How we rate children's clothing brands
Every brand on Sustainable Kids Brands receives a score out of 100, built from five pillars. We publish this method in full so parents and brands can see exactly how each score is reached.
The five pillars
| Pillar | Weight | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | 30 | Fibre types used; share of certified organic, recycled or responsibly sourced fibres (e.g. GOTS, OCS, GRS, FSC) |
| Chemical safety | 20 | Product testing for harmful substances, especially OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 Product Class I for under-3s; GOTS chemical criteria; restricted substances policies |
| People | 20 | Labour standards in manufacturing: Fair Wear, SA8000, GOTS social criteria, published audits, living-wage commitments |
| Transparency | 15 | Publicly named factories and mills, country of manufacture, traceability beyond the first tier |
| Durability & circularity | 15 | Construction quality, care guidance, repair, resale or take-back schemes, packaging |
Rating bands
- 85–100: Leading – verified best practice across most pillars
- 70–84: Strong – solid, verified progress with a few gaps
- 55–69: Progressing – real steps taken, significant gaps remain
- 40–54: Getting started – limited verified practice
- Below 40: Not enough evidence – claims could not be verified
Our evidence rules
- Verifiable evidence only. We score certifications we can confirm in the issuing body's public database, and information the brand publishes. Unverifiable claims score zero.
- Product scope matters. A certificate covering one product line is credited to that share of the range only, not the whole brand.
- Claims are assessed against ISO 14021 principles for environmental claims: specific, accurate, verifiable and not misleading. Vague terms like "eco-friendly" earn no credit.
- Every score is dated and reviewed at least every 12 months, or sooner when new evidence appears.
- Right of reply. Every brand is told before its rating is published and has 14 days to send evidence or corrections.
What a rating is not
Our ratings assess publicly verifiable sustainability practice. They are not a laboratory test of individual garments, and they do not replace the care and safety instructions on a product.
Independence
No brand can pay for, or influence, a score. Read our Editorial Independence & Disclosure policy, including how we rate BABICLO, a brand owned by our founder.
Spotted something wrong?
Tell us through our contact page. Confirmed corrections are published with the date they were made.