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How sustainable is Asos ?

Asos & sustainability


Asos

7 out of 20

Sustainability summary

Brand owner: ASOS PLC
Head office: London, UK
Sector: Retailers
Categories : Male, Female
Free Tags: Asos, Bags, Caps, Pullover, Shirts, Suits, Jackets, Jeans, Dress, Shoes, Boots

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Asos sustainability score report

Last edited: 4 April 2013 by Mario
Last reviewed: 4 April 2013 by Mario

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

2 out of 5
1. Is there a policy for the brand to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? ASOS has taken several policy measures to reduce carbon emissions, such as working carbon neutral, meaning that the CO2 emissions from the Company's energy use, business travel, non-recyclable waste, deliveries and employee commuting have been measured and reduced to net zero through verified carbon offset projects (see link, page 63 for further details). Source
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual absolute carbon footprint of its 'own operations' (Scope 1 & 2) and has the brand already reduced or compensated 10% of these emissions in the last 5 years? ASOS claims to be carbon neutral and reports that it reduced its carbon footprint by 11% in the Group its CO2 emmissions per £1m of turnover on the previous year. However, the carbon footprint should be presented in absolute terms. Source
3. Is the efficiency of greenhouse gas emissions below 200 kg CO2-eq per square meter shopping floor per year, or does the brand use at least 25% green electricity for the shops? ASOS is an online marketplace only. Furthermore, ASOS claims to work carbon neutral, to purchase all its electricity on a green tariff (but no further details reported) and the fulfilment centre in Barnsley carries an A* energy efficiency rating (See link, page 64). Source
4. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its absolute ‘own operations’ carbon emissions by at least 20% within the next 5 years? ASOS is a carbon neutral company, however, it does not mention whether or not further reductions of 20% are planned (to further reduce carbon output as opposed to offsetting it) (see link, page 63). Source
5. Does the brand (company) also have a policy to reduce/compensate carbon emissions generated from the product supply chain that is beyond own operations (Scope 3)? ASOS does not communicate a policy to reduce the carbon emissions in the supply chain that is beyond own operations on its website. Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

0 out of 6
1. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 5% of its volume? ASOS is a Fairtrade licensee and sells its own Fairtrade cotton range; the company has also a Green Room collection which promotes pioneer brands with a social and environmental ethos including ASOS Africa and ASOS Reclaimed (see page 63). However, they do not provide details on the % of the total collection that 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. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle and all production procedures to make the clothes and footwear? ASOS has not published any commitment to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole life cycle of products. Source
5. Does the brand (company) have a clear and effective policy to minimize environmental pollution of chromium and other harmful substances from leather tanning processes, e.g. by waste water treatment or by vegetable tanning? ASOS does not openly communicate a policy to limit chromium and other harmful substances pollution caused by leather tanning processes. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
6. Does the brand (company) have a clear target to phase out PVC in their products, and has the brand already achieved a PVC phase out level of more than 90%? ASOS does not report about having a plan to phase out PVC in their products. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

5 out of 9
1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labor, no child labor, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace? Asos is a member of ETI (see page 62) and follows the ETI base code (see links to questions 2&3 below). In the ETI base code all these standards are mentioned. 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 and paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage? In ETI Base Code: 1. Yes, legally binding employment relationships (see point 8); 2. Yes, maximum workweek of 48 hours, overtime (max 12 hours) is voluntary (point 6); 3. Yes, commitment to implement payment of living wages. (point 5). 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? In ETI Base Code: This right is mentioned, with reference to parallel means for the situation of law restrictions (see point 2). Source
4. Does the brand (company) have a clear and effective health and safety policy for the workers in the finishing process of jeans, at least covering the ban on sandblasting? ASOS has not publicly issued that sandblasting is banned from the brand's supply chains. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
5. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume? ASOS does not provide a significant list of direct suppliers on its website. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
6. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labor conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labor conditions? ASOS is a member of ETI (see link, page 62). Source
7. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labor unions have a decisive voice in this collective initiative or in these certification schemes? ASOS is a member of ETI, which means that labour unions and/or business-independent NGO’s have a formal and co-decisive voice within the initiative and are co-responsible for the integrity and credibility of the initiative (See link, page 58). Source
8. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? ASOS reports to conduct supplier audits (see link, page 62). However, the company does not provide a report on the results. Source
9. Has the brand’s labor 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 8. Source