The nonprofit organization Fashion Revolution has published its annual “What Fuels Fashion? 2025” report, evaluating 200 of the world’s largest fashion brands on transparency regarding climate impact, energy usage, and supply chain practices.
Industry Transparency Shows a Growing Divide
The report highlights a growing divide within the fashion industry, with a handful of brands demonstrating leadership in environmental accountability, while many others continue to score poorly in disclosing carbon footprint, sourcing practices, and energy consumption. According to Fashion Revolution, less than 20% of brands achieved top-tier transparency scores, signaling that significant work remains in holding fashion companies accountable.
“Our research shows that consumers increasingly demand honesty from brands about their environmental impact,” said Orsola de Castro, co-founder of Fashion Revolution. “Transparency is no longer optional — it’s essential for sustainability and consumer trust.”
Key Assessment Areas
The rankings assessed brands across three main areas:
- Climate transparency: Reporting greenhouse gas emissions and reduction targets.
- Energy practices: Use of renewable energy in production and operations.
- Supply chain visibility: Disclosure of supplier information and ethical labor practices.
Leaders and Laggards in Sustainability
Brands such as Patagonia, Stella McCartney, and Adidas were praised for their high levels of disclosure and proactive sustainability initiatives. Conversely, several fast-fashion giants scored low, highlighting persistent gaps in ethical sourcing, emissions reporting, and renewable energy adoption.
Transparency Drives Consumer Behavior
The report emphasizes the link between transparency and consumer behavior, noting that shoppers are increasingly prioritizing brands that share verifiable environmental and ethical data. Fashion Revolution calls on regulators, investors, and consumers to demand greater accountability and incentivize sustainable practices across the industry.
Environmental Accountability as a Future Success Factor
The “What Fuels Fashion? 2025” report underlines that while fashion remains a global economic powerhouse, its environmental and social footprint is under unprecedented scrutiny, making transparency a central driver of future brand success.
