How Ethical Is Old Navy?

This article is based on the Old Navy rating published in July 2020.

Founded in 1994, Old Navy is an American fashion company owned by Gap Inc. The brand, named after a bar in Paris, prides itself on being a less expensive version of Gap, offering “fashion essentials” for all the family. It’s become one of the largest brands in the world, with more than 1000 stores. But with “prices you can’t believe”, we can’t help but wonder how the brand impacts on the environment, people, and animals. How ethical is Old Navy?

Environmental Impact

Old Navy uses some eco-friendly materials including recycled materials and has received an ‘A’ in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) water security questionnaire. The American brand demonstrates leadership in managing water use in its supply chain, which we love!

But while Old Navy has set a science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from its own operations and supply chain, we found no evidence it is on track to meet its target.

For these reasons we rated its environmental impact ‘It’s A Start’.

Labour Conditions

Unfortunately, Old Navy’s labour rating went down from ‘It’s A Start’ to ‘Not Good Enough’. This can be explained by the fact that none of Old Navy’s supply chain is certified by labour standards which ensure worker health and safety, living wages, or other labour rights. In addition to this, the brand has made little progress towards ensuring payment of a living wage in its supply chain or disclosing adequate policies to protect suppliers and workers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19.

The brand also received a score of 41-50% in the Fashion Transparency Index. The brand published a detailed list of suppliers in the final stage of production and some information about the second stage of production. It likely publishes information about its supplier policies, audits, remediation processes, as well as information about forced labour, gender equality or freedom of association.

Animal Welfare

Old Navy’s animal rating also went down to ‘Not Good Enough’. It has a basic formal policy to protect animal welfare, but it still uses leather, wool, and exotic animal hair. The good news is that Old Navy does not use fur, angora, down, or exotic animal skin.

Overall Rating: It’s A Start

So, how ethical is Old Navy? Based on information from our own research, Old Navy is rated ‘It’s A Start’. In order to get a better rating, the brand needs to improve its environmental policies by tracking its progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, paying a living wage, and protecting its workers from the impacts of COVID-19. The American brand should also use less animal-based materials, especially leather and exotic animal hair.

Note that Good On You ratings consider 100s of issues and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brand’s performance. For more information see our How We Rate page and our FAQs.

See the rating.

Luckily, we’ve found some ‘Good’ and ‘Great’ alternatives to Old Navy!

Good Swaps

Sustainable alternatives to Old Navy

We love these sustainable brands listed above, but they may not meet your specific needs right now. Maybe they’re out of your price range, or don’t stock your size. If you really need something and a product from Old Navy is the best option, then you shouldn’t feel guilty about buying it! ‘It’s A Start’ means just that—the brand is making a start. If your options are Old Navy or a brand like SHEIN that is making little to no effort for people, the planet, and animals, Old Navy is a clear winner. Progress over perfection!

You can also reach out to brands who you think need a little nudge in the right direction. If enough customers demand change, brands that truly care about their impact will have no choice but to respond in kind. Check out the ‘Your Voice’ function on the app or slide into their DMs on social media to let them know what you think.

Editor's note

Feature image via Old Navy, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet and animals. Use our Directory to search more than 3,000 brands. We may earn a commission on sales made using our offer codes or affiliate links.