brand impacts on people, planet and animals!
Not good enough
These brands have provided some information in several areas, but not enough for us to truly know what happens in their supply chains.
It's a start
These brands are transparent in at least one area and making good progress on one or more of the main issues we look at.
Good
These brands have taken several significant positive initiatives, are often leaders on one or more key issues, and in most case are very transparent.
Great
These brands score highly in at least two categories and have one or more robust certifications or accreditations. They’re often designed from the ground up to be sustainable and ethical, and they’re usually super transparent.
For more details on our principles, ratings process, sources and the issues we look at download our Ratings Guide.