A new report claims Asos, part owned by Scotland’s richest man, is still harming the environment and not adequately supporting its workers. Asos says it is committed to addressing concerns about the fashion industry.
The UK Government will soon force many company owners to prove their identities. We don’t know when the people behind much-abused Scottish business schemes will face the same measures.
The founder of a Canadian "extremist, militia-like organisation” visited far right allies in Scotland. Critics question why a “dangerous individual" was allowed to enter the country.
A new report claims Asos, part owned by Scotland’s richest man, is still harming the environment and not adequately supporting its workers. Asos says it is committed to addressing concerns about the fashion industry.
Helping you make sense of what really matters
From fact checks to investigations and explainers, The Ferret helps cut through noise with journalism that is careful, sourced, and worth your time.
Asos, whose largest shareholder is Scotland’s richest man and the country’s largest landowner, is facing fresh criticism over accusations about its commitment to workers’ rights and sustainability, according to a new report.
Billionaire Dane, Anders Povlsen, is rewilding his Scottish estates from Glenfeshie in the Cairngorms to Ben Loyal in Sutherland, aiming to restore “our parts of the Highlands to their former magnificent natural state”. Essential to this project, he claims, is creating work for the locals who live there.
But concerns about Asos’ ethical and sustainability credentials have been raised by a report published on fast fashion last month by online magazine Ethical Consumer. It gave Asos a score of 30 out of a 100 for sustainability and just 20 out of 100 for its record on workers rights.
Both Asos and Povlsen’s other companies say they are committed to addressing concerns about the impacts of the fashion industry on people and the planet and are working to meet strict targets to drive improvements.
However critics are calling for greater scrutiny of Povlsen, claiming the “unsustainability of his global business interests stands in sharp relief to his apparent Scottish environmentalism”.
Paul Dobson
Over the last 20 years Povlsen has bought up about one per cent of Scotland – 220,000 acres of land – which he owns through conservation and tourism company, WildLand. His Scottish portfolio includes 13 estates as well as the historic Jenners building on Edinburgh’s Princes Street. In September this year he added Kinross House Estate by Loch Leven to his massive portfolio.
WildLand is owned by Danish parent company Heartland – funded by another fast fashion brand, Bestseller. Heartland holds the Asos stake.
The latest Ethical Consumer report examined 51 fast fashion brands including Asos. The leading alternative consumer magazine was launched in 1989 and produces regular shopping guides. Its latest report claims the fashion industry – which prioritises cheap clothing produced as quickly as possible – “drives worker exploitation”.
The highest scoring company, White Stuff, was awarded 49 out of 100 in total and the two lowest, Amazon Essentials Clothing and Zara, each scored only 11 out of 100. It gave Asos a score of 33 out of 100 overall but less for certain categories including workers rights, for performing “poorly”.
Ethical Consumer’s researchers found "no adequate standards on wages" and a lack of transparency around working conditions in Asos’ factories. It highlighted significant criticism over conditions in its supply chain, quoting a January 2026 report by labour rights campaign group Advocating Rights in South Asia, which found poor conditions in textile recycling factories in India and Pakistan.
It also referenced a December 2025 report by Climate Rights International which linked Asos amongst other brands to garment factories in Karachi, Pakistan, where workers described the difficulty of working in extreme heat alongside inadequate workplace protections and alleged “wider labour rights abuses”.
“If he's looking for positive environmental impact, Anders Povlsen could use his significant shareholding in the company to put an end to some of its most harmful practices”. — Shanta Bhavnani, Ethical Consumer
Ethical Consumer awarded a slightly higher score for sustainability claiming Asos was “relatively transparent” about what its clothes are made from. However, while 40 percent of its materials are “greener” cotton, researchers said only 10 percent of its fabric was made with materials considered to be the most sustainable, like recycled natural fibres, organic cotton, hemp and linen.
The report also raised concerns about Asos’ tax practices noting it had subsidiaries in both Jersey and the Netherlands, which Ethical Consumer considers to be tax havens.
Povlsen promotes his environmental credentials in his Scottish projects and is funding a "200 year vision" for an ecologically restored Highlands and rewilding projects on the 13 estates he now owns.
Shanta Bhavnani, senior researcher for Ethical Consumer, said: “As a fast fashion retailer, Asos's business model depends on a high turnover of synthetic clothes that are likely to be scarcely worn and quickly thrown away. This model is extremely damaging to the environment.
“In our recent rating of the company we found lots of room for improvement. If he's looking for positive environmental impact, Anders Povlsen could use his significant shareholding in the company to put an end to some of its most harmful practices."
Paul Dobson
Josh Doble, head of policy and advocacy at Community Land Scotland, said the research raised “uncomfortable questions” for both Asos and Anders Povlsen as its biggest shareholder and Scotland's largest private landowner.
He added: “His estates are focused on 'rewilding' and much is made of his corporation, WildLand's, nature restoration and eco-tourism efforts. The unsustainability of his global business interests stands in sharp relief to his apparent Scottish environmentalism.
“Community Land Scotland has heard repeated concerns from local communities about WildLand's monopoly power. As such, we would welcome much greater scrutiny of Povlsen's wider business interests given how proceeds from these unsustainable and exploitative activities are being used to further entrench power and land inequality in Scotland.”
A spokesperson for Wildland said: “We are aware that a representative of Community Land Scotland was recently critical of WildLand but this is a personal opinion, from an individual who is ideologically opposed to all forms of land ownership, whatever that landowner might be seeking to achieve.
“WildLand is proud of the work it is doing to restore parts of the Highlands to their former magnificent natural state.”
The company was formed in 2012 with the aim of supporting the Scottish ecosystem. Its conservation work includes deer management by reducing numbers on its estates in order to support the replanting of Caledonian pines. The firm also supports satellite tagging of birds like hen harriers, goshawks and golden eagles to help them monitor and conserve local populations.
Regarding projects to reintroduce species such as beavers, lynx, bears, cranes and storks, WildLand says it will only get involved if “it is appropriate” and can be balanced against the needs of rural communities.
Paul Dobson
Its most recently launched exclusive holiday home – Hope lodge in Sutherland, which has luxury rooms, gym, treatment room, “adventure centre” and a concierge to arrange activities – has featured in high end magazines including Wallpaper and Vogue. Rooms start at £2,550 per night.
As part of its corporate responsibility work Asos says it aims to to reduce its impact on climate change and improve conditions for workers. It acknowledges “the urgency of addressing climate change and its impacts on nature and people” and recognises its responsibility to “respect and protect the human rights of all workers in our supply chain and in the communities supporting it”.
It also says it aims to build “circular design” into its work, an increasingly common concept in the fast fashion industry which means using more recycled materials and ensuring its clothes can be repaired or reused.
Targets towards a net zero supply chain, the more responsible use of raw materials and a human rights strategy are detailed on its website.
Asos was approached for comment but did not respond.
Be part of something bigger
Supporting The Ferret is not just about access. It’s a way to back journalism that’s accountable, impactful, and independent.
The UK Government will soon force many company owners to prove their identities. We don’t know when the people behind much-abused Scottish business schemes will face the same measures.
The founder of a Canadian "extremist, militia-like organisation” visited far right allies in Scotland. Critics question why a “dangerous individual" was allowed to enter the country.
Observations by campaigners suggest that three of the UK’s nuclear-armed submarines are currently at sea. This is the first time this has happened since 2022, and it’s caused concerns.
Scientists argue that research using animals is vital for the treatment and cure of human diseases like cancers. But experimenting on dogs and monkeys is controversial and critics say alternative methods should be used.
