Next plc sustainability score: 36/100
Better than 26% of Apparel (Durable / Outdoor)
Making progress starts at 46. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Next plc is a UK-based fashion retailer founded in 1982, headquartered in Leicester. Operating retail stores and online channels globally, it sources apparel, footwear, and homeware from 35+ countries.
More about Next plc
A mid-sized player in fast fashion, competing with Inditex and H&M on volume and price.
Founded 1982Head office Leicester, United KingdomStaff ~50,000Revenue ~£6.1BWebsite ↗
Next plc reports comprehensively on climate but relies on intensity-based Scope 3 targets that mask absolute emissions growth. Scope 1 increased in recent years. Nature and water impacts remain largely unquantified and unverified. No net-zero pathway published despite SBTi validation.
Next plc scores 36/100 (Below expectations) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Nobody can pay to change a score, speed it up or hide it. Last verified May 2026.
That places Next plc joint 542nd of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 39th of 58 in Apparel (Durable / Outdoor).
What is Next plc doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Energy Source (6/10, 6/10). Weakest on Nature & Biodiversity Impact and Emissions Trajectory (3/10, 4/10).
Where Next plc lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
What would raise this score
- Its effect on natureAssess its effect on nature and publish a basic environmental policy.
- Whether its emissions are fallingShow a year-on-year fall in its total emissions.
- Its effect on waterMeasure its water footprint and set reduction targets.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations6/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain5/10Most of its supply-chain (Scope 3) emissions aren't measured.
- Whether its emissions are falling4/10No evidence of a year-on-year fall in its total emissions.
- How clean its energy is6/10Less than 90% of its energy shown to be renewable.
- Its effect on nature3/10No assessment of its effect on nature, and no basic environmental policy.
- How it uses materials and handles waste5/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water4/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets5/10Its targets aren't science-based or committed to the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports6/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
- Its record on controversies6/10Points deducted for controversies or its business model. The finding is under question 10.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is Next plc's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Next plc's score based on?
9 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
60% of them were published by Next plc itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“47% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions against a 2016/17 baseline”
“directly used 345,032m3 (2023: 295,837m3) in our UK and Eire operations”
“11% of wool (2022/23: 4%) was RWS sourced”
“In July 2021 our scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon reduction targets were approved by the SBTi”
“supporter of Canopy's Next Generation Vision for Viscose which supports the end of sourcing from ancient and endangered forests”
“There is no net zero target recorded in our database”
“it did not adequately explain how it had cut emissions or planned to in the future”
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How does Next plc compare with other apparel (durable / outdoor) companies?
Where Next plc sits among apparel (durable / outdoor) peers.
Among the 58 major apparel (durable / outdoor) brands we've scored, Next plc is tied =39th of 58, with 4 others.
Who scores higher in Apparel (Durable / Outdoor)?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Next plc.
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