H&M
Flagged · AvoidThe world's second-largest fast-fashion retailer, with 4,000+ stores built on a fast-churn model that prioritizes volume over sustainability or labor standards.
Last updated July 6, 2026
↓ Skip to 5 ethical alternativesReasons to avoid
Issues span:LaborEnvironmentHuman Rights
- A human rights organization documented 212 alleged labor abuse cases affecting at least 108,000 workers in H&M's Myanmar supply chain between February 2021 and February 2023, including wage theft, forced overtime, and inhumane work rates. H&M announced in August 2023 that it would phase out operations in the country, where it had been sourcing from 41 factories employing nearly 42,000 workers.
- A June 2022 Quartz investigation found that H&M's product-level "Sustainability Profiles" contained falsified environmental data. One dress was claimed to use 20% less water than average in production when the underlying data showed it used 20% more. H&M removed all the scorecards from its website after Quartz shared its findings.
- A Danish television investigation broadcast in October 2017 found that H&M had incinerated 60 tons of new, unsold garments at a Danish waste disposal facility since 2013, averaging 12 tons per year. Journalists independently tested samples from the incinerator and found no harmful chemical levels, contradicting H&M's claim that only safety-non-compliant items were destroyed.
- H&M published a product image in January 2018 showing a Black child wearing a hoodie printed with the phrase 'Coolest Monkey in the Jungle,' while a white child in the same campaign wore a hoodie reading 'Survival Expert.' The image drew global condemnation and prompted artists including The Weeknd to publicly cut ties with the brand.
- A 2024 investigation by UK nonprofit Earthsight tracked nearly one million tons of cotton from H&M's supply chain back to two Brazilian producers in the Cerrado, which is a biodiverse region that has lost half its native vegetation. They were linked to illegal deforestation, land-grabbing, violence, and corruption. Most of the tainted cotton carried the Better Cotton certification label, raising questions about the traceability and credibility of the certification system H&M relies on to market its clothes as more sustainable.
Ethical alternatives
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Patagonia
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Visit →Common Questions
- Is H&M ethical?
- A human rights organization documented 212 alleged labor abuse cases affecting at least 108,000 workers in H&M's Myanmar supply chain between 2021 and 2023, including wage theft and forced overtime. A 2022 investigation found H&M's sustainability scorecards contained falsified environmental data, and H&M removed all the scorecards after the findings were published.
- Why are people boycotting H&M?
- Greenwashing and supply chain labor abuse are the most cited reasons. A Danish investigation found H&M incinerated 60 tons of new, unsold garments over four years despite claiming only safety non-compliant items were destroyed. H&M also faced global condemnation in 2018 for a racially offensive product image that prompted artists to publicly cut ties with the brand.
- What are the best ethical alternatives to H&M?
- Local thrift stores near you offer affordable clothing while reducing textile waste. Patagonia is a B Corp certified leader in sustainable fashion and environmental activism. Kotn makes ethically produced cotton basics that support farming communities at their source.