In the fashion industry, ethical consumption has been a much-discussed topic recently. In February 2019, the UK Parliament released a report on ethical consuption and sustainability in fashion, urging retailers to take into consideration the ethical and social cost of clothing items.
Ethical companies in fashion
According to the rating table compiled by Ethical Company Organization, the leading three retailers to score the highest ethical score in the United Kingdom were People Tree, Finisterre, and the School Uniform Shop. As displayed in this statistic, while fair trade brand People Tree topped the list with its ethical company score, fast-fashion retailers such as ASOS received a score of 67. This score was slightly below the benchmark score for ethical performance in the apparel category.
Consumer interest in ethical fashion
In the meantime, the ethical clothing market is expanding in the UK, which is good news indicating an increase of consumer interest in buying from ethical brands. According to the results of a 2020 survey, about one-fifth of UK consumers said they cared about the environmental impact of the clothing items before they buy them. This share was considerably higher in other European countries, particularly in Spain where almost a quarter of the interviewed consumers said the environmental impact of clothing items was something they thought of a great deal.
Ranking of the leading fashion retailers in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2022, based on ethical company index score
* The ethical company index score is used to represent the level of criticism of retailers and brands by environmental and human rights organizations across the world. Information has been compiled multiple sources, including government agencies and NGOs.
In this ranking, retailers' scores are broken down as following: Scores above 75 indicate the top rating; retailers for which the source has found no criticisms or negative records in this category. Scores between 55 and 74 indicate the middle rating; retailers with some criticisms or negative records in this category. Scores below 54 indicate the bottom rating; retailers with the highest level of criticism and negative records in this category.
The source does not give a date of release for the data used in this statistic. The date provided here is the date of access.
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Ethical Company Organisation. (September 26, 2023). Ranking of the leading fashion retailers in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2022, based on ethical company index score [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 08, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/872005/fashion-retailers-by-ethical-ranking-united-kingdom-uk/
Ethical Company Organisation. "Ranking of the leading fashion retailers in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2022, based on ethical company index score." Chart. September 26, 2023. Statista. Accessed December 08, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/872005/fashion-retailers-by-ethical-ranking-united-kingdom-uk/
Ethical Company Organisation. (2023). Ranking of the leading fashion retailers in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2022, based on ethical company index score. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 08, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/872005/fashion-retailers-by-ethical-ranking-united-kingdom-uk/
Ethical Company Organisation. "Ranking of The Leading Fashion Retailers in The United Kingdom (Uk) in 2022, Based on Ethical Company Index Score." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Sep 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/872005/fashion-retailers-by-ethical-ranking-united-kingdom-uk/
Ethical Company Organisation, Ranking of the leading fashion retailers in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2022, based on ethical company index score Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/872005/fashion-retailers-by-ethical-ranking-united-kingdom-uk/ (last visited December 08, 2024)
Ranking of the leading fashion retailers in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2022, based on ethical company index score [Graph], Ethical Company Organisation, September 26, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/872005/fashion-retailers-by-ethical-ranking-united-kingdom-uk/