Circle Sportswear
Rating: It's a start
Price: $ $ $ $
Location: France
Introduction
Circle Sportswear is a brand that focuses on sustainability and environmental consciousness in its supply chain and business practices. In this article, we will evaluate the brand based on its environmental policies, workers’ rights, and animal welfare policies. Circle Sportswear has been rated as “It’s a Start” in our sustainability rating, indicating that they have taken some steps towards sustainability but still have room for improvement.
Environmental Policies
Circle Sportswear has received a positive rating in our “Planet” category due to its use of lower-impact materials, including recycled materials. This shows that the brand is taking steps towards reducing its environmental footprint. However, there is no evidence that Circle Sportswear is taking action to minimize its packaging, which contributes to plastic waste. Additionally, there is no evidence of measures taken to minimize textile waste in its supply chain. These areas are crucial for improving sustainability and should be focused on by the brand.
One positive aspect of Circle Sportswear’s environmental policies is that they manufacture their products closer to home. This reduces the climate impact of long-distance shipping, which is commendable. By sourcing materials and manufacturing locally, Circle Sportswear is reducing carbon emissions associated with transportation.
Workers’ Rights
When it comes to workers’ rights, Circle Sportswear has received a less favorable rating of “Not Good Enough” in our “People” category. One of the factors influencing this rating is that the final production stage of Circle Sportswear products happens in Portugal, which is considered a medium-risk country for labor abuse. To improve its rating, Circle Sportswear should ensure that all production stages, including the final stage, meet high labor standards and are free from any form of exploitation.
There is no evidence of Circle Sportswear having a code of conduct or auditing its suppliers. These policies are essential for holding suppliers accountable and ensuring fair and ethical working conditions throughout the supply chain. It is crucial for Circle Sportswear to implement these practices to improve its workers’ rights rating.
Another area of improvement for Circle Sportswear is ensuring that workers in its supply chain are paid living wages. There is no evidence that Circle Sportswear guarantees living wages for its workers. This is an essential aspect of workers’ rights and should be a priority for the brand.
Animal Welfare Policies
In our “Animals” category, Circle Sportswear has received a rating of “It’s a Start.” The brand uses few animal-derived materials in its products, which is a positive step towards animal welfare. However, it is important to note that Circle Sportswear appears to use wool, and there is no evidence of the brand using leather, down, fur, angora, exotic animal skin, or exotic animal hair. This indicates that there is still room for improvement in terms of animal welfare policies.
Overall Rating
Based on all the publicly available information we have reviewed, Circle Sportswear is rated as “It’s a Start” overall. While the brand has taken some steps towards sustainability, there are areas where improvements can be made. It is essential for Circle Sportswear to focus on minimizing packaging and textile waste, implementing a code of conduct and supplier audits to ensure workers’ rights, and further improving its animal welfare policies.
Circle Sportswear has the potential to become a leader in sustainability and make a positive impact on the environment, workers’ rights, and animal welfare. By continuously evaluating and improving their practices, they can work towards a more sustainable future and inspire other brands to do the same.
