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How sustainable is J.Crew ?

J.Crew & sustainability


J.Crew

3 out of 16

Sustainability summary

Brand owner: J.Crew Group, Inc.
Head office: New York, NY, USA
Sector: Casual clothing
Categories : Male, Female, Kids, Baby
Free Tags: J.Crew, Bags, Caps, Shirts, Pullover, Suits, Jackets, Jeans, Dress, Shoes, Boots

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What's your sustainability news about J.Crew?

J.Crew sustainability score report

Last edited: 14 May 2013 by Mario
Last reviewed: 14 May 2013 by Mario

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

1 out of 4
1. Is there a policy for the brand to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? J.Crew has taken several policy measures to reduce carbon emissions, such as installing energy management systems in its new stores. 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? J. Crew does not publish the annual carbon footprint of last years on its website. So it is not clear if the policy measures actually helped reduce the total annual carbon emissions. Source
3. Is there a policy for the brand to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? See remark for carbon emissions 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 (Scope 3)? J. Crew is committed to collaborating with its suppliers to understand and improve their environmental performance and practices, but does not provide any clear goals on reducing carbon emissions in the supply chain. 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? J.Crew does not communicate any information on its environmental policy, if there is one, on its website. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. 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? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

2 out of 8
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? All standards are mentioned in J.Crew's Code of Vendor Conduct. 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? 1. Not mentioned; 2. Maximum working week of 60 hours, but it is unclear how many hours of overtime are allowed; 3. Minimum wage and not living wage is required. 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? This right is mentioned, with reference to parallel means for the situation of law restrictions. 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? In fiscal year 2010, J.Crew had 215 factories in 18 countries. However, no significant list of suppliers has been published on their website. Source
5. 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? J.Crew is a member of BSR, but crucial information about labour standards or audit methods is not found on the BSR website, so membership of this organisation is not counted as a 'yes'. Source
6. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labor 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 labor conditions policy? J.Crew regularly inspects suppliers to ensure compliance with the Code of Vendor Conduct (100% of new suppliers and 86% existing suppliers in 2012 - which is 92% of their total production). However, no report has been found on their website. Source
8. 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 7. Source