Overview:

Sustainability 7.5/10
Non-toxicity 10.0/10

1 People is a Danish sustainable luxury fashion brand that sells women’s apparel, swimwear, activewear, shoes, and accessories.

Highlights:

  • Eco-friendly materials
  • Carbon offsetting and renewables in supply chain
  • Sustainable packaging
  • Strong fair labor profile

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Sustainability

score : 7.5/10

Packaging

Every product ships in a signature box made from recycled paper and natural dyes, produced by a small Bali factory. This sturdy, minimalist box is designed for reuse by customers (e.g. for storage) rather than single-use disposal. No single-use plastics are included in normal orders; even the logo stickers are a biodegradable, compostable paper from a UK supplier. On rare occasions, a protective plastic wrap is used if absolutely necessary for shipping, indicating near-elimination, but not total absence, of plastics. Inks and dyes are non-toxic vegetable-based, and the brand provides clear information on materials to facilitate recycling.

Ingredient Sustainability

Across products selected for our representative analysis, 1 People shows exemplary material sourcing: favoring natural, organic, and recycled inputs verified by certifications (Global Organic Textile Standard for cotton, Forest Stewardship Council or similar for plant fibers, Global Recycled Standard for synthetics). Problematic fibers like conventional polyester, acrylic, or PVC are notably absent. A small fraction of materials (elastic fibers, some blends) still carry moderate impacts (fossil-based or requiring chemical processing), but overall the brand’s portfolio skews toward the most sustainable tiers. The sourcing of potentially sensitive materials is handled responsibly (e.g. wool is RWS-certified to ensure humane and sustainable farming).

Energy Use and Footprint


The company operates a dispersed supply chain (manufacturing partners in Asia, Africa, and Europe), so logistics and production energy are key considerations. 1 People’s B Corp certification report reveals the brand supports reforestation projects, fights ocean plastic pollution, and works to offset carbon emissions associated with its operations. Indeed, the brand claims to use carbon-neutral shipping for deliveries worldwide, suggesting that emissions from transport are calculated and neutralized (likely via offsets or contributions to carbon reduction projects). Additionally, an independent sustainability rating noted that 1 People uses renewable energy in parts of its supply chain.

However, areas for improvement remain. The company does not yet publish a detailed carbon footprint or comprehensive GHG emissions report for its operations and supply chain. There are no quantified targets (publicly available) for reducing Scope 1–3 emissions.

Waste Management

The brand takes a multi-pronged approach to minimizing waste across product development, production, and end-of-life. On the manufacturing side, 1 People reports that it recycles all of its textile offcuts, meaning fabric scraps from pattern cutting are collected and reused or recycled rather than discarded. This is a notable commitment; it implies the brand has arrangements to either repurpose scraps into new products or send them to a textile recycler, ensuring zero fabric waste from production.

Additionally, 1 People is moving toward product circularity for consumers. The company has announced a forthcoming “Secondhand” buyback and resale program, where customers will be able to return used 1 People items for resale or exchange. This planned initiative will extend the life of garments, keep textiles out of landfills, and foster a circular economy mindset among its customer base.

Business Model

1 People’s business model is rooted in slow fashion principles, emphasizing quality over quantity and timeless style over trend-chasing. The brand releases a relatively curated collection of “elevated essentials” rather than incessant new micro-collections. By design, its aesthetic is minimalist and classic, which means products remain in style for multiple seasons, reducing pressure on customers to constantly buy the latest trend. New product launches do occur (the website has New Arrivals, and seasonal capsules like swimwear), but these are infrequent and tightly edited. This approach aligns with a model where evergreen designs dominate, with occasional seasonal items.

Non-toxicity

score : 10.0/10

The TENCEL™ Lyocell and SeaCell fibers in its apparel are produced with non-toxic solvents and dyes. Lyocell uses a closed-loop solvent (amine oxide) that is recycled >99% and isn’t harmful to humans, and SeaCell is embedded in cellulose without toxic chemicals. The brand’s materials are often certified. For instance, the Eco Suede fabric is OEKO-TEX® 100 certified to contain no formaldehyde, pesticides, heavy metals, or allergenic dyes.

Organic cotton (GOTS-certified) is used, which by definition is grown without toxic pesticides and processed with stricter limits on chemicals like chlorine bleach or azo dyes. GOTS also bans carcinogenic or endocrine-disrupting substances in finishing.

Recycled synthetics (ECONYL® nylon, recycled poly) are processed and dyed under bluesign® or OEKO-TEX® guidelines in 1 People’s supply chain. The ECONYL yarn production itself adheres to high environmental standards, and 1 People’s use of OEKO-TEX certified final fabric means no harmful dye residues remain in swimwear or activewear that would irritate skin. Additionally, ECONYL is free of the toxic additives (like BPA or phthalates) that can be present in some virgin plastics.

The rubber/elastics used are chosen with safety in mind (e.g. ROICA™ V550 elastane is not only partially recycled but also C2C Gold certified, indicating it’s been tested for material health and is free of hazardous substances).

Social Responsibility

score : 7.7/10

Fair Labor


The brand is unusually transparent about its supply chain: it publicly lists each of its manufacturing partners by name, location, and product type on its website. This includes small artisan groups in India and Indonesia and specialized factories (for example, a denim workshop in Mauritius, a silk scarf maker in China, etc.). Providing this level of supply chain visibility indicates that 1 People has mapped its suppliers and is willing to be held accountable for conditions there. The company also has a formal Supplier Code of Conduct addressing labor standards: it covers the fundamental International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.

Despite these commendable efforts, there are areas to monitor. Many of 1 People’s final-stage production countries (India, Indonesia, China) are classified as “extreme risk” for labor rights by independent auditors. The brand does audit its suppliers, but it has not disclosed what percentage are audited or the findings (e.g. whether all workers receive living wages versus just minimum wage). Encouragingly, 1 People’s B Corp score (91.2) is quite high, and B Lab’s assessment would have considered worker conditions and sourcing policies.

Animal Welfare

1 People is largely a cruelty-free brand, with policies and materials that minimize harm to animals. Notably, the brand does not use animal leather, fur, exotic skins, or angora in any of its products. Instead, it opts for plant-based and lab-made alternatives (such as Piñatex for leather and recycled materials for suede), thereby sparing countless animals from the typical leather and fur trades. It also does not use materials like down/feathers. This essentially makes the majority of 1 People’s collection vegan-friendly (with a couple of exceptions, discussed below).

The primary animal-derived materials in 1 People’s lineup are wool and cashmere, and possibly silk in a limited capacity. For wool and cashmere, the brand has taken care to source responsibly: it uses wool that is certified by the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). RWS certification ensures that sheep are treated humanely (no mulesing, sufficient animal welfare practices) and that the land is managed sustainably.

Community Engagement

The brand has integrated philanthropic and educational programs into its business model from an early stage, demonstrating a genuine desire to give back and drive positive change. Firstly, the company allocates a portion of its profits to three main initiatives under its “Business for Planet” program. These initiatives show a rare breadth and consistency of giving. Many brands might donate a small percentage of sales to a single cause; 1 People has multiple ongoing programs that it runs or funds, demonstrating a structured approach to social impact. Moreover, the programs are closely tied to the brand’s values (education, entrepreneurship, poverty alleviation) rather than being generic charity PR.