Image credit: Johnstons of Elgin

Johnstons of Elgin

Rated: Good

price:
$$$$

location: United Kingdom

Johnstons of Elgin is a luxury clothing label that houses the finest woollens and cashmere knitwear.

Johnstons of Elgin sustainability rating

Planet

4 out of 5

People

5 out of 5

Animals

4 out of 5

Overall rating: Good

Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We avoid) to 5 (Great) How we rate


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 Johnstons of Elgin “Good”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

  • It uses low impact non-toxic dyes in all of its products.
  • There’s no evidence it uses any lower-impact materials.
  • It produces long-lasting products.
  • To minimise waste, it recycles all of its textile offcuts.
  • To reduce its climate impacts, it uses renewable energy in its supply chain.
  • It uses some recycled packaging.

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 Johnstons of Elgin “Great”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

  • Its final production stage happens in the UK, Portugal and Italy, medium risk countries for labour abuse.
  • Its Code of Conduct covers ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles.
  • It traces most of its supply chain.
  • It audits some of its supply chain including most of the final and second stages of production.
  • It ensures some workers in the final and second production stages are paid living wages.

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 Johnstons of Elgin “Good”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

  • It appears to use leather, exotic animal hair, and silk.
  • Responsible Wool Standard certifies the wool it sources.
  • It doesn’t appear to use down, fur, angora, or exotic animal skin.

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate Johnstons of Elgin “Good” overall.

Last updated January 2024