When you think of luxury fashion, sustainability is likely not the first word that comes to mind. Luckily, Stella McCartney has been shaking things up for decades, making headlines for her ethical approach to high fashion.
From banning fur and leather to exploring innovative materials, Stella McCartney strives to create the most beautiful and desirable products with the least impact on our planet. But is this really the case? Let’s break it down!
Key takeaways
- Transparency: Stella McCartney excels in transparency, sharing detailed insights into its supply chain, materials, and sustainability goals. Its Sustainability Report highlights environmental impact and areas for improvement, setting a high standard in the luxury fashion industry.
- Workers: The brand prioritizes ethical labor practices with clear standards and regular audits. While Stella McCartney ensures fair working conditions, it lacks detailed reporting on living wages, leaving room for improvement in worker support.
- Environment: Innovative materials like Econyl and Mylo showcase Stella McCartney’s commitment to sustainability. Despite progress, reliance on plastic-based vegan leathers and a slight emissions increase in 2023 highlight areas for growth. Circular initiatives and net-zero goals reinforce its environmental dedication.
- Quality and Craftsmanship: Stella McCartney delivers durable, timeless pieces crafted with care, promoting repairability and longevity. While luxurious, the high price point raises questions about accessibility in sustainable fashion.
Transparency
When it comes to transparency, Stella McCartney stands out in the luxury fashion world. The brand doesn’t just talk about sustainability, but openly shares information about its supply chain, materials, and sustainability goals. This commitment sets a high standard that we wish more luxury brands would follow.
On its website (which doubles as an educational hub), Stella McCartney explains how it sources their materials and products through a carefully selected network of global suppliers. To ensure alignment with its sustainability strategy, the brand has defined a structured due diligence process outlined in its Sustainability Report. Before partnering with new suppliers, the team visits them in-person to assess their practices, either with their dedicated internal team or a trusted third party.
Stella McCartney’s annual Sustainability Report dives into the nitty-gritty details of their environmental footprint. It includes clear data on what is working and what still needs improving. The brand is upfront about its impact and uses the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to measure it. Stella McCartney also partners with trusted organizations like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement.
With a focus on reporting, measuring and tracking, Stella McCartney exemplifies what it means to be transparent in the fashion industry and sets a new benchmark for sustainability.
Workers
Luxury comes with a high price tag, but how much of that goes to the people actually making the clothes? For Stella McCartney, ethical labor practices are a core part of the brand’s identity. According to their website: “we believe that fashion should be equated with fairness, respect and equality.” This vision is backed by their membership to the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) since 2012 and adherence to the UN guiding principles on Business and Human Rights.
The brand operates with clear standards based on International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. They also have several policies to ensure ethical practices throughout their supply chain: Supplier Code of Conduct, Responsible Sourcing Guide, Modern Slavery Policy, and Subcontracting Policy. To ensure compliance, Stella McCartney has a thorough social compliance program that includes regular audits and a rigorous evaluation process before partnering with new suppliers. These efforts highlight their commitment to protecting human rights across their value chain.
However, the latest Sustainability Report reveals a gap in one critical area: there’s no hard data on whether their workers are paid living wages. While they mention the brand promotes fair wages and enforce ethical working conditions, the lack of detailed reporting on wage levels leaves room for speculation. This is an area where Stella McCartney could set an example by publishing more concrete results and impact assessments.
On a positive note, Stella McCartney consistently aligns with best practices, ensuring that no child or forced labor exists in their supply chain. The brand also invests in supplier education programs to promote social responsibility, encouraging long-term improvements in labor rights.
Stella McCartney’s commitment to ethical labor is a step in the right direction, but we’re hopeful for more measurable progress in the future.
Environment
Sustainable Materials
Stella McCartney’s approach to materials proves the brand’s commitment to sustainability. As they put it, “sustainability starts with materials.” And we have to agree, their use of sustainable materials is impressive!
The brand is exploring cutting-edge options like Econyl, a regenerated nylon made from old fishing nets and fabric scraps, and Mylo a mushroom-based alternative to leather. They’ve also partnered with Natural Fibre Welding for their MIRUM® material, a plastic-free alternative to leather, and introduced other innovative options like BANANATEX®, made from Abacá plant fibers, and UPPEAL™, derived from apple waste.
Stella McCartney’s vegan and cruelty-free approach avoids leather, fur, skins, feathers or animal glues. However, vegan leather isn’t perfect. Most rely on plastics like polyurethane, which can have their own environmental issues. This is one of the reasons why polyurethane remains the brand’s second most-used material, mainly as a leather alternative in bags and shoes, though its usage decreased in 2023. This highlights an area for improvement, but the brand’s focus on next-gen materials signals continuous innovation.
When it comes to the “regular” materials, organic cotton, recycled nylon, and regenerated cashmere all feature in their collections.
Water
When it comes to water use, Stella McCartney requires wastewater quality to align with local regulation to avoid water pollution. The brand requires wastewater quality to meet local regulations to prevent pollution, as outlined in their Responsible Sourcing Guide. However, the lack of detailed reporting on specific pollutants or water-saving initiatives leaves room for greater transparency.
Emissions
On emissions, Stella McCartney is committed to reducing her carbon footprint. The company carries out an annual carbon footprint assessment, validated by the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi). In particular, Stella McCartney is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2040 (for both direct operations and entire supply chain – Scopes 1, 2, and 3) in line with the latest climate science and the Paris Agreement.
The brand has also adopted renewable energy across many of their operations. Interestingly, their 2023 footprint saw a slight increase compared to 2022 due to improved data collection and alignment with LVMH’s updated methodology. This transparency reflects Stella McCartney’s commitment to accurate reporting and continuous improvement.
Circular economy practices
Stella McCartney is a firm believer that the future of fashion is circular and looks beyond the current take-make-dispose extractive business model. The brand has launched a handful of innovative initiatives, including a take-back program that encourages customers to return their used Stella pieces for recycling or resale. And let’s not forget the “Zero Waste” ethos in their design process – turning fabric offcuts into new products whenever possible.
Quality and Craftsmanship
Yes, Stella McCartney’s clothes are expensive, but her pieces don’t disappoint. The brand is all about timeless design and impeccable craftsmanship.
The quality speaks for itself: Stella McCartney uses advanced techniques to ensure their garments and accessories are durable and well-made. From tailoring to vegan leather embossing, the details are top-notch. The company also emphasizes repairability, encouraging customers to extend the life of their items through mending and care.
Final Thoughts: On the Right Track
There is no doubt that Stella McCartney is a frontrunner in the world of sustainable luxury and has been long before it was trendy!
Transparency is one of their strongest suits and their environmental initiatives are pioneering. When it comes to quality, Stella McCartney proves that sustainable fashion can still be luxurious.
That said, the brand is not perfect. The reliance on plastic-based vegan leathers and the lack of hard data on living wages are areas where improvement is needed. Also, while Stella McCartney pieces are built to last, the high price point means they’re inaccessible to many. That’s not necessarily a flaw, but it raises questions about how truly inclusive sustainability can be.
Stella McCartney is “ON THE RIGHT TRACK” *
*Here is more information on how The Pomelade rates.
Now that you know our verdict, what are your thoughts on Stella McCartney’s sustainability game? Let us know in the comments below!
