Is Primark ethical?
Primark faces significant ethical challenges, notably concerning animal welfare policies, workers’ rights enforcement within its supply chains, and its parent company’s climate change initiatives.
Below, we provide an overview of these critical issues. For in-depth analysis, including Primark's comprehensive ethical score, please subscribe.
People
Primark's stated policies suggest a strong commitment to workers’ rights. Their supplier code of conduct mandates living wages and non-discrimination.
Primark reports mapping 94% of its direct suppliers and collaborating with trade unions for workplace representation. However, it's important to consider the practical implementation and effectiveness of these policies.
A January 2023 report by the University of Aberdeen and Transform Trade highlighted unfair practices by clothing companies affecting Bangladeshi suppliers. The report stated that suppliers identified major brands, including Primark, as exhibiting the highest proportion of unfair practices such as order cancellations, price reductions, refusal to pay for dispatched goods, and payment delays exceeding three months.
In March 2022, workers also reported a number of violations at factories in Myanmar, that had previously or were currently in the Primark supply chain, including unfair dismissal and child labour.
Primark responded to the allegations in November 2023. It stated that it had ended its relationship with a number of factories prior to the allegations, and was investigating several other issues.
Animals
Primark receives a low score in Ethical Consumer’s animal welfare category. The brand's use of animal products like leather, feathers, and wool is a concern. While some policies exist to prevent the worst animal welfare outcomes, they are not comprehensive, leaving many animal products without adequate welfare standards.
Ethical Consumer also found animal rights issues with Primark’s owner, Associated British Foods (ABF), which sells meat and dairy products such as bacon and ham via a number of ABF's other brands. It did not have a policy prohibiting factory farming.
Climate Change
Associated British Foods (ABF), Primark's parent company, faces criticism for its approach to climate change. Although ABF is implementing measures like renewable energy and on-site solar, it does not fully report emissions from its supply chain, a significant portion of its total emissions.
While in its Responsibility Report ABF states it's calculating Scope 3 emissions, implementing reduction plans, and “working towards an ambition to achieve net zero by 2050 or sooner”, it did not lay out clear interim targets and its ambition had not been certified as in line with international climate goals. Ethical Consumer believes larger actions are needed across all ABF businesses.
Tax avoidance
ABF's financial ethics are also under scrutiny. The company has several subsidiaries in tax havens like Mauritius, the Netherlands, and Ireland, which raises concerns as they do not seem to benefit the local population. ABF lacks a clear policy against tax avoidance in its Tax Strategy and has not explained the purpose of these subsidiaries.
The text above was written June 2024 and updated January 2026, with most research was conducted in November and December 2023.