True Religion is a well-known brand in the fashion industry, but how sustainable are its practices? This article delves into True Religion’s sustainability rating, examining its performance across various categories, including environmental impact, workers’ rights, and animal welfare.
True Religion’s Sustainability Shortcomings
Good On You, a platform that rates fashion brands based on their ethical and sustainable practices, gives True Religion a low overall rating of “We Avoid.” This rating stems from concerning issues across several key areas.
Environmental Concerns
True Religion scores poorly in the “Planet” category, receiving a rating of 1 out of 5. The brand lacks transparency regarding its environmental policies, providing insufficient information about its carbon emissions, wastewater management, and overall approach to circularity. This lack of disclosure makes it difficult to assess the brand’s true environmental impact. Consumers have a right to understand how their purchases affect the planet, and True Religion’s lack of transparency raises significant concerns.
Workers’ Rights Issues
The brand fares even worse in the “People” category, receiving a “Very Poor” rating of 1 out of 5. Several factors contribute to this low score:
- Limited Supply Chain Audits: While True Religion claims to audit its supply chain, it fails to specify the percentage of suppliers covered, raising questions about the comprehensiveness of its oversight.
- Lack of Financial Security for Suppliers: The absence of evidence regarding financial support for suppliers suggests potential vulnerabilities in working conditions and wages.
- Insufficient Diversity and Inclusion Practices: True Religion lacks demonstrable practices that support diversity and inclusion within its operations and supply chain.
- Absence of Living Wage Guarantee: There’s no indication that the brand ensures living wages for workers throughout its supply chain, a crucial aspect of fair labor practices.
- Inadequate COVID-19 Worker Protections: During the peak of the pandemic, True Religion failed to disclose adequate policies to protect its supply chain workers from the virus.
Animal Welfare Practices
True Religion receives a “Good” rating of 4 out of 5 in the “Animals” category. However, this score is primarily due to a lack of evidence rather than positive practices. Key concerns include:
- Absence of a Clear Animal Welfare Policy: True Religion lacks a publicly available animal welfare policy outlining its commitment to ethical treatment of animals.
- Use of Leather: The brand appears to use leather, raising concerns about the sourcing and processing of animal hides.
- Lack of Traceability: There’s no evidence of tracing animal-derived materials back to their origin, making it difficult to assess the sustainability and ethical implications of their use.
Conclusion: The Need for Greater Transparency and Action
True Religion’s low sustainability rating highlights the need for significant improvements in its practices. Increased transparency, comprehensive supply chain audits, implementation of fair labor practices, and a clear commitment to animal welfare are crucial steps the brand must take to earn consumer trust and contribute to a more sustainable fashion industry. Consumers seeking ethical and sustainable fashion choices should consider these findings when making purchasing decisions. As of February 2024, True Religion has significant work to do to improve its sustainability performance.
