Boohoo
Rated: Poor
Price: $
Location: UK
Quick verdict
Boohoo is best for trend-driven shoppers seeking rock-bottom prices, but it is one of the most extensively documented sustainability offenders in the fashion industry. The brand's £3.50/hour Leicester sweatshop scandal remains the defining example of fast fashion labor abuse in the UK. Despite launching an "Agenda for Change," independent assessments consistently characterize its reforms as superficial.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Manchester, United Kingdom
- Founded
- 2006
- Product categories
- Fast Fashion, Womenswear
- Price range
- $
- Key certifications
- None. No B Corp, GOTS, Fair Trade, or OEKO-TEX certifications
Boohoo sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
Overwhelmingly virgin polyester and conventional cotton. Only ~10% of polyester from recycled sources as of 2022, despite a target of 100% by 2025.
Labor practices are rated at the lowest tier. The 2020 Levitt Review confirmed workers were paid £3.50/hour. Some as little as £1/hour. In Leicester factories. Remake scored the group ~13/150.
Emissions rose from 588 tCO2e (2019) to over 1 million tCO2e (2021). No SBTi-approved targets, heavy air freight reliance, and no meaningful circularity programs beyond a small Thrift/Oxfam resale partnership.
Published a supplier list of ~1,100 factories in 2021 (a step forward), but the CMA found its green claims misleading, and BBC Panorama exposed "Made in UK" labels on Pakistani-made goods. Fashion Transparency Index: 19% for decarbonisation.
Extremely cheap ($5–$30 for most items) and accessible, but quality complaints are rampant. Trustpilot rating sits at 2.7/5 across 206,000+ reviews, with widespread complaints about thin materials and sizing inconsistency.
What they do well
- Supplier transparency: Published a global supplier list covering ~1,100 factories across 29 countries, more transparency than most ultra-fast fashion brands
- Industry safety commitments: Signed the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry in 2021
- Auditing frameworks: Joined WRAP's Textiles 2030 initiative and the Fast Forward forensic auditing model
- Renewable energy claims: Claims 100% renewable energy in own operations, though via Renewable Energy Certificates rather than direct procurement
- Inclusive sizing: Offers extended sizing including plus, petite, tall, and maternity ranges
Room for improvement
- CMA greenwashing investigation: The CMA formally investigated Boohoo for greenwashing in 2022, resulting in binding undertakings to stop using vague "eco" labels. Yet The Ecologist reported continued violations into 2025, risking fines up to £146 million
- Celebrity sustainability stunt: The Kourtney Kardashian "Sustainability Ambassador" campaign in 2022 was widely derided as greenwashing, launching during simultaneous investigations for forced labor (US) and misleading green claims (UK), with most pieces made from polyester and PVC
- Ongoing labor fallout: University of Bath's 2024 report concluded Boohoo made "face-saving" changes while moving production overseas, leaving thousands of vulnerable Leicester workers destitute; a £177 million investor lawsuit is ongoing
About Boohoo
Boohoo was founded in 2006 by Mahmud Kamani and Carol Kane in Manchester, growing into one of the UK's largest online-only fashion retailers with 18+ million customers globally. The brand now sits within a portfolio of 13 labels including PrettyLittleThing, Nasty Gal, and Karen Millen, operating under what is being rebranded as Debenhams Group PLC.
Materials are overwhelmingly petroleum-based synthetics. Polyester, nylon, and acrylic dominate, with tiny proportions of recycled polyester (10%) and organic cotton (1.65%). Manufacturing spans approximately 1,100 factories across 29 countries, with the largest concentrations in China (424), Turkey (205), India (151), and the UK (96). The brand holds no meaningful certifications. No B Corp, no GOTS, no Fair Trade, no OEKO-TEX.
The 2020 Leicester scandal remains definitive: workers paid as little as £3.50/hour were forced to work through COVID-19 lockdowns without PPE. The independent Levitt Review confirmed allegations were "substantially true" and that senior directors knew of issues since December 2019. Boohoo's share price fell 42%, wiping over £1.1 billion in value.
Shipping is standard e-commerce (US shipping $9.99). Pricing is ultra-accessible, Dresses from as low as £4: making it among the cheapest fashion retailers globally, but this comes at severe human and environmental cost.
Product highlights
Off the Shoulder Wrap Bodycon Dress
95% polyester, 5% elastane mini dress
~$10–$16
Exemplifies the ultra-low pricing that raises serious questions about supply chain labor costs
Premium Super Soft Bodycon Mini Dress
Soft-knit mini dress, crew neckline
~$14–$20
"Premium" labeling on a sub-$20 synthetic garment illustrates the brand's pricing paradox
The Tall Wide Leg Jean
High-rise wide-leg denim
~$20–$30
One of their better-quality items; no information on cotton sourcing
High Neck Sequin Bodysuit
All-over sequin, long sleeves
~$16–$26
Entirely synthetic construction typical of the brand's product lineup
