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Image credit: The North Face

The North Face

Rated: Good

price:
$$$$

location: United States

The North Face has good policies to monitor water use in its supply chain but is not taking adequate steps to ensure payment of a living wage for its workers.

The North Face sustainability rating

Planet

4 out of 5

People

4 out of 5

Animals

4 out of 5

Overall rating: Good

Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We avoid) to 5 (Great)


The North Face is owned by VF Corporation.

Our “Planet� rating evaluates brands based on the environmental policies in their supply chains, from carbon emissions and wastewater to business models and product circularity. Here we rate The North Face “Good�. These are a few factors influencing its score:

  • It uses some lower-impact materials including recycled materials.
  • It’s published a biodiversity protection policy that applies to some of its supply chain.
  • It’s set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain but there’s no evidence it is on track.
  • It takes actions to reduce water use in its supply chain.

Workers� rights are central to our “People� rating, which assess brands� policies and practices on everything from child labour to living wages and gender equality. Here we rate The North Face “Good�. These are a few factors influencing its score:

  • None of its supply chain is certified by crucial labour standards that help ensure worker health and safety, living wages, and other rights.
  • It received a score of 61-70% in the 2023 ʹapp Transparency Index.
  • It provides leadership programs for women in its supply chain, which can lead to promotions and higher wages.
  • There’s no evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in its supply chain.
  • During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it disclosed adequate policies to protect workers in its supply chain from the virus.

Brands� animal welfare policies and, where applicable, how well they trace their animal-derived products are the focus of our “Animals� rating. Here we rate The North Face “Good�. These are a few factors influencing its score:

  • It has a formal policy aligned with the Five Domains of animal welfare.
  • It appears to use leather.
  • Responsible Wool Standard certifies some of the wool it sources.
  • Responsible Down Standard certifies the down it uses.
  • It uses some recycled down in its products.
  • It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, exotic animal skin, or exotic animal hair.
  • It traces most animal-derived materials to the first production stage.

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate The North Face “Good� overall.

Last updated January 2024