Kent
brand rating & evaluation
overall rating:
Top Choice
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (Avoid) to 5 (Top Choice). See How We Rate
The Shifting Gaia rating evaluates brands based on sustainable practices, ingredients and materials, and social responsibility, among others. Below are a few factors influencing this brand's score:
certifications:
learn more about these certifications*
overview
sustainability
non-toxic
social responsibility
9.4 out of 10
10 out of 10
9.5 out of 10
about
Kent is a fashion basics brand specializing in compostable underwear and apparel made from organic cotton and natural fibers.
highlights
100% GOTS organic cotton
Compostable products
Fairtrade Certified factory
Carbon-neutral shipping
Toxin-free textiles
Vegan
sustainability
score:
9.4 out of 10
details:
Packaging
Kent’s packaging demonstrates exemplary sustainability. All products are shipped in plant-based, acid-free, compostable packaging printed with soy-based, OEKO-TEX certified inks. This means the mailers or boxes contain no conventional plastics and can either be recycled or added to compost, leaving behind no persistent waste. Even the product labels are tagless and printed with non-toxic inks in Canada.
Material Sustainability
Every product is made from GOTS-certified organic, natural fibers with no synthetic blends or petrochemical content. By using exclusively plant-based inputs, Kent ensures its garments are biodegradable. The brand’s signature organic Supima cotton is not only high quality but also significantly reduces water usage and carbon emissions relative to conventional cotton. Additionally, Kent sources from farms and mills that hold Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and even Fair Trade certifications, indicating responsible sourcing and processing.
Energy Use and Footprint
Kent demonstrates a strong awareness of energy and carbon impacts, though there is moderate room for expanded transparency. On the product level, the brand’s material choices substantially cut carbon emissions. By using organic cotton, Kent reports each t-shirt saves roughly 10.3 pounds of CO₂ compared to a conventional cotton tee.
At checkout, customers can opt for carbon-neutral shipping, meaning Kent will offset the CO₂ emissions associated with delivering the order. Additionally, the Compost Club take-back program uses carbon-neutral shipping labels for customers sending back old underwear for composting.
However, beyond materials and shipping, information on Kent’s direct energy use and manufacturing carbon footprint is limited.
Waste Management
In manufacturing, partnering with a GOTS- and Fairtrade-certified facility ensures high standards for waste and water management. GOTS certification requires proper treatment of wastewater from dyeing and limits chemicals, resulting in zero toxic discharge. In fact, Kent’s core dye colors (cloud white and charcoal black) use a GOTS organic dye process that produces “zero wastewater.”
Most impressively, Kent tackles the notoriously difficult issue of post-consumer textile waste by making their products fully compostable and providing a take-back program.
Business Model
Kent’s business model is aligned with slow, conscious fashion principles rather than fast-fashion overconsumption. The brand focuses on a core range of timeless “basics” (underwear, simple tops) and does not rely on rapid-fire trend cycles or excessive product launches. New product introductions are infrequent and deliberate.
non-toxic
score:
10 out of 10
details:
Kent’s elastics are bio-based and free of synthetics. Traditional elastic waistbands often contain synthetic rubber or spandex that can be treated with stabilizers and formaldehyde-based finishes. Kent instead uses an elastic derived from tree rubber or similar natural sources. Kent’s materials contain no formaldehyde, no azo-dye-derived amines, no perfluorinated chemicals (PFAS), no flame retardants, no heavy metals, and no VOC-emitting solvents. The GOTS standard explicitly prohibits the most dangerous substances in textile processing, and Kent meets 100% of GOTS criteria.
social responsibility
score:
9.5 out of 10
details:
Kent’s products are cut and sewn in a facility that is both Fairtrade Certified and GOTS Certified. This indicates that the factory meets the Fairtrade Textile Standard or equivalent, meaning workers receive fair wages, work in safe conditions, and have rights such as collective bargaining. In fact, Kent states that this family-owned factory in India pays its employees 25% above the local living wage.
Kent is a 100% vegan and cruelty-free brand, meaning no animal-derived materials or animal testing are involved in any part of its products.
While the brand is still growing and doesn’t boast large charitable donation programs yet, it has demonstrated sustained, mission-driven community involvement rather than one-off gestures.
