Next

Is Next an ethical and sustainable fashion brand? 

Next is a low-ranking brand in The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Ratings for Fashion Retailers.

Next (sometimes styled as NEXT) is a UK multinational fashion brand owned by Next PLC, and receives a poor Good Shopping Guide in our Ethical Fashion Retailers Ratings Table. Although Next has not yet met our Ethical Benchmark, we hope to see the brand make progress in the future.

We would have extra confidence in this brand if it submitted itself to apply for Ethical Accreditation, whereby we would make further detailed assessments and recommendations for ethical improvement.

In what areas of ethics and sustainability does Next perform poorly? 

Despite Next’s progress, there is still room for improvement. The brand was marked down to a low score under our criteria for Organic accreditation and for its treatment of People.

Next’s track record for Human Rights and worker welfare leaves much to be desired. For instance, Next was one of the companies connected to forced labour in spinning mills in Tamil Nadu, India, according to a report by SOMO. According to the research, the working circumstances in Tamil Nadu are “appalling,” with employees being harassed, pressured, and required to put in a lot of overtime. Due to their inability to communicate in Tamil, many labourers from other Indian states are taken advantage of. They are frequently enlisted under false pretences and wind up spending miserable lives in shut-off hostels. Since COVID, things have unfortunately got much worse; there is more forced overtime, less pay, and more mass firings.

Additionally, Next was accused of not doing enough to sever economic ties with the Communist Party of China, and with their genocide of the Uyghur people. A coalition of more than 180 human rights organisations is urging clothing companies and merchants to stop utilising forced labour in the Uyghur Region and to stop supporting the Chinese government’s violation of human rights. Next was one of the brands singled out by this initiative.

This fashion brand also stocks no products made with certified Organic cotton or fabrics.

In what areas does Next perform well? 

Next performs well for its Environmental Report (this is a category in our Environmental criteria). We particularly assess a brand’s specific and attainable targets and its progress (from a baseline) so far. Next publishes a comprehensive and detailed Environmental Report section in its CSR document, including its targets and sustainability roadmap. Its carbon reports also include information about how they have measured its carbon footprint (in alignment with Science Based Target Initiative), which helps both consumers and investors to know more about the brand’s transparency and methodology.

How can Next brand improve its Ethical Rating?

The Good Shopping Guide score results from multiple ethical criteria in relation to Next. To reach our minimum Ethical Benchmark and qualify for Ethical Accreditation, Next has some issues to resolve, including its treatment of workers and protection of vulnerable people in its supply chain.

If your fashion brand values ethics and sustainability, why not check out The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation? Increase customer and investor confidence and stand out from the greenwash.