H&M
Flagged · AvoidSourced cotton tied to illegal Brazilian deforestation, faced hundreds of labor abuse cases in its Myanmar supply chain, and published falsified environmental data.
Last updated October 5, 2026
Reasons to avoid
Issues span:LaborEnvironmentHuman Rights
Alleged abuse of 108,000 Myanmar workers
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.Falsified environmental data on sustainability scorecards
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.Burned 60 tons of unsold clothes
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.Racist hoodie ad sparked global condemnation
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.Cotton linked to illegal Brazilian deforestation
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.
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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.
Know of a documented reason we're missing?