While not a traditional apparel brand, Five Below's business model shares many core characteristics with fast fashion, including rapid product turnover and an emphasis on trendy, low-cost goods. The company's ethical and sustainability practices are largely opaque, lacking the transparency and commitments needed to be considered an ethical or sustainable choice.
There is minimal evidence of proactive environmental initiatives or robust labor oversight, placing Five Below in the category of brands that prioritize volume and price over planet and people. Here’s a detailed breakdown of its practices.
Five Below's business strategy is built on volume, speed, and extremely low prices, mirroring the fast fashion model even though it extends beyond apparel.
Five Below's ethical practices are difficult to verify due to a severe lack of transparency, making it impossible to confirm if workers in its supply chain are treated and paid fairly.
Five Below sources from regions like Bangladesh, where the industry-average wage of $100–$150 per month falls dramatically short of a living wage, which is estimated to be over $350 per month. Without any public data or audit reports, there is no way to know if workers producing Five Below's goods are earning enough to live on or work in safe conditions.
The company does not publish a list of its suppliers or provide results from factory audits, making independent verification impossible. While Five Below states it has vendor compliance policies, it offers no third-party certifications like Fair Trade or SA8000 to back up its claims, leaving consumers completely in the dark about its supply chain operations.
Five Below primarily uses synthetic materials like faux fur and polyester, which avoids many direct animal welfare issues. However, the company provides no official policy or information on the sourcing of materials like wool that are occasionally used, and it lacks cruelty-free certifications such as PETA-Approved Vegan for any of its products.
Five Below shows almost no evidence of sustainable practices and has not made any public commitments to reduce its environmental impact.
The vast majority of Five Below's products are made from cheap, virgin synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon, or conventional cotton blends. These petroleum-based fabrics are energy-intensive to produce and contribute to microplastic pollution. The company has no known initiatives to incorporate organic, recycled, or other sustainable materials into its products.
Five Below has published no data on its carbon footprint, water usage, or chemical management. The company has not set any emissions reduction targets (like becoming carbon neutral) and does not report on its Scope 1, 2, or 3 emissions. Given its high-volume international shipping and manufacturing in countries with lax environmental regulations, its environmental footprint is likely substantial.
Designed for short-term use and "fun," Five Below's products contribute directly to landfill waste. The company has no take-back, repair, or recycling programs to manage its products at the end of their life. Packaging frequently consists of non-recyclable plastics, further adding to its waste stream.
Five Below has no publicly stated sustainability goals. The company has no targets for reducing emissions, transitioning to sustainable materials, eliminating hazardous chemicals, or reducing waste. It also lacks key environmental certifications like B Corp or Climate Neutral.
Five Below's business model is fundamentally at odds with ethical and sustainable principles. The company’s extreme lack of transparency and absence of any meaningful initiatives in these areas are major red flags for conscious consumers.
Five Below earns a D due to its complete opacity. Without a supplier list, factory audit results, or information on wages, it is impossible to know how its workers are treated. The choice to produce in high-risk countries without providing any third-party verification suggests that adherence to ethical labor standards is not a priority.
The company receives a D for sustainability due to its use of environmentally damaging materials, lack of any public data on its impact, and absence of goals to improve. Five Below's model encourages overconsumption and disposability, directly contributing to the global waste crisis without any evident effort to mitigate the harm.
If you're looking for affordably priced items and apparel from brands that prioritize people and the planet, here are a few much better alternatives.
PACT offers clothing and home goods made with 100% organic cotton in Fair Trade Certified factories. This ensures environmentally friendly production and fair treatment of workers, with prices that are accessible for basics and loungewear.
Shop now at wearpact.com
As a certified B Corp, Tentree is committed to high ethical and environmental standards, using materials like TENCEL, recycled polyester, and organic cotton. For every item sold, the brand plants ten trees, making it a climate-positive choice for casual and outdoor apparel.
Shop now at tentree.com
Known for its commitment to "radical transparency," Everlane discloses information about its factories and production costs. The brand focuses on creating high-quality, timeless basics from more sustainable materials like recycled fabrics and organic cotton, moving away from a trend-driven model.
Shop now at everlane.com
Kotn is a B Corp that produces high-quality basics from authentic Egyptian cotton sourced directly from smallholder farmers. The brand ensures fair pay throughout its supply chain and invests in community development projects like building schools in the Nile Delta.
Shop now at kotn.com
A leader in sustainability, Patagonia offers durable outdoor gear and everyday apparel made largely from recycled materials in Fair Trade Certified factories. Though more expensive, their repair programs and lifetime guarantee promote longevity over disposability.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Five Below keeps prices low by manufacturing products in countries with very low labor costs, using inexpensive and often virgin synthetic materials, and operating on a high-volume sales model where thin profit margins are offset by selling massive quantities of goods.
Generally, no. The clothing and other products sold at Five Below are designed to be trendy and affordable, not durable. The materials and construction methods used are chosen to minimize cost, resulting in items that are not built to last more than a handful of uses.
Based on all publicly available information, Five Below has no meaningful sustainability initiatives. The company has not published any sustainability reports, set goals for emissions reduction or sustainable materials sourcing, or announced any major programs aimed at reducing its environmental footprint.
