Inditex S.A. — Ethics Grade C-

Inditex S.A. receives an overall ethics grade of C- (42/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Fashion & Apparel. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 35
• privacy: 80
• consumer: 55
• environment: 45
• humanRights: 30

Documented incidents (3)

• Forced Labor Allegations (high, 2021) — French prosecutors opened an investigation into Inditex for allegedly concealing crimes against humanity regarding forced labor of the Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang region of China.
• Slave-like Labor in Brazil (high, 2011) — Brazilian authorities rescued workers in Sao Paulo who were found working in slave-like conditions for an outsourced supplier of the brand Zara.
• Greenwashing Scrutiny (medium, 2023) — The company faced criticism for its 'Join Life' sustainability label, with activists claiming it misleadingly implies high environmental standards for items still produced via fast-fashion models.

Documented good deeds

• Renewable Energy Commitment — Achieved 100% renewable electricity use across its internal operations, including offices, logistics centers, and stores.

Ethical alternatives

• Patagonia — Uses organic cotton and invests in supply chain transparency and circular economy initiatives.