Lululemon
Rated: Good
Price: $$$
Location: Canada
Quick verdict
An $8B+ athletic apparel giant with strong product durability and a genuine resale programme. But facing greenwashing lawsuits and regulatory investigations in three countries while emissions doubled. Lululemon's Like New resale programme has circulated 1.7+ million items since 2021, and 77% recycled polyester exceeded targets a year early. However, absolute greenhouse gas emissions more than doubled from 829,456 to 1,691,009 tonnes CO2e between 2020 and 2022 while "Be Planet" marketing intensified. The brand faces an active French regulatory complaint, a Canadian Competition Bureau investigation, and was scored C- on Stand.earth's Fossil Free Fashion Scorecard. Over 60% of materials remain fossil fuel-derived synthetics.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Founded
- 1998
- Product categories
- Activewear, Womenswear, Menswear
- Price range
- $$$
- Key certifications
- Fair Labor Association member, SBTi-validated climate targets, some Bluesign-certified materials. No B Corp, GOTS, OEKO-TEX, or Fair Trade certifications. $250M Fashion Climate Fund co-backed with H&M.
Lululemon sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
Over 60% of materials are petroleum-derived synthetics (nylon, polyester). While 77% of polyester is now recycled (a genuine achievement), only 11% of nylon. Which makes up 30% of material volume. Is recycled or renewable. No organic cotton certification. 2030 materials targets have been revised downward.
Fair Labor Association member with Tier 1 supplier list published. However, no evidence of living wages across the supply chain. A 2019 Guardian investigation documented verbal and physical abuse in Bangladesh factories. High risk of Uyghur forced labour cotton per Sheffield Hallam University. Union-busting incidents at supplier factories. Has not signed the International Accord.
SBTi-validated targets and 100% renewable electricity in owned operations are real. But absolute GHG emissions more than doubled from 2020 to 2022. Targets are intensity-based, allowing emissions to grow with revenue. Heavy air freight usage. Dropped the 2025 single-use plastic target entirely.
Publishes annual Impact Reports, Tier 1 supplier lists, CDP climate data, and FLA assessment reports. Better than many fast fashion brands. However, key emissions data presentation has been criticised for excluding certain Scope 3 categories, and targets have been revised downward without full explanation.
Like New resale programme has circulated 1.7+ million items since 2021, with 100% of programme profits invested in sustainability. Product durability is genuinely strong, reducing replacement frequency. No carbon offsets used. Relies on actual reduction. $250M Fashion Climate Fund for supply chain decarbonisation.
What they do well
- Like New resale programme. Has circulated 1.7+ million items since 2021, with 100% of programme profits invested in sustainability via the Fashion Climate Fund
- Recycled polyester at 77%: exceeded target a year early, demonstrating material transition at scale is possible for major brands
- Genuine product durability. Well-constructed athletic apparel designed for long use life, reducing replacement frequency
- No carbon offsets. Relies on actual emissions reduction rather than purchasing offsets, a more honest if slower approach
Room for improvement
- Emissions doubled while marketing intensified. Absolute GHG emissions more than doubled from 2020 to 2022 while "Be Planet" campaigns expanded; facing active regulatory complaints in France and Canada
- Labour conditions unresolved: 2019 Guardian investigation into abuse at Bangladesh factories, union-busting at supplier facilities, and Sheffield Hallam University findings of high Uyghur forced labour cotton risk
- Nylon is the elephant in the room. At 30% of material volume with only 11% recycled, and the 2030 target revised down from 100% to 75%, nylon represents a massive unresolved sustainability challenge
About Lululemon
Lululemon was founded in 1998 by Chip Wilson in Vancouver, Canada, originally as a yoga-focused design studio doubling as a retail store. The company went public on NASDAQ in 2007 and has since grown into an $8B+ annual revenue multinational with 767 stores across 17+ countries. Calvin McDonald serves as CEO; founder Wilson is no longer involved in daily operations. The brand was the official outfitter of Team Canada for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Core materials are proprietary synthetic blends: Nulu (nylon-Lycra for the iconic Align leggings), Everlux, Luxtreme, and Softstreme. All primarily petroleum-based, Polyester and nylon make up roughly 63% of material volume. The brand has made real progress on recycled polyester (77%) but lags significantly on nylon (11% recycled). Manufacturing is entirely outsourced across Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, China, Peru, Colombia, Turkey, and South Korea.
The greenwashing concerns are significant. Absolute greenhouse gas emissions more than doubled from 829,456 to 1,691,009 tonnes CO2e between 2020 and 2022, while "Be Planet" marketing intensified. A US class action lawsuit was dismissed in February 2025 on standing grounds (not merits), but Stand.earth's French regulatory complaint and a Canadian Competition Bureau investigation remain active. Stand.earth scored the brand C- on their Fossil Free Fashion Scorecard.
The Like New resale programme is a genuine bright spot, having circulated 1.7+ million items since 2021 with 100% of programme profits reinvested in sustainability. The $250M Fashion Climate Fund, co-backed with H&M, represents significant capital investment in supply chain decarbonisation. In November 2025, former Nike Chief Sustainability Officer Noel Kinder joined as SVP of sustainability, signalling potential strategic shifts. Pricing is among the highest in athletic apparel ($98-$148 for leggings versus ~$60-$100 at Nike).
Product highlights
Align High-Rise Pant 25"
Nulu fabric (nylon-Lycra) yoga legging with buttery soft feel, four-way stretch, sizes 0-20.
$98–$128
The brand's most iconic product with a cult following for comfort. Though made entirely from fossil fuel-derived synthetics.
Scuba Oversized Half-Zip Hoodie
Cotton-blend fleece with relaxed oversized fit, available in seasonal colourways.
$118–$128
A collector's item with frequent sellouts; one of the few products incorporating cotton rather than pure synthetics.
Everywhere Belt Bag 1L
Water-repellent nylon belt bag with adjustable strap and two zippered compartments.
$38–$48
Went viral on TikTok as an accessible entry price point. Though made entirely from virgin nylon.
ABC (Anti-Ball Crushing) Pant
Warpstreme or Utilitech fabric with work-to-weekend versatility for men.
$128–$148
Men's bestseller demonstrating the brand's expansion beyond yoga, with performance fabric construction.
