No two businesses affect the world in the same way. What a brand makes, how it is made, where it is sold and how it reaches you all change where its real impact sits. For a fashion label, most of it is in the fabric and the factories. For a brewery, it is water and energy.
So we start there. We build a picture of how this business actually operates, work out which sustainability issues genuinely matter for a business like it, and weight each one by how much it counts.
Then we check what the brand itself has published, issue by issue. The figure is the share of those weighted priorities it has addressed in public.
Only a brand’s own words count, so every brand is held to the same test. Where an issue shows as not found, it means we could not find it published. It does not mean the brand is not doing the work.
Our technology uses proprietary intelligence and AI to identify which impact areas are a priority for this business type, and how many have been addressed publicly. Not yet brand verified, there may be errors. Provide feedback
Products & sourcing
What is made, and who makes it
of this area addressed
publicly by Balenciaga
Products & sourcing makes up 41% of Balenciaga’s key priority areas.
What this brand has published
- Balenciaga is fur-free and exotic leather-free
- Balenciaga's suppliers are audited through Kering, including unannounced audits
- Balenciaga requires suppliers to meet Kering's ethical and environmental standards
- Balenciaga is fur-free and exotic leather-free across its products
- Balenciaga explains organic and recycled materials in its product descriptions
Only what the brand publishes about itself is counted, so every brand is measured the same way.
Energy & climate
Energy used and emissions created
of this area addressed
publicly by Balenciaga
Energy & climate makes up 21% of Balenciaga’s key priority areas.
What this brand has published
- Balenciaga's parent group uses renewable electricity across its operations
- Balenciaga builds new stores and major renovations to LEED standards
Only what the brand publishes about itself is counted, so every brand is measured the same way.
Employee wellbeing
How the people here are treated
of this area addressed
publicly by Balenciaga
Employee wellbeing makes up 16% of Balenciaga’s key priority areas.
What this brand has published
- Balenciaga is certified for equal pay and follows Kering's ILO-based Code of Ethics
- Balenciaga offers a return-from-leave program, inclusion training and staff surveys
- Balenciaga has a process to protect customer service staff from abusive calls
- Balenciaga requires its staff and suppliers to follow Kering's Code of Ethics
Only what the brand publishes about itself is counted, so every brand is measured the same way.
Operational waste
Waste from running the business daily
of this area addressed
publicly by Balenciaga
Operational waste makes up 14% of Balenciaga’s key priority areas.
What this brand has published
We did not find anything published in this area. That does not mean nothing is happening, only that it is not on the public record.
Only what the brand publishes about itself is counted, so every brand is measured the same way.
Packaging
What products are wrapped and shipped in
of this area addressed
publicly by Balenciaga
Packaging makes up 8% of Balenciaga’s key priority areas.
What this brand has published
- Balenciaga ships online orders in packaging with recycled fibre
- Balenciaga uses recycled polyester garment bags and recycled cotton dust bags
Only what the brand publishes about itself is counted, so every brand is measured the same way.
Sustainability Summary
- Good On You - Good
- Ethical Consumer - This information is locked, visit Ethical Consumer's website
- B Corp - Not found
- Trustpilot - Not found
- This is an unclaimed profile. Balenciaga has not joined Sustainability Tracker to verify their sustainability credentials. We gathered what we could from public sources.
Balenciaga is a luxury fashion brand with a mixed sustainability picture. Independent ratings from Good On You place it in the “Good” range overall, mainly because it uses some lower-impact materials, has a resale offer, and has policies on workers’ rights and animal welfare. At the same time, reviewers and commentators say it still shares very little detailed data on materials, suppliers, and progress against climate goals. Public reporting also points to some concrete steps, like fur-free collections, resale, and a low-carbon factory project. Overall, the brand shows some real action, but transparency is still a weak spot. Positive Sentiment Found Public sentiment is mixed, but there are some clear positive signals. Good On You rates Balenciaga “Good” overall, with a 4 out of 5 for Planet and 4 out of 5 for People, which suggests stronger-than-average published policies on materials, emissions, and workers’ rights compared with many fashion brands. The same review notes that the brand uses some lower-impact materials, offers resale of second-hand products, has a science-based target to cut greenhouse gases, and has a policy to protect biodiversity. Independent reporting also points to fur-free collections, a resale partnership with Reflaunt, and a low-carbon factory project in Italy. These are all concrete signs that the brand has taken some sustainability steps, even if the full picture is still incomplete. Common Criticisms: The main criticism is that Balenciaga still does not share enough detailed sustainability data. Commentators say it does not publish a full breakdown of materials, gives little information on first-tier and deeper suppliers, and does not clearly show how far it has progressed on its climate goals. Good On You also says there is no evidence the brand is paying living wages across most of its supply chain, even though it has a wage-improvement program. Some reporting also raises concern about animal testing and says the brand is not cruelty-free. In addition, a 2023 media ranking placed Balenciaga near the bottom of perceived ESG-friendly fashion companies and linked that result to a controversial ad campaign. Overall, the criticism is less about one single issue and more about weak transparency, unresolved labour questions, and reputational damage.
About Balenciaga
- Status
- Unverified
- Website
- Visit Website
Balenciaga Sustainability Actions
Balenciaga Sustainability Commitments
2025
100% metal-free tanned leather
Balenciaga has said it aims to reach 100% metal-free tanned leather across all its products by 2025. Metal-free tanning means treating leather without the usual metal-based chemicals, which can reduce some pollution risks. The target was described as aligned with Kering’s wider standards, but the public material does not show whether the brand has fully met it yet.
