For the animals rating, Good On You’s methodology considers traceability, policies around animal welfare, use of animal-derived materials, and corporate citizenship on animal issues. 

Importantly, maximum scores in the animals pillar vary by the sector brands operate in, ensuring scores fairly reflect the best practices of their peers. For example, best-practice initiatives for a handbag brand would be rewarded within the animals pillar compared to other brands with a similar product and material mix. Brands aren’t necessarily marked down in comparison to other brands that aren’t primarily producing products that are commonly animal-derived.

 

Brands in categories that rarely use animal products

Brands that only make products in categories that rarely use animal materials (including activewear, underwear/lingerie, swimwear, and jewellery) aren’t scored on their animal impacts. In such cases, a brand’s overall rating is derived from only their scores for people and the planet.

 

Brands that claim to be vegan

Vegan brands get top scores when they publish a clear and unambiguous statement saying that all of their products are vegan. Ideally, vegan brands have their products accredited by PETA. Vegan brands should ensure no animal products are used in dyes or machinery (e.g. use of animal-based fats) to confirm the product is vegan.

 

Brands that use animal-derived materials 

For brands that use animal-derived materials, the methodology distinguishes those that only produce products that are commonly made with leather (for example, handbags and shoes). Such brands typically have a higher percentage of total product mix containing animal-derived materials. For those brands, the weighting of the “Leather Use” issue is increased and the weighting of “Wool Use,” which is less commonly used by such brands, is decreased. However they can score well by incorporating recycled leather into their products or by having a robust animal welfare policy that is enforced at the farming level.