Baptist World Aid report finds little progress on fashion brands’ ethical practices

Baptist World Aid’s 2026 Ethical Fashion Report found little improvement in the ethical and environmental practices of fashion brands assessed in Australia when it was released on Tuesday, 20 October, ABC News reported. The brands averaged 31.5 points out of 100, an improvement of 0.2 per cent since 2024, raising questions about whether company commitments are changing practices across supply chains.

ABC News reported that the assessment covered 500 brands across 48 measures, including governance, supply-chain tracing, supplier relationships, worker empowerment and environmental sustainability. Baptist World Aid says its report and guide are published every two years. Its evaluations draw on publicly available information and company-reported data, including statements, websites and documents; it seeks third-party verification where possible.

Where fashion brands’ worker protections fall short

Worker grievance mechanisms were accessible to 20 per cent of workers at fewer than a quarter of brands, according to ABC News. These channels are intended to let workers raise concerns about their treatment. The gap matters because policies at company level may have limited effect when workers further along a supply chain cannot use a complaints process.

The assessment measures information Baptist World Aid could examine, rather than independently establishing the wages and conditions of every worker making the clothes. Its findings on access to complaints channels and supplier visibility therefore describe the brands’ documented practices and disclosures.

How brands scored on materials and purchasing

ABC News reported that outdoor and technical brands were among the highest scorers, with Patagonia receiving 70 points. Luxury and premium brands averaged 38.63 points, compared with 37.91 for fast-fashion brands. Only seven per cent of brands received a perfect score for responsible purchasing practices, which concern the terms on which brands buy from suppliers.

The share of brands using sustainable fibres rose to 38 per cent from 30 per cent in 2024. But growth in fibre production, particularly petroleum-based synthetics, outpaced the environmental benefits of those material choices, ABC News reported. RMIT University fashion and textiles academic Harriette Richards cautioned that fibre choices alone do not establish how long garments will last or resolve concerns about production volume.

Halliday called for due-diligence requirements under Australia’s Modern Slavery Act, ABC News reported. Her proposal would require companies to act on risks in their supply chains as well as disclose their practices. It is a recommendation from Baptist World Aid’s ethical fashion lead, rather than a change announced by the government.