Outerknown

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 Outerknown “Good”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It uses a high proportion of lower-impact materials including organic cotton.
• It uses low impact materials that help limit the chemicals, water, and wastewater in its supply chain.
• It avoids plastic packaging.
• To reduce its climate impacts, it uses renewable energy in its supply chain.
• There’s no evidence it minimises textile waste in its supply chain.

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 Outerknown “Good”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• Its entire final production stage is certified by Fair Labor Association (FLA).
• Its Code of Conduct covers ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles.
• It audits some of its supply chain including all of the final production stage.
• It claims to have a program to improve wages but there’s no evidence it ensures its workers are paid living wages in most of its supply chain.

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 Outerknown “Good”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It has a formal policy aligned with the Five Freedoms of animal welfare but no clear implementation mechanisms in place.
• It appears to use wool, exotic animal hair and recycled exotic animal hair.
• It doesn’t appear to use leather, down, fur, angora, or exotic animal skin.

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