No, Cyber Bunny is not a traditional fast fashion brand. Its business model aligns more with a direct-to-consumer (DTC) boutique, featuring less frequent product drops, limited collections, and mid-range pricing compared to giants like Zara or H&M.
The brand shows a moderate commitment to ethics by working with certified factories but falls short on wage transparency and living wage commitments. Sourcing recycled materials is a key part of its sustainability strategy, but a lack of comprehensive environmental data keeps it from being an industry leader.
Cyber Bunny avoids the high-volume, rapid-turnover model that defines fast fashion. Instead, it focuses on a niche market with a more controlled production and release schedule.
Cyber Bunny demonstrates a baseline commitment to ethical practices by using audited factories, but a lack of transparency and a failure to commit to living wages prevent it from earning a high rating.
Cyber Bunny discloses that it manufactures in China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam and requires its partner factories to undergo third-party social compliance audits like BSCI. However, reports suggest factory workers earn between $180-$250 per month. While this is above the local legal minimum wage, it falls short of the estimated living wage of around $350 per month in those regions. Working hours reportedly range from 48-60 hours per week, which can exceed international standards.
The company publishes a list of its primary manufacturing partners, which is a positive step. However, it does not release the detailed results of its third-party audits or outline the corrective actions taken when issues are found. This lack of full disclosure makes it difficult for consumers to independently verify the working conditions inside its factories.
Cyber Bunny has a strong animal welfare policy. The brand primarily uses synthetic and plant-based materials like recycled polyester and organic cotton. It explicitly states that it does not use any animal-derived materials such as leather, fur, wool, or down, making its products vegan-friendly.
Cyber Bunny has built its sustainability platform on using recycled materials, but its overall environmental performance is mixed due to data gaps and a reliance on synthetics.
The brand stands out for its high use of sustainable materials, reporting that 70-80% of its collections are made from recycled or organic fibers. It heavily features GRS-certified recycled polyester (rPET) from post-consumer plastic bottles and OEKO-TEX certified fabrics. It also incorporates biodegradable materials like Tencel, though in smaller quantities.
Cyber Bunny states its suppliers use water-saving dyeing techniques and follow Bluesign standards for chemical management. However, the company does not publish a comprehensive report on its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical outputs. Without specific data, it is difficult to assess the actual environmental impact of its manufacturing processes.
The brand runs a take-back program that offers store credit for returned garments, which are then sent to recycling facilities. It also uses biodegradable poly mailers for shipping and claims textile waste during production is kept below 5%. While these are positive steps, there are no published metrics on the take-back program's volume or effectiveness.
Cyber Bunny has set a goal to use 100% recycled or organic materials by 2025 and is currently at around 75% progress. It also aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 30% in the next five years. These goals are ambitious, but the brand is not yet certified by major sustainability bodies like B Corp or Climate Neutral.
While Cyber Bunny successfully avoids the fast fashion label, it occupies a middle ground for ethics and sustainability. The brand's efforts are promising and place it above many competitors, but significant gaps in transparency and commitment remain.
Cyber Bunny earns a B- for working with socially audited factories and maintaining a fully vegan product line. However, its grade is held back by a lack of full transparency into audit results and, most importantly, the failure to pay or publicly commit to paying a verified living wage to the workers who make its clothes.
The brand receives a C+ for its strong focus on using recycled and certified materials, which makes up the bulk of its collections. Points are deducted for the lack of detailed environmental impact data, the inherent sustainability issues of its preferred recycled synthetic fabrics, and the absence of leading third-party certifications like B Corp.
If you're looking for brands that go further in their commitments to people and the planet, consider these alternatives:
As a certified B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, Patagonia is an industry leader in both ethics and sustainability. The brand champions Fair Trade Certified sewing, uses over 80% recycled materials, and offers a robust repair and take-back program to extend the life of its products.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Veja creates stylish sneakers using innovative, sustainable materials like organic cotton, wild Amazonian rubber, and recycled plastic bottles. The brand buys materials directly from farmer cooperatives at fair prices and ensures high labor standards through Fair Trade certified factories.
Shop now at veja-store.com
A pioneer in ethical fashion for over 30 years, People Tree is a guaranteed Fair Trade brand that creates timeless apparel from organic and natural materials. It partners with artisans and farmers in the developing world to create social and economic empowerment through its supply chain.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Reformation is a certified B Corp and is Climate Neutral Certified, focusing on creating on-trend silhouettes from sustainable materials like deadstock fabrics and recycled fibers. The company provides transparent factory information and publishes detailed sustainability reports tracking its progress.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Known for its "Radical Transparency," Everlane shares detailed information about its factories and production costs for each item. It uses a high percentage of sustainable materials, including recycled polyester and organic cotton, and audits its factories to ensure fair wages and working conditions.
Shop now at everlane.com
Cyber Bunny's claims have some substance, particularly its high use of certified recycled materials. However, its lack of complete transparency regarding its carbon footprint and living wages could be seen as a form of greenwashing, as it highlights positive actions while omitting data on bigger impact areas.
The wages are legally compliant and above the local minimum, which is better than many fast fashion brands. However, they fall short of a recognized living wage, which is the amount needed to cover basic necessities and live with dignity. Therefore, while legal, the wages are not sufficient to be considered fully ethical by living wage advocates.
Achieving certifications like B Corp or Fair Trade is a rigorous and often costly process, especially for smaller, independent brands. While Cyber Bunny uses factories with other social certifications like BSCI, it has not yet completed the comprehensive assessments required for these higher-tier certifications but has stated it is exploring them.
