Columbia scores 2 out of 16 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

Columbia Info

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2 out of 16
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Brand Owner: Columbia Sportswear Company
Head Office: Portland, OR, USA
Sector: Fashion, Clothing & Shoes
Categories: Sportswear, Casual, Footwear
Free Tags: Sports, Outdoors, Snow

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Last Updated: 6 January 2011
Last Verified: 22 September 2011

Columbia Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

1 out of 4


1. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions?	Columbia has several policy measures to reduce CO2 emissions, such as solar panels at its headquarters and reducing energy and material usage (see section 'Environment').	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations' and has the brand already reduced or compensated 10% of these emissions in the last 5 years?	Columbia has not published the carbon footprint of its own operations on its website.	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce the carbon footprint of its 'own operations' by at least 20% within the next 5 years?	See remark for carbon emissions question 2.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) also have a policy to reduce/compensate carbon emissions generated from the product supply chain that is beyond own operations?	Columbia has not announced any detailed plans for reducing carbon emissions in its supply chain.	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

0 out of 4


1. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 5% of its volume?	Columbia does not communicate any information on its overall use of preferred materials on its website. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices.	SOURCE
2. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 10% of its volume?	See remark for environmental policy question 1.	SOURCE
3. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 25% of its volume?	See remark for environmental policy question 1.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have an environmental policy related to the ‘wet processes’ within the production cycle, like bleaching and dying of fabrics?	Columbia does not report on its environmental policy related to wet processes.	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

1 out of 8


1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labour, no child labour, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace?	All standards are mentioned in Columbia 'Standards of Manufacturing Practices' (see link).	SOURCE
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage?	1. Not found; 2. Supplier must comply with applicable laws and regulations regarding work hours, but maximum workweek and hours of overtime are not specified; 3. No, mentioning of legal wage, not living wage.	SOURCE
3. Does this Code of Conduct include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining?	Freedom of association is mentioned, but nothing found about situations in which this right is restricted by law.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume?	Columbia does not publish a list of direct suppliers on its website.	SOURCE
5. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labour conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labour conditions?	Columbia is a Category B licensee of FLA, which means that only the college/university products of the brand are FLA affliated, not the rest of the brand's products (see section 'Industry'.)	SOURCE
6. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labour unions have a decisive voice in this collective initiative or in these certification schemes?	Columbia is a Category B licensee of FLA, which means that only the college/university products of the brand are FLA affliated, not the rest of the brand's products (see section 'Industry'.)	SOURCE
7. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?	Columbia outlines very general assessment and monitoring practices, but does not include numbers, percentages or regions.	SOURCE
8. Has the brand's labour conditions policy resulted in a 'compliance level' of at least 30% of the purchase volume, or a 'monitored level' of at least 80%?	Columbia does not provide detailed results. See labour conditions question 7.	SOURCE