Better Health for All

Dr. Martens has implemented excellent mental health programs for its employees, including signing the Time to Change Employer Pledge in 2019

, establishing a Voluntary Mental Health Network and Mental Health Champions , providing an Employee Assistance Program , offering Mental Health First Aid training , and conducting wellness week activities . For health externalities, the company has a chemical management system and a Restricted Substance List , ensuring compliance with legislation like EU REACH and California Prop 65 , and monitors suppliers for environmental compliance . The company's core products, footwear and clothing, have no significant positive or negative health impact.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

Dr. Martens' overall employee engagement index was 61% in FY25.

For its UK business in 2023, the median gender pay gap was 20.0%, indicating that women earned 80% of the median pay for men. No instances of forced or child labor were identified in the supply chain during FY25. In FY25, 19 claims were raised through the confidential whistleblowing hotline, including issues related to employee relations, policy, and discrimination.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

Dr. Martens reported zero incidents of forced or child labor in its supply chain for four consecutive fiscal years (FY22, FY23, FY24, FY25).

The company conducts proactive risk assessments, including an ESG risk rating per supplier and a Human Rights Risk Assessment in FY23. All Tier 1 suppliers were audited in FY25 , with Tier 1 footwear suppliers audited at least annually on a semi-announced basis. Key Tier 2 suppliers are either audited or required to provide a recognized social audit report from within the last 12 months.

Honest & Fair Business

Extensive third-party verification is in place, including 100% CSR audits for Tier 1 and Key Tier 2 suppliers, independent limited assurance of FY24 and FY25 SECR (emissions) disclosures, and verification of Net-Zero science-based targets by the SBTi.

An independent third-party expert also conducted a human rights due diligence review. The company maintains a comprehensive Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy, which is part of its business code of conduct and supplier policy. All employees receive mandatory training on financial crime, including anti-bribery and corruption, and are required to attest to the policy. The Audit and Risk Committee reviews the company’s systems and controls for preventing bribery. A 'Speak Up' whistleblowing policy is in place, facilitated by an independent third party, with a confidential hotline. All employees receive a copy of the policy, and the Audit and Risk Committee reviews arrangements to ensure proportionate and independent investigation and appropriate follow-up action. The company had one financial restatement for the year ended March 31, 2021, related to a change in accounting policy for cloud-based software, which had no impact on cash. Over half of the Board comprises Independent Non-Executive Directors, and the Audit and Risk Committee must comprise at least three independent non-executive directors.

No War, No Weapons

The provided articles, primarily focusing on modern slavery and supply chain transparency, do not contain specific, quantifiable evidence directly related to the 'No War, No Weapons' ethical value. There is no information regarding revenue from arms contracts, investment in dual-use technologies, sales to embargoed regimes, or any policies or audits specifically addressing military-related activities or controversial weapons. While the company's foundation supports organizations combating human trafficking

, no proportion of revenue allocated to peacebuilding or disarmament initiatives is provided. Similarly, while a Global Human Rights Policy is stated to be compliant with UN Guiding Principles , no concrete data on the extent of alignment or outcomes (e.g., published metrics or external verification) is available. Ethical red lines mentioned pertain to child and forced labor , not weapons. Therefore, no KPIs can be scored based on the provided evidence.

Planet-Friendly Business

Dr. Martens PLC's total Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions for FY24 were 181,895 tCO2e, representing a 35.14% reduction from FY23's 280,456 tCO2e.

The company has science-based Net-Zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in October 2023 , with defined interim checkpoints including a 90% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by FY30 and a 30% reduction in absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by FY30 from a FY20 base year. The company's TCFD disclosures are consistent with the TCFD’s four recommendations and 10 of the 11 recommended disclosures. Climate scenario analysis is performed using the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) climate scenarios to test its business model and strategy. In FY24, 46.3% of total global electricity consumption for owned and operated sites came from renewable sources. The company has a stated net-zero target year of FY40. No carbon offsetting is mentioned, and there were no specific environmental compliance violations in FY24, with 0% of audit items classified as zero-tolerance violations.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

No specific, quantifiable evidence was found in the provided articles to assess Dr. Martens PLC against the defined Key Performance Indicators for the ethical value "Respect for Cultures & Communities". Information regarding formal partnerships with indigenous or local community groups, percentage of revenue reinvested in local community development, cultural appropriation incidents, cultural impact assessment protocols, local employment ratios, coverage of grievance mechanisms for community concerns

, average complaint resolution times, FPIC participation rates, community governance inclusion, cultural preservation investment, local procurement share, indigenous supplier count, cultural site protection, social license to operate, charitable giving specifically for cultural heritage , community fund allocation, language inclusivity assessment scores, cultural incident response frameworks, or cultural sensitivity training completion for all employees was not explicitly stated or was not in a format that directly matched the rubric's quantitative thresholds.

Safe & Smart Tech

Dr. Martens provides users with comprehensive data protection rights, including the ability to access, correct, erase, object to, restrict processing of, and transfer their personal data, as well as withdraw consent for marketing.

The company commits to responding to these legitimate requests within one month. Dr. Martens states its commitment to protecting personal data and respecting privacy, processing data in compliance with applicable laws, and identifies the UK Information Commissioner's Office as its supervisory authority. A data breach occurred in 2018. Following phishing attempts in 2020, the company raised staff awareness of such attacks and tightened email security. Procedures are in place for suspected personal data breaches, requiring notification to individuals and regulators where legally mandated. The company states it retains data only as long as necessary, based on factors including sensitivity and legal requirements, and can anonymize data for indefinite use.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

Dr. Martens has achieved zero waste to landfill for its UK distribution centre and Made In England factory.

The company uses 100% FSC recycled cardboard for core shoe boxes and incorporates 100% recycled polyester in standard heel loops, luxe faux fur, and cushioned insoles. It has reduced plastic foam inserts from 76.5% of its SS24 footwear ranges by volume. Products are designed for easy repair and simple disassembly. , supported by an authorized UK repair service that has completed over 1,700 repairs since October 2023. The company emphasizes product durability, creating "timeless, hardwearing" footwear for over 60 years. Waste reduction initiatives include the ReWair resale and repair program, the Genix Nappa collection using 50% reclaimed leather, and a 'deadstock' product line. Dr. Martens has set ambitious targets, aiming for zero waste to landfill across its full value chain by 2028 and 100% of packaging from recycled or sustainably sourced material by 2028. Hazardous waste management is comprehensive, with a Restricted Substances List, General Material Requirement Policy, and compliance with REACH and California Proposition 65. Supplier waste requirements are comprehensive for all Tier 1 suppliers, including environmental certification standards by 2025 and quarterly monitoring. Customer education provides guidance on product care and encourages returns through the ReWair program.