How Ethical Is Cotton On?

Trendy, affordable, and accessible. Cotton On may be popular, but is it doing right by people, the planet, and animals in production?

NOTE: This brand’s rating is under review and subject to change. The article will be updated soon to reflect any changes in scoring. This article is based on the Cotton On rating published in January 2022.

Is Cotton On sustainable or ethical?

Australian brand Cotton On is known and loved around the world for its fun and affordable clothing and accessories. But just how is it doing when it comes to its environmental impact, the treatment of its workers, and animal welfare? How ethical is Cotton On?

The Cotton On Group includes brands such as Rubi Shoes, Factorie, and Supré. According to the Cotton On Manifesto, the company is “focused on building an ethical, sustainable, and profitable business and ensuring we have a positive impact on our people, the community, the planet and all those we connect with.” But does this translate into real-world action? Let’s take a look.

Environmental impact

Cotton On doesn’t publish sufficient relevant information about its environmental policies to achieve a high rating, and we have a sneaking suspicion why. We found no evidence it reduces its carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain, that it has taken meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals, or that it minimises textile waste.

As a fast fashion brand, Cotton On produces huge quantities of cheaply made garments, most of which are made from unsustainable materials including conventional cotton, viscose, and polyester. Manufacturing these materials consumes vast amounts of energy and water, not to mention the use of hazardous chemicals. Not only do these chemicals have a detrimental effect on workers and the surrounding air, soil, waterways, and communities, but they have also been found to affect those who end up wearing the clothes.

As a shopper, you have the right to know how a brand’s production practices impact the environment. We strongly recommend Cotton On gets its act together and publicly provides information about its environmental policies. For all these reasons, we rated Cotton On’s impact on the environment “Not Good Enough”.

Labour conditions

Cotton On also rates “Not Good Enough” for workers. The brand has a Code of Conduct that covers all of the ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles and audits some of its supply chain, including all of the final stage of production.

However, we found no evidence Cotton On ensures payment of a living wage in its supply chain or that it has initiatives to prevent human trafficking. In addition, the brand doesn’t disclose any policies or safeguards to protect suppliers and workers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19.

Animal welfare

We found no evidence Cotton On has a policy to minimise the suffering of animals or that it traces any animal product to the first stage of production. And while the brand does not use fur, angora, down, exotic animal skin and hair, it still uses leather and wool. This is problematic as the welfare of leather workers and animals are unknown and therefore cannot be guaranteed. Which is why we rated Cotton On “Not Good Enough” for its impact on animals as well.

Overall rating: Not Good Enough

So, how ethical is Cotton On? Cotton On is rated “Not Good Enough” based on information from our own research. Despite its declarations of sustainability and ethical practice, Cotton On still has a long way to go before it can truly back up its claims. Though those cheap price tags can be very tempting, it’s important to remember that there’s a reason why they’re so cheap in the first place. Investing in a few, well-made pieces that will last a lifetime—or better yet, buying second hand—are much better alternatives for the environment and your bank account.

Note that Good On You ratings consider 100s of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the rating.

Here are a few of our favourite eco-friendly alternatives to Cotton On, that are implementing ethical and sustainable practices when it comes making beautiful, timeless pieces.

Good swaps

Sustainable alternatives to Cotton On

Editor's note

Feature image via Cotton On, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use our directory  to search thousands of rated brands. We may earn a commission on sales with top-rated partners made using our offer codes or affiliate links.