Gray Label
Our Rating: 4 Stars - Good
Price: $ $ $ $
Country of origin: Netherlands
Official brand website: Visit
Gray Label is a sustainable brand that is making a positive impact on the environment. With a great environment rating, the brand prioritizes the use of eco-friendly materials in its production process. A significant proportion of the materials used by Gray Label are certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), ensuring that they meet strict environmental and social criteria.
One of the ways that Gray Label reduces its environmental footprint is by reusing offcuts to minimize textile waste. By utilizing these leftover materials, the brand is able to create new products without the need for additional resources. This practice not only reduces waste but also helps to conserve energy and water that would have been required to produce new materials.
Furthermore, Gray Label’s commitment to using eco-friendly materials goes beyond reducing waste. By opting for sustainable materials, the brand limits the use of harmful chemicals, as well as the amount of water and wastewater generated during the production process. This ensures that the environmental impact of their products is kept to a minimum.
While Gray Label’s efforts in sustainability are commendable, there is still room for improvement in the brand’s labor practices. Currently rated as ‘it’s a start’, Gray Label does not provide evidence of having a Code of Conduct in place. A Code of Conduct outlines the brand’s commitment to fair labor practices, ensuring that workers are treated ethically and receive fair wages.
Despite this, Gray Label does trace most of its supply chain. This means that the brand is aware of the various stages involved in the production of its products and is able to monitor and assess the social and environmental impact of each stage. By having visibility into their supply chain, Gray Label can work towards improving labor conditions and addressing any issues that may arise.
However, it is unclear whether Gray Label ensures the payment of a living wage throughout its supply chain. A living wage is considered essential for workers to meet their basic needs, such as food, housing, and healthcare. By providing a living wage, brands like Gray Label can contribute to the well-being and economic stability of workers in their supply chain.
On the topic of animal welfare, Gray Label’s rating is ‘not good enough’. The brand does not provide evidence of having an animal welfare policy in place. Although Gray Label does not use exotic animal hair, fur, down, angora, or exotic animal skin, it does use leather and wool.
Considering the ethical concerns surrounding the leather and wool industries, it becomes essential for brands to have robust animal welfare policies to ensure that the sourcing and production of these materials are done in a responsible and humane manner. Without such policies, the well-being of animals involved in the supply chain remains uncertain.
Despite these areas for improvement, Gray Label has an overall rating of ‘Good’, indicating its commitment to sustainability. Through its use of eco-friendly materials and efforts to reduce waste, Gray Label is making a positive impact on the environment. With continued focus on labor and animal welfare practices, Gray Label has the potential to become an even more sustainable and responsible brand in the future.
