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Dr Martens

OVERALL

Owned
UK
Rating
Praises, some criticism

Footwear maker

Formerly R Griggs Group. Makers of the famous Dr Martens boots. Came close to bankruptcy in 2003, when it cut jobs in the UK and moved manufacturing to China. Acquired by investment firm Permira in 2013. Became a public company in 2021. The brand is operated by Accent Group in Australia and New Zealand.

Company Ownership

Dr Martens plc   UK     website         
  Permira Holdings Ltd   
   owns 43% of Dr Martens plc  
UK     website         twitter

Private equity firm

Founded in 1985 and has made over 250 private equity investments. Operates throughout Europe, Japan and the USA, controlling 44 billion EUR in assets.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Dr Martens plc
Environment Climate action commitments
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target.
Source: We Mean Business (2021)
Animals Angora ban
This company has taken angora items off the shelves and promised not to use angora again, following a PETA campaign launched in Dec 2013 which revealed the cruelty inflicted on angora rabbits in Chinese factory farms, where 90% of the world's angora is produced.
Source: PETA (2018)
Business Ethics Social responsibility claims
This company has social responsibility claims on its website in the areas of ethical trade, environment (product and operations) and community support.
Source: company website (2020)
Business Ethics Leather Working Group member
This company is a member of the Leather Working Group, a multi-stakeholder group who's objective is to develop and maintain a protocol that assesses the compliance and environmental performance of tanners and promotes sustainable and appropriate environmental business practices within the leather industry.
Source: Leather Working Group (2022)
Social Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: company website (2021)
Social BHRRC company profile
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre digital platform presents news and allegations relating to the human rights impact of over 20,000 companies. Their enhanced Company Dashboards also include financial information, key data points based on corporate policies, and scores from prominent civil society benchmarks. Follow the link and use the search function to view this company's dashboard.
Source: BHRRC (2022)
Business Ethics 30/100 in Fashion Transparency Index
The 2022 Fashion Transparency Index reviewed 250 of the world's largest fashion brands and retailers and ranked them according to how much they disclose about their human rights and environmental policies, practices and impacts. Brands owned by this company scored 30%, signifying it is doing a bit more than the others when it comes to having policies and commitments in place and auditing and reporting activities, but could be doing more. The average score was 24% and the highest score was 78%.
Source: Fashion Revolution (2022)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Public company
Founded 1947
Revenue 672 million GBP (2020)

Contact Details

Address Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
Website www.drmartens.com

Products / Brands

Dr Martens
Dr Martens Mens Shoes
Dr Martens Womens Shoes
Dr Martens Work Boots


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