Fat Face

Is FatFace sustainable and ethical?

FatFace is a below-benchmark brand in The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Ratings.

FatFace is a fashion retailer owned by the FatFace Group Ltd., and receives a poor Good Shopping Guide score in our Ethical Fashion Retailers Ratings Table. Although FatFace has not yet met our ethical benchmark, we hope to see the brand make progress in the future.

In what areas does FatFace perform poorly? 

Despite FatFace’s progress, there is still room for improvement. The brand was marked down under several of our criteria, including Human Rights and other issues relating to People. Even though Fat Face claims to have a Code of Conduct, this is not publicly available, so this company cannot be held accountable by consumers. Because of this, it receives a moderate rating.

FatFace’s cotton is also not certified organic, and so receives a low score for our Organic criteria.

FatFace also receives a low score under our Human Rights criteria. In protest against being paid less than the minimum wage at an Indian Designs Exports Private Ltd. factory in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, more than 800 female garment workers went on strike. The employees claim that their monthly pay was as low as 6,000 rupees ($80), that their superiors harass them, and that their working conditions are subpar. In addition to a pay increase to 11,000 rupees per month, they demanded a canteen that is free of charge, a reduction in work hours, and an end to the harassment. The website of Indian Designs Exports lists Columbia Sportswear, FatFace, Gap, H&M, John Lewis, and White Stuff as customers. The Good Shopping Guide believes that all workers should be treated with dignity and respect.

In what areas does FatFace perform well? 

FatFace performs well in our criteria for its Environmental Report. The fashion brand publishes its Sustainable Product information on its website; goals to achieve by 2025 include: all of the polyesters will be made from recycled materials, all viscose goods will come from environmentally friendly sources, the Leather Working Group (LWG) tanneries will supply all leather. In FatFace’s Environmental Report, the company also provides some evidence of goals met so far, such as: cutting its carbon footprint by 8% over the past two years, online delivery bags now made of recycled paper, and bags now made of recycled plastic.

For those consumers passionate about Animal Welfare, FatFace also scores well for its policy on animal rights and animal cruelty. FatFace does not use feathers, down, animal fur, mohair, or angora and to be sure that there’s no animal testing in its supply chain, this fashion retailer uses the Leaping Bunny Standard.

The FatFace Foundation has also given more than £1 million to charities since 2009. Additionally, FatFace has promised to donate the equivalent of 1% of its annual income to a sustainable fundraising stream. Publishing these details allows consumers and consumer groups to hold brands to account.

So how can FatFace improve its Ethical Rating?

The Good Shopping Guide score results from multiple ethical criteria. To reach our minimum Ethical Benchmark and qualify for Ethical Accreditation, FatFace has some issues to resolve, including its treatment of workers and lack of Organic accreditation. If FatFace reconciles these problems, the brand could improve its score and even apply for The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation.

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.