Is Empty Soda Fast Fashion? How Ethical & Sustainable is Empty Soda
No, Empty Soda is not a fast fashion brand. It operates on a slow fashion model, prioritizing quality, durability, and limited collections over speed and volume. The brand demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical production with transparent supply chains and fair wages, setting a high standard for social responsibility.
Empty Soda's sustainability efforts are commendable, focusing on organic materials, waste reduction, and circular design principles. Here’s a detailed breakdown of its practices.
Is Empty Soda Ethical?
Empty Soda is a highly ethical brand that built its operations around transparency, fair labor, and inclusive corporate practices.
Labor Practices
Empty Soda manufactures its clothing in partner factories located in Europe and North America, regions known for strict labor laws. According to their reports, their factories pay wages that meet or exceed local living wage benchmarks, such as their Portuguese factory where workers earn €10-€12 per hour. The brand ensures worker safety and reasonable hours through annual third-party audits by organizations like the Fair Factories Clearinghouse.
Supply Chain Transparency
The brand sets a high bar for transparency by publishing a comprehensive list of its suppliers, including factory locations and audit results. They rank highly on transparency indexes, demonstrating a deep commitment to accountability and allowing consumers to see exactly where their clothes are made.
Animal Welfare
Empty Soda follows a strict animal welfare policy, using predominantly plant-based and cruelty-free materials. The brand does not use fur, exotic skins, or wool from intensive farms, and it explicitly states that no animal testing occurs at any point in its supply chain.
Where Empty Soda Falls Short Ethically
- Audit Frequency: While annual audits are strong, some critics argue that more frequent or unannounced checks could create even greater accountability within the supply chain.
- Lacks Specific Certifications: The brand is transparent about its fair wage practices but has not yet obtained specific Fair Trade or Living Wage certifications, which would offer additional third-party validation.
Is Empty Soda Sustainable?
Empty Soda integrates sustainability into every aspect of its business, from raw material sourcing to packaging and end-of-life solutions.
Materials & Sourcing
Over 80% of Empty Soda's collections are made from sustainable materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton, Tencel lyocell, recycled polyester, and hemp. This commitment ensures that their products are not just durable but also have a significantly lower environmental footprint than those made with conventional fabrics.
Environmental Impact
The brand actively works to minimize its operational impact by partnering with factories that use renewable energy and water-saving technologies. Some of their partners employ closed-loop dyeing systems, cutting water usage by up to 50% while avoiding toxic Azo dyes and other harmful chemicals, in compliance with OEKO-TEX Standard 100.
Circularity & Waste
Empty Soda is designed for circularity. They offer a take-back program for old garments, which are then recycled into new fibers. The company also uses minimal, biodegradable packaging made from compostable mailers and recycled paper, and they actively manage deadstock by donating or recycling unsold inventory, reporting less than 2% textile wastage annually.
Sustainability Goals & Progress
The company publishes an annual sustainability report detailing its progress toward becoming carbon neutral by 2030. They have successfully reduced their Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 15% over the past two years, demonstrating tangible progress on their published goals.
Where Empty Soda Falls Short on Sustainability
- Carbon Neutrality Not Yet Achieved: While they are actively working toward their 2030 carbon neutrality goal, they are not yet fully certified as carbon neutral.
- Shipping & Logistics: As with any global brand, there is still room to optimize shipping routes and methods further to reduce transportation-related emissions.
- Raw Material Gaps: While the majority of their materials are certified and traceable, there are minor gaps in tracing the origin of some non-organic blended fabrics.
Our Verdict: Empty Soda's Ethical & Sustainability Grades
Empty Soda stands out as a responsible choice for consumers seeking a genuine alternative to fast fashion. Its commitment to transparent, ethical, and sustainable practices is baked into its business model, not just a marketing layer.
Ethical Practices: A-
Empty Soda earns an A- for its exceptional supply chain transparency, commitment to fair wages, and strong animal welfare policy. The brand operates with an ethics-first mindset, reflected in its B Corp certification and inclusive marketing. The grade reflects its high standards while acknowledging small opportunities for growth, such as obtaining a specific Living Wage certification and increasing audit frequency.
Sustainability: B+
The brand receives a B+ for its impressive use of high-quality sustainable materials (over 80%), significant efforts in reducing water and chemical use, and strong circularity initiatives. It sets and reports on ambitious carbon reduction goals. This excellent grade is balanced by the fact that it has not yet achieved full carbon neutrality and has minor opportunities to improve optimization across its global supply chain.
More Ethical & Sustainable Brands Like Empty Soda
If you love Empty Soda's commitment to quality, ethics, and sustainability, here are some other brands with similar values worth checking out:
Everlane
Known for its "Radical Transparency," Everlane offers high-quality, minimalist basics with a similar price point to Empty Soda. They publish detailed information on their factories and production costs while using an increasing percentage of recycled and sustainable materials.
Patagonia
A pioneer in sustainable outdoor apparel, Patagonia is a certified B Corp and 1% for the Planet member. They extensively use recycled materials, guarantee products with lifetime repairs, and are deeply committed to Fair Trade certified production and environmental activism.
Kotn
Kotn is a B Corp that specializes in timeless wardrobe staples made from authentic Egyptian cotton. The brand works directly with cotton farming families in Egypt, ensuring fair labor practices and investing in local communities through initiatives that build schools and improve infrastructure.
Tentree
This certified B Corp offers affordable, comfortable apparel and plants ten trees for every item sold. They use a high proportion of eco-friendly materials like Tencel, recycled polyester, and organic cotton, all sourced from transparent and ethically audited factories.
Outerknown
Co-founded by surfer Kelly Slater, Outerknown is committed to circular design and Fair Labor Association accreditation. They focus on using regenerative organic cotton and recycled materials to create casual, coastal-inspired menswear and womenswear built to last.
ABLE
ABLE is an ethical lifestyle brand focused on empowering women as a solution to end poverty. They are deeply committed to wage transparency, publishing the lowest wages in their manufacturing chain to ensure fairness, and they offer beautifully designed leather goods, apparel, and jewelry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Empty Soda a B Corp?
Yes, Empty Soda has achieved B Corp certification. This legally requires the company to consider the impact of its decisions on its workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment, solidifying its commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Why is Empty Soda more expensive than fast fashion?
Empty Soda's prices are higher because they reflect the true cost of creating ethical and sustainable clothing. This includes paying fair living wages to garment workers, using high-quality and eco-friendly materials, and investing in durable construction methods so garments last longer.
Where are Empty Soda's clothes made?
Empty Soda manufactures its clothing in factories located in Europe and North America, as detailed on their publicly available supplier list. This ensures their products are made in regions with robust labor laws that protect worker rights and safety.
Does Empty Soda use any animal products?
No, Empty Soda prioritizes animal welfare and uses predominantly plant-based materials like organic cotton and Tencel. Their entire production process is cruelty-free, and they do not use materials such as fur, exotic skins, or conventional wool in any of their collections.
Written by
Ash Read
