Fashion Brands Criticized for Ignoring Workers in Climate Promises
Published: June 11, 2025
Several leading global fashion brands are under scrutiny following the release of a new report accusing them of prioritizing environmental targets while overlooking the well-being of garment workers, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions like Southeast Asia.
The report, titled "The Missing Thread", was published by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC). It examines the climate policies of 65 major fashion brands, including big names like Nike, H&M, and Hermès. While 44 of these brands have made public commitments to reduce carbon emissions, none have implemented a “Just Transition” framework—an approach that ensures workers are supported and protected during the shift toward a greener economy.
The “Just Transition” concept gained global attention after being formally introduced at COP27 in Egypt in 2022. It emphasizes the need for industries to not only reduce their environmental impact but also ensure fair treatment and involvement of workers who may be affected by these changes.
According to the report, only 11 companies acknowledged the impact of climate change on workers in their human rights or social responsibility policies. Even more concerning, just four brands offered any specific guidance for managing heat-related stress, a growing health issue in poorly ventilated factories across Asia.
Of the 65 companies evaluated, only two brands—Inditex (the parent company of Zara) and Kering (which owns Gucci)—were noted for recognizing workers' welfare within their climate strategies.
“Reducing carbon emissions without involving and protecting the people who make the products is not climate leadership—it’s a shortcut that puts lives at risk,” said Natalie Swan, Labour Rights Programme Manager at BHRRC. “The fashion industry’s environmental goals lose meaning if they don’t also prioritize fairness and safety for garment workers.”
Asia, particularly countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Cambodia, accounts for more than half of global garment production, making the region central to fashion’s supply chain. However, factories in these areas are facing rising temperatures, flooding, and other climate-related threats—yet workers' safety remains largely unaddressed in brand policies.
The report also warns of the environmental cost of fashion’s current practices. The industry consumes nearly 98 million tonnes of non-renewable resources annually—including fossil fuels and synthetic fertilizers. If left unchecked, the sector could be responsible for over 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Swan emphasized that a true transformation of the fashion industry must go beyond "green slogans" and tackle both environmental and social justice. “It’s not enough to go green—it has to be clean and fair. Workers and their unions must be at the heart of this transition.”
Nike, H&M, Hermès, Inditex, and Kering were all contacted for comment by Al Jazeera, but none responded as of the report's publication.
