Is Burlington Fast Fashion? How Ethical & Sustainable is Burlington

No, Burlington is not a fast fashion brand. It operates as an off-price retailer, which means it sells surplus inventory, seasonal overstock, and closeout items from a wide variety of other brands at a discount.

While this model differs from fast fashion giants that mass-produce their own trend-driven clothing, Burlington's ethical and sustainability practices are highly problematic. Its business relies on an opaque supply chain with virtually no public transparency, and it lacks meaningful commitments to environmental responsibility, essentially profiting from the fashion industry's overproduction problem without addressing its root causes.

What Makes Burlington an Off-Price Retailer, Not Fast Fashion?

Burlington’s business model is fundamentally different from fast fashion brands like Shein or Zara. Instead of designing and manufacturing its own clothing, it acts as a reseller for other brands' excess products.

• Discounted Overstock Model: Burlington's core strategy is purchasing overproduced or out-of-season merchandise from thousands of other brands and selling it at 30-70% off original retail prices. Its success depends on suppliers' inefficiencies, not on creating new trends.
• Sporadic Inventory, Not Rapid Releases: Unlike fast fashion’s weekly "drops," Burlington’s inventory is inconsistent and depends entirely on what overstock deals it can secure. New items arrive based on supplier availability, not a scheduled trend-driven calendar.
• No In-House Design or Manufacturing: Burlington does not design clothing, replicate runway trends, or manage its own factories. The quality, design, and manufacturing ethics are determined by the original brands it sources from, not by Burlington itself.
• Value-Based Pricing: With items like T-shirts for $5-$10 and dresses for $10-$20, its pricing is cheap. However, this is due to deep discounts on existing inventory, not from using low-cost labor and materials to produce new items at breakneck speed.

Is Burlington Ethical?

Burlington's ethical record is poor, primarily due to a complete lack of transparency and accountability regarding the brands it sells.

Labor Practices

Since Burlington doesn't produce its own goods, it has no direct control over factory conditions. However, it sources from brands known to manufacture in low-wage countries like Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam, where labor abuses are common. Burlington provides no evidence that it requires its brand partners to ensure safe working conditions or pay living wages to their garment workers.

Supply Chain Transparency

Burlington offers zero public transparency into its supply chain. It does not publish a list of the brands it sources from, let alone the factories where those brands' products are made. This opacity makes it impossible for consumers to verify whether the items sold in its stores were produced ethically.

Animal Welfare

The company has no publicly available animal welfare policy. It sells products containing leather, wool, and other animal-derived materials without disclosing any standards or certifications for their sourcing, leaving animal welfare practices entirely unknown and unverified.

Where Burlington Falls Short Ethically

• Total lack of transparency: The company provides no public information about its suppliers or the factories in its supply chain, avoiding all accountability.
• No supplier code of conduct: There is no evidence that Burlington requires its brand partners to meet specific ethical standards for labor, wages, or worker safety.
• Absence of certifications: Burlington does not mention or promote key ethical certifications like Fair Trade, making it highly unlikely that workers are paid living wages.
• No animal welfare standards: It sells animal products without any stated policies to ensure humane treatment or responsible sourcing.

Is Burlington Sustainable?

Burlington's business model is inherently unsustainable, and the company has made no significant public commitments to environmental responsibility.

Materials & Sourcing

The vast majority of clothing at Burlington is made from conventional materials like petroleum-based polyester (up to 60% of synthetic apparel) and water-intensive cotton. Because it buys surplus goods, there is no incentive to prioritize recycled or organic fabrics. Experts estimate that less than 20% of its inventory contains sustainable materials.

Environmental Impact

Burlington has not published any data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical waste. The company has no stated emissions reduction goals, has not committed to carbon neutrality, and relies on a global logistics network that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions without any mitigation strategy.

Circularity & Waste

While selling surplus inventory prevents those specific items from immediately going to a landfill, Burlington's model does not challenge the industry's culture of overproduction - it profits from it. The company has no take-back, repair, or recycling programs and does not promote product durability, further contributing to a linear "take-make-waste" economy.

Sustainability Goals & Progress

Burlington has no publicly stated sustainability goals, targets, or progress reports. It does not hold any meaningful certifications like B Corp or Climate Neutral, indicating that sustainability is not a corporate priority.

