Forever 21·Apparel (Fast Fashion)·Los Angeles, United States·Founded 1976·Last verified 31 May 2026
9
out of 100
Critical concernPending Review+1 since last review

Forever 21 discloses zero emissions data, has no supply chain transparency, and operates a linear fast-fashion model built on overproduction and waste. The company ranks last in nature benchmarking, has no targets or renewable energy strategy, and faces documented labor violations and greenwashing accusations.

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale
Industry base impact
Apparel (Fast Fashion) sector ceiling.
15 / 100
Performance score
Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.
7 / 100
Raw score
Weighted average before scale penalty.
(0.3 × 15) + (0.7 × 7) = 9.4
Scale penalty
Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.
× 0.95
Final score
Rounded. Critical concern.
9 / 100
The ten questions

Where Forever 21 is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Energy Source (6/10, 1/10). Weakest on Transparency & Accountability and Targets & Commitments (0/10, 0/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

10 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

[1]Third-party verified
Forever 21 Brand Rating
Ongoing
Q1Q4Q8Q9
View →
[2]Third-party verified
Good On You Directory: Forever 21
Ongoing
Q1Q7Q9
View →
[3]Third-party verified
Remake Fashion Accountability Report: Forever 21
2022
Q2Q8Q9
View →
[4]Public record
Forever 21 Fast Fashion May Be Ending Up in Landfills
Unknown
Q3Q6
View →
[5]Public record
Is Forever 21 Fast Fashion?
Unknown
Q3Q6
View →
[6]Third-party verified
World Benchmarking Alliance Nature Benchmark: Forever 21
2022
Q5Q7
View →
[7]Public record
Is Forever 21 Fast Fashion? How Sustainable Is Forever 21?
Unknown
Q5Q6Q8
View →
[8]Public record
How Ethical Is Forever 21?
Unknown
Q10
View →
[9]Third-party verified
Fashion's Water Impacts
Ongoing
Q7
View →
[10]Self-reported
Forever 21 Sustainability Information
Unknown
Q4
View →

If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.

Forever 21 in context

Where Forever 21 sits among apparel (fast fashion) peers.

Among the 17 major apparel (fast fashion) brands we've scored, Forever 21 sits 16th of 17.

16/17
Forever 21's rank
25
Industry average
8
Industry low
40
Industry high
How this score has moved

Forever 21's score over time.

today

Score history begins 4 April 2026.

As Forever 21's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.

We're backfilling historical scores for FTSE 100 and S&P 100 companies over the coming weeks.

What's being contested

This score is not currently being contested.

Every challenge is published. We'd rather be corrected than wrong — that's the whole point.

No challenges submitted yet. If you have evidence that contradicts this score, you can challenge any question above — cite a public source and we'll review it.

About Forever 21

Forever 21 is a US-based fast-fashion retailer founded in 1976 and headquartered in Los Angeles. It operates 354+ stores globally, selling trend-driven apparel and accessories at ultra-low price points. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2019, restructured, and resumed operations under new ownership before collapsing again in 2025.

Founded
1976
Headquarters
Los Angeles, United States
Employees
~9,200 (at 2025 bankruptcy filing)
Annual revenue
~$2B (FY2021 peak; significant losses since)
Company website ↗
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