American Apparel scores 3 out of 16 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

American Apparel Info

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3 out of 16
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Brand Owner: American Apparel
Head Office: Los Angelos, California, USA
Sector: Fashion, Clothing & Shoes
Categories: Sportswear, Casual, Underwear & Lingerie
Free Tags: Sporty, Basic

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Last Updated: 5 August 2011
Last Verified: 1 December 2011

American Apparel Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

2 out of 4


1. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions?	American Apparel has several policy measures to reduce CO2 emissions, such as using solar power and recycling fabric scraps (see 'Commitment to the community').	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations' and has the brand already reduced or compensated 10% of these emissions in the last 5 years?	American Apparel has not published a carbon footprint. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices.	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce the carbon footprint of its 'own operations' by at least 20% within the next 5 years?	See remark for climate change question 2.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) also have a policy to reduce/compensate carbon emissions generated from the product supply chain that is beyond own operations?	American Apparel houses a state-of-the-art solar panel installation on the roof of its own LA factory. This system generates 150 kilowatts renewable power, contributing 15% of their energy needs (see "Renewable Energy").	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

0 out of 4


1. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 5% of its volume?	American Apparel uses 100% organic cotton for some of their collections, but it is not clear what percentage of the total volume this represents.	SOURCE
2. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 10% of its volume?	See remark for environmental policy question 1.	SOURCE
3. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 25% of its volume?	See remark for environmental policy question 1.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have an environmental policy related to the ‘wet processes’ within the production cycle, like bleaching and dying of fabrics?	American Apparel's organic cotton clothing is GOTS-certified, which means that high standards are maintained on sustainable chemicals and water policy during production. However, it is not clear what percentage of the total volume the organic cotton collection represents and what the wet processes are like for the other collections.	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

1 out of 8


1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labour, no child labour, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace?	American Apparel does not provide a supplier Code of Conduct. All of their suppliers are located in the US, which is not a low-risk country as defined by Made-By (see "Commitment to the Community"). America Apparel claim to be 'sweatshop free', but do not further explain this in detail.	SOURCE
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage?	See remark for labor conditions question 1.	SOURCE
3. Does this Code of Conduct include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining?	See remark for labor conditions question 1.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume?	The company does not make use of outsourcing and has every step of the production chain based in-house in LA.	SOURCE
5. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labour conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labour conditions?	American Apparel does not communicate any information about being part of a collective initiative or fair labor certification to account for good labour conditions.	SOURCE
6. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labour unions have a decisive voice in this collective initiative or in these certification schemes?	See remark for labor conditions question 5.	SOURCE
7. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?	American Apparel does not communicate a policy to audit (its) factories, on its website. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices.	SOURCE
8. Has the brand's labour conditions policy resulted in a 'compliance level' of at least 30% of the purchase volume, or a 'monitored level' of at least 80%?	See remark for labor conditions question 7.	SOURCE