Is Marshalls Fast Fashion? An Expert Breakdown!

Owned by TJX Companies, Marshalls is a network of discount department shops in the USA. Over 1,000 Marshalls locations exist in the United States, including bigger establishments known as Marshalls Mega Stores that serve 49 states as well as Puerto Rico. There are also 61 locations in Canada. Beginning in March 2011, Marshalls began to grow in Canada.

In 1995, TJX bought Marshalls, and combined with T.J. Maxx, they created Marmaxx, the biggest off-price store of clothing and home goods in the United States. Puerto Rico and all of the United States are home to Marshalls outlets. Marshalls also runs the 2019-born e-commerce website marshalls.com.

The founding of Marshalls dates back to 1956, when Alfred Marshall assembled a group of creative business people on the East Coast, including Bernard Goldston, Norman Barren, and Irving Blitt (Frank Estey and Bernard Ribas joined the group in 1960 by purchasing Bernard Goldston's shares).

As sister businesses, Marshalls and T.J. Maxx have similar geographic footprints across the nation. Although the two have nearly comparable prices and similar shop designs, Marshalls stands apart by emphasizing family footwear and having larger men's and kid's categories.

Sustainability Rating: 5/10

Category: Clothing, footwear, accessories, beauty, toys, home

For: Men, women, kids

Products: Dresses, tops, sweaters, coats and jackets, jeans, pants and leggings, shorts and skirts, activewear, swimsuits, loungewear, lingerie, shoes, accessories, skincare, makeup, perfume, beauty tools, hair care and accessories, toys and books, pillows and décor, furniture and lighting, bed and bath, kitchen and tabletop

Style: Casual, basic

Quality: High to moderate

Prices: $

Sizes: XS-XL, 0-18 (US), 32-48 (EU)

Fabrics: Nylon, acrylic, polyester, spandex, cotton, elastane, linen, wool, leather, faux fur, viscose, silk, duck down, satin

100% Organic: No

100% Vegan: No

Ethical & Fair: No

Recycling: No

Manufacturing countries: Not transparent enough

Certifications: SASB

Interpretation Of The Sustainability Score

If a brand receives a rating of 5/10 it means that they are largely on the right route to create sustainable fashion. They take significant steps to lessen their impacts and are more accountable and open than the majority of fashion businesses.

What Are The Sustainability Practices Of Marshalls?

According to its most recent corporate sustainability report, Marshalls has demonstrated exceptional dedication to and proactiveness in reducing its environmental footprint. The business is actively addressing a number of significant environmental issues, such as reducing carbon emissions, preventing flooding, reducing pollution, and protecting biodiversity.

Considering climate change to be a serious issue, Marshalls has taken a number of steps to lessen its carbon footprint. These include putting in solar panels, creating targets based on research that has been approved by the Research Based Targets project, measuring the carbon footprint of its entire product line, and running all of its manufacturing facilities entirely on renewable energy.

Impressively, between 2008 and 2020, these activities have resulted in a 50% decrease in the company's overall carbon footprint.

• Flood Prevention:

Marshalls is concentrating on creating environmentally friendly drainage solutions. They have an amazing track record of preventing 322,000m3 of flood water thanks to their permeable paving solutions, which have substantially helped to reduce flood damage.

• Pollution Reduction:

Marshalls is cognizant of the need to reduce hazardous pollutants and increase fuel efficiency. It is dedicated to improving its fleet to reduce exhaust emissions and looking into fuel substitutes. The business is also working to make its manufacturing procedures more efficient.

• Protection of biodiversity:

Marshalls, a quarry operator, takes its obligation to protect the environment very seriously. The business actively participates in tree-planting campaigns and restoration activities. Marshalls and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) have maintained their collaboration for 14 years.

It's safe to say that Marshalls takes its commitment to sustainability very seriously.

What Are The Ethical Practices Of Marshalls?

In terms of ethical practices, Marshalls is not transparent. The Marshalls website only makes reference to adhering to the vendor's code of conduct, which addresses issues like child labor and forced labor.

However, Marshalls allegedly misused the exempt/nonexempt classifications to avoid paying overtime or compensatory time to employees in certain roles performing non-exempt job duties, as required by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. To settle the employee class-action lawsuit in California, TJX agreed to pay US$100 million.

Does Marshalls Give Back To The Community?

Marshalls has contributed to the fundraising efforts and public awareness-building for numerous nonprofits that aim to enhance the lives of others through its in-store fundraising initiatives, local shop support of community activities, and corporate gifts.

Through their yearly fundraising effort, Marshalls has donated more than $2 million annually since 1994, raising more than $29 million for JDRF. Visit your neighborhood Marshalls in September to choose your favorite new outfit, then add a donation to JDRF at the register!

The company has forged ties with local and national nonprofits in the United States. All of Marshalls' donations and fundraising initiatives are directed toward these organizations that support children, families, and local communities:

• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)

For the past 21 years, Marshalls has supported the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation by hosting an annual in-store fundraising event, giving money to local JDRF chapters through the TJX Foundation, and more. Over $25 million has been donated to JDRF as a consequence of these collective efforts, supporting their urgent mission to discover a cure for diabetes.

• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Marshalls has been happy to participate in the annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving® campaign since 2005. Customers at Marshalls are requested to make a $1 donation to St. Jude every November. These contributions fund the hospital's efforts to find treatments and cures for children who have cancer and other fatal diseases. We have contributed to the raising of more than $6 million, which has been given to St. Jude.

• Alzheimer's Association

Since 2013, Marshalls has lent their support to the Alzheimer's Association by hosting an annual in-store fundraiser, making donations to the TJX Foundations, sponsoring regional chapters, and joining the National Team Program for the Walk to End Alzheimer's. More than $7.5 million has been donated to the Alzheimer's Association as a result of these combined efforts, advancing their mission to end Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research, provide improved care and support for all affected, and lower the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

Does Marshalls Have Any Animal Welfare Policies?

Marshalls promises that they have tightened restrictions over time, most recently prohibiting the sale of any items made from angora (rabbit) fibers. Since 2018, information about their fur practices has been a part of their social compliance training as part of their ongoing considerations for animal welfare.

Even though their fur products are made of faux fur, their leather products are not mentioned as faux leather and their puffy jackets are filled with duck down. And they haven’t been transparent about how they obtain their leather and duck down.

So we can’t consider Marshalls as a 100% vegan brand.

Sources:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2002/08/19/daily25.html

https://www.tjx.com/corporate-responsibility/responsible-business/responsible-sourcing

https://www.jdrf.org/shopandgiveback/marshalls/#:~:text=Marshalls%20has%20raised%20more%20than,donation%20to%20JDRF%20at%20checkout

https://shrinkthatfootprint.com/are-tj-maxx-and-marshalls-sustainable-and-ethical-a-close-look/

https://www.tjx.com/businesses/united-states/marshalls#:~:text=Marshalls%20was%20acquired%20by%20TJX,.com%2C%20launched%20in%202019.

https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Marshalls/about

https://www.marshalls.com/us/store/jump/topic/Social-Responsibility/3200002

https://www.tjx.com/corporate-responsibility/communities/overview

https://www.tjx.com/corporate-responsibility/communities/basic-needs