No, Decathlon is not considered a fast fashion brand. Its business model prioritizes performance, durability, and affordability in sportswear, which contrasts with the rapid, trend-driven production cycle of typical fast fashion companies.
While Decathlon makes genuine efforts in sustainability and ethics, particularly through its use of durable materials and some responsible sourcing certifications, significant transparency gaps remain, especially regarding living wages and the full environmental impact of its supply chain. Here’s a detailed breakdown of its practices.
Decathlon operates on a value-driven, performance-focused model rather than the high-turnover, trend-replication model of fast fashion. Its production cycle and design philosophy are fundamentally different.
Decathlon demonstrates a moderate commitment to ethical practices, with several positive initiatives offset by a lack of full supply chain transparency and verifiable living wages.
Decathlon’s manufacturing is concentrated in Asia (China, Bangladesh, Vietnam). While the company claims to conduct third-party audits (via SEDEX and BSCI), reports from groups like the Clean Clothes Campaign have highlighted wages below local living standards. For example, some factory workers in Bangladesh reportedly earn around $180/month, while the estimated living wage is closer to $350/month.
The brand is partially transparent, publishing a list of its manufacturing countries. However, it does not disclose a comprehensive list of all supplier factories or its full audit reports, which makes it difficult for consumers and watchdog groups to independently verify its ethical claims.
Decathlon uses some animal-derived materials with good standards. It uses Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certified down to prevent live-plucking and force-feeding. While it commits to responsible wool sourcing, it does not widely specify certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). The company does not use fur or exotic animal skins.
Decathlon is making visible progress on sustainability by incorporating eco-friendly materials and setting emissions goals, but its overall impact remains significant, and its circularity initiatives are still in early stages.
Approximately 25-35% of Decathlon's textiles are made from more sustainable materials, including Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified recycled polyester and organic cotton. They are actively increasing this percentage, but the majority of their collection still relies on conventional synthetic materials.
Decathlon has a science-based target to reduce its carbon emissions by 30% by 2030. It has also improved water recycling by up to 50% in dyeing processes at some factories. However, comprehensive data on its total water footprint, chemical usage, and overall carbon emissions is not readily available to the public.
The brand promotes durability and offers in-store repair services to extend product life. It also runs limited product take-back programs in some markets. However, these circularity initiatives are not yet comprehensive or scaled globally, and a clear strategy for managing textile waste and unsold stock is not fully developed.
Decathlon's goals include using 50% sustainable materials by 2025. It is a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and uses standards like Bluesign for chemical management. However, it is not yet a certified B Corp or Climate Neutral Certified, which are key benchmarks set by industry leaders.
Decathlon is a better choice than conventional fast fashion, but it has not yet reached the high bar set by leaders in ethical and sustainable apparel. Its commitment to improvement is clear, though its current practices leave room for growth.
Decathlon earns a B for its responsible sourcing certifications (like RDS), use of third-party audits, and avoidance of harmful animal materials like fur. However, it falls short of a higher grade due to a lack of transparency in its supply chain and a failure to provide evidence of living wages for all of its garment workers.
The brand receives a C+ for its strong focus on product durability, increasing use of recycled and organic materials, and public commitment to science-based emissions targets. Its grade is held back by the moderate percentage of its collection made with sustainable materials and its still-developing circularity programs.
If you're seeking sports and outdoor gear from brands with stronger, more transparent commitments to ethics and sustainability, consider these alternatives:
A B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, Patagonia is an industry leader using over 80% recycled materials and guaranteeing Fair Trade factory conditions for a majority of its products. The brand actively promotes repairs and resale to fight overconsumption.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Specializing in activewear made from recycled materials like plastic bottles and fishing nets, Girlfriend Collective operates out of an SA8000-certified factory that guarantees fair wages and safe conditions. Their supply chain is highly transparent.
Shop now at girlfriend.com
Veja is a B Corp known for its transparent production model for sneakers, using organic cotton, fair-trade rubber, and innovative recycled materials. The brand invests heavily in ensuring ethical conditions and fair prices for its producers.
Shop now at veja-store.com
Another certified B Corp, Allbirds uses natural and renewable materials like merino wool and sugarcane to create footwear and apparel. It is transparent about its carbon footprint, actively working to reduce it with every product.
Shop now at allbirds.com
This certified B Corp makes comfortable apparel for outdoor lifestyles using sustainable materials like organic cotton, hemp, and TENCEL™. Tentree is famous for planting ten trees for every item purchased and is committed to operating an ethical supply chain.
Shop now at tentree.com
Decathlon's affordability comes from its integrated business model where it designs, manufactures, and retails its own products, cutting out intermediaries. It also benefits from economies of scale and focuses on functional, no-frills designs, which reduces complexity and cost.
Yes, Decathlon is on a clear path to improvement. The brand has set public goals to increase its use of sustainable materials to 50% by 2025 and is committed to science-based targets for emission reductions, showing a tangible commitment to becoming more sustainable over time.
There is no public evidence that all workers in Decathlon's supply chain earn a verified living wage. While the company has a code of conduct for suppliers, independent reports have shown that wages in some countries, like Bangladesh, fall well below living wage standards.
Look for products labeled with Decathlon's "Ecodesign" tag. These items are made with a lower environmental impact, typically utilizing materials like recycled polyester, recycled cotton, or solution-dyed fabrics that use significantly less water.