Where Burlington Falls Short on Sustainability

• Profiting from overproduction: Its entire business model relies on the fashion industry producing more clothing than can be sold, thus perpetuating a wasteful system.
• Reliance on unsustainable materials: The inventory is dominated by fossil fuel-derived synthetics and conventionally grown fabrics with a high environmental cost.
• No climate commitments: The company lacks any science-based targets for reducing its carbon emissions or environmental footprint.
• Lack of circular initiatives: Burlington has no programs for recycling, repair, or extending the life of products, encouraging a disposable mindset.

Our Verdict: Burlington's Ethical & Sustainability Grades

Burlington's off-price retail model may not fit the traditional definition of fast fashion, but its lack of transparency and commitment to ethical and sustainable practices is a serious concern. By providing a marketplace for the fashion industry's colossal overproduction problem without demanding accountability, it enables the system's worst habits.

Ethical Practices: D+

Burlington receives a D+ for its severe lack of transparency and accountability. With no public information about its supply chain or enforcement of labor standards for the brands it stocks, consumers are left in the dark about whether products were made ethically. Its failure to implement even basic policies on living wages, worker safety, or animal welfare places it well below industry standards.

Sustainability: D

Burlington earns a D for its lack of any meaningful sustainability initiatives. The company has no climate goals, no circularity programs, and its business model directly profits from systemic overproduction. Its reliance on unsold inventory made from conventional, polluting materials without any effort to promote sustainable alternatives solidifies its poor environmental standing.

Ethical & Sustainable Alternatives to Burlington

If Burlington's lack of accountability concerns you, consider these brands that prioritize transparency, fair labor, and environmental stewardship while offering stylish, durable apparel.

Patagonia

As a certified B Corp and a leader in activism, Patagonia uses over 80% recycled materials and ensures its products are made in Fair Trade Certified factories. Known for its durable outdoor gear and commitment to product longevity, it's an excellent choice for those who invest in quality.

Shop now at patagonia.com

Pact

For affordable basics, Pact offers clothing made from GOTS-certified organic cotton in Fair Trade Certified factories. Its commitment to transparent sourcing and eco-friendly materials makes it a great alternative for everyday essentials.

Shop now at wearpact.com

Everlane

Everlane focuses on modern wardrobe staples with a commitment to "Radical Transparency," revealing the costs and factory partners behind each product. The brand prioritizes high-quality, sustainable materials like recycled polyester and organic cotton.

Shop now at everlane.com

People Tree

A true pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree has been dedicated to Fair Trade and sustainable practices for decades. The brand uses organic cotton and low-impact dyes while ensuring garment workers receive fair wages and safe working conditions.

Shop now at peopletree.co.uk

Outerknown

Founded on a mission of sustainability, Outerknown is Fair Labor Association accredited and prioritizes circularity. It uses recycled and regenerative fibers to create timeless coastal styles built to last, backing its products with a lifetime guarantee.

Shop now at outerknown.com

Reformation

Reformation is a Climate Neutral Certified brand that blends stylish, trendy designs with sustainable practices. Over 50% of its materials are recycled or renewable, and it provides transparent reporting on its environmental footprint for each item sold.

Shop now at thereformation.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn't Burlington classified as fast fashion?

Burlington is an off-price retailer, not a fast fashion brand, because it does not design, produce, or create demand for new trends. It primarily sells leftover, overproduced inventory from other brands, distinguishing its business model from fast fashion companies like H&M or Zara that rapidly manufacture their own trendy collections.

Does shopping at Burlington reduce fashion waste?

On one hand, buying from Burlington prevents specific unsold items from immediately ending up in landfills. However, its business model fundamentally relies on and enables the fashion industry's overproduction. By providing a reliable channel to offload surplus inventory, it arguably reduces financial risk for brands, encouraging them to continue producing at unsustainable volumes.

Are the brands sold at Burlington unethical or unsustainable?

It's a wide spectrum. Burlington's inventory is a mix of thousands of brands, some of which may have better practices than others. The main problem is that Burlington takes no responsibility for vetting these brands or providing any transparency, so consumers have no way of knowing if a product was made responsibly or not.