The North Face scores 5 out of 16 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

The North Face Info

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5 out of 16
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Brand Owner: VF Corporation
Head Office: Greensboro, NC, USA
Sector: Fashion, Clothing & Shoes
Categories: Sportswear
Free Tags: Outdoors, Accessories, Footwear, Summit Series, Running, Snow

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Last Updated: 26 April 2012
Last Verified: 26 April 2012

The North Face Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

2 out of 4


1. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions?	The North Face has taken several policy measures to reduce carbon emissions, such as the use of solar energy, reclycing programmes and transportation improvements.	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?	The North Face has published its carbon footprint, but this footprint only accounts for US emissions.	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?	The North Face has set the goal to reduce its carbon footprint by 25% in the period 2008-2010, per unit sold. Although The North Face mentions on its website to work also on the reduction of absolute CO2 emissions, it is not communicating a clear target for that.	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?	The North Face has a concrete policy to reduce carbon emissions in the supply chain, such as reducing energy consumption of its suppliers with the 'bluesign standard' (see link).	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

2 out of 4


1. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 5% of its volume?	For its most recent collection (2011) The North Face used 12.9% organic cotton on total cotton use and 7% PET bottle recycled polyester on total fabric use (see also source next question).	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. It is not clear if the sum of the environmentally preferred materials used by The North Face represents more than 10% of total material use, as incomparable metrics are used; fabric-yards and units of product.	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?	The North Face's clothing is for 27% Bluesign certified, which means that high standards are maintained for suitable chemical use and water policies during production.	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 VF Corporation's (brand owner of The North Face) Global Compliance Principles (see page 1 & 2).	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 mentioned; 2. Maximum working week of 60 hours, not clear whether overtime is voluntary; 3. Minimum legal wage, instead of living wage is mentioned (see page 1 & 2).	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 (see page 2).	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?	VF Corporation publishes the location of their suppliers from around the world. However, no significant list of direct suppliers has been made available (see page 7 & 8).	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?	VF Corporation's owned factories undergo certification by WRAP, but is unclear what the current percentage of certfied factories is. Also, VF Coporation does not communicate any membership to an MSI.	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?	See remark for labor conditions question 5.	SOURCE
7. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?	VF Corporation conducts audits on its suppliers at least once a year (see page 18), but the most recent report is from 2005.	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%?	See remark for labor conditions question 7.	SOURCE