Parisian chic meets effortless elegance – Sandro has mastered the art of both. But when it comes to sustainability, does the brand live up to its polished image?
Glossy marketing and promises of eco-friendly collections can be tempting, but does Sandro truly walk the talk? Let’s take a closer look at its sustainability efforts. Spoiler alert: while the brand is making some progress, it’s far from setting the gold standard in sustainability.
Key takeaways
- Transparency: Sandro is improving traceability by partnering with Fairly Made on some items but lacks clarity on how much of its collection is covered. It has a compliance policy but no published supplier list or audit results, making it hard to assess progress. It scores 22/100 on the Fashion Transparency Index.
- Workers: There is no evidence that Sandro ensures a living wage or support worker well-being. The brand provides little to no information on this topic on its website, raising concerns about its commitment to fair working conditions.
- Environment: Sandro’s strategy lacks clear specifics, particularly when it comes to emissions reduction and water usage. While the brand does incorporate some eco-certified materials, its targets remain limited.
- Quality and Craftsmanship: Sandro offers high-quality, well-crafted pieces, but some customer complaints raise questions about whether the premium price is justified.
Transparency
Traceability
Sandro states that it works with long-standing suppliers and is “constantly looking to strengthen the traceability of [its] collections” and across its supply chain. However, we have not seen a supplier list published on its website, nor is it clear how they ensure full transparency. This could explain why Sandro scored 22/100 on the Fashion Transparency Index, quite a low score.
Since the Summer 2022 collection, Sandro has partnered with Fairly Made (a French green-tech start-up) to improve traceability and track the individual journeys of “a number of” its items. Through QR codes on product labels and online product pages, customers can access information about the supply chain. Although this is a good project, it is not clear what “a number of” really means, as the brand doesn’t indicate the percentage of the collection that is covered under the initiative. From our research, we can say that some garments certainly include this feature (like this Cardigan), but not all (like this maxi dress). The lack of clarity raises questions.
Supplier Auditing
Sandro has a social and environmental compliance policy, requiring suppliers to sign a code of conduct and undergo audits. Recognized standards include BSCI, Sedex, WRAP, WCA, SA8000 (social compliance), and ISO 14001, bluesign, and STeP by OEKO-TEX (environmental). However, the brand does not publish its code of conduct and, as said before, there is no accessible supplier list or audit results, making it difficult to assess the true impact of these initiatives. Without proof, we’re left wondering if this is actual progress or just another corporate game of “sustainability theater.”
Workers’ Rights
This is where Sandro really falls short in our opinion:
- We have not found any evidence that the brand ensures workers receive a living wage.
- We have not found any initiatives to support worker well-being, diversity, or inclusion in the supply chain.
- Only a small portion of the supply chain is certified by major labor standards.
Without clear commitments and independent verification, the lack of transparency in worker conditions is a major red flag. A brand can talk all it wants about “responsible fashion,” but if the people making the clothes aren’t being treated fairly, what’s the point?
Environmental Impact
Emissions
We have not seen that Sandro has set science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in either its direct operations or supply chain. Without this or measurable goals, it’s difficult to assess how serious the brand is about reducing its carbon footprint. It’s like saying you’re going to “exercise more” without setting a workout schedule.
Materials
Materials are Sandro’s strongest point when it comes to sustainability. It claims to use “high quality materials (…) which are produced and processed using methods with a reduced environmental impact.” According to its website, the brand considers a product “more responsible” if:
- at least 50% of its main material is certified by environmental labels or commercial brands recognized for their environmental qualities, or
- some processing stages (such as tanning for leather, weaving/knitting, or dyeing) are certified by environmental labels.
Sandro has a dedicated section for each material, outlining its approach and future targets, like its commitment to only using recycled polyester by 2028. While these goals are promising, we consider that much of the brand’s strategy remains vague. For example, the brand states it’s “doing everything [it] can to source certified sheep’s wool with a label guaranteeing the protection of ecosystems and animal welfare: Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).” But what does “everything [it] can” truly mean? We applaud the brand’s quantifiable targets, as this offers a clear benchmark for progress. But despite these commitments, there is a noticeable lack of transparency regarding the specific criteria and steps Sandro will take to achieve its goals.
Another major gap: Sandro makes no mention of water reduction initiatives, a crucial factor in sustainability. Water-intensive processes like cotton production and dyeing require strict measures to minimize environmental impact. Yet, Sandro remains silent on this front.
Packaging, store design and circular economy efforts
Sandro has made some progress in sustainable packaging. Some online orders use FSC-certified and recyclable materials, and by 2025, the brand aims to use reusable packaging for all European deliveries. Since 2020, it has also been redesigning stores using eco-design principles.
Sandro has also launched initiatives to extend its products’ lifecycle:
- Second-Hand Platform (Sandro Seconde Main): Launched in 2021 and expanding to more countries, allowing customers to resell Sandro pieces.
- Rental Services: Partnered with UK rental platform HURR to promote renting over buying.
These are promising steps, but how impactful are they? The second-hand platform only offers vouchers for Sandro purchases, keeping customers within its ecosystem rather than encouraging broader sustainable shopping habits. Circular fashion is great, but only if it’s truly about reusing and reducing waste, not just another way to drive sales.
Quality and Craftsmanship
Sandro’s quality is reflected in its prices (medium-high). Understanding that sustainability and longevity go hand in hand, the brand offers a detailed Care Guide to help customers extend the life of its pieces.
In terms of tailoring, the stitching is well-executed, and the fit of its clothing is quite good. However, there have been multiple customer complaints about quality, particularly regarding leather goods and customer service. It’s one thing to pay a premium for high-quality fashion, but if that investment doesn’t last, we wonder if it is really worth it.
When it comes to style, there’s no denying that Sandro’s pieces are fashionable. Many of them are highly versatile, making them suitable for a range of occasions. While polyester does feature in its collections, it’s not the dominant material.
Final thoughts: Insufficient
With its collaboration with Fairly Maid and its second hand and rental initiatives, it seems that Sandro is making an effort, but there’s still a very long way to go. For starters, the brand needs to improve supply chain transparency with a publicly available supplier list. It also needs to, if not done already, ensure living wages for workers (we could not find this information on its website). When it comes to emissions, it needs to set concrete, science-based targets and provide measurable goals instead of vague sustainability claims.
Until then, Sandro remains a brand with potential, but with much to prove. So, if you’re shopping for sustainable Parisian style, you might want to dig a little deeper. And who knows? Maybe by the time you’ve read this, Sandro will have finally put its money where its mouth is. We’ll be waiting.
Sandro is “INSUFFICIENT” *
*Here is more information on how The Pomelade rates.
Now that you know our verdict, what are your thoughts on Sandro’s sustainability game? Let us know in the comments below!