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How sustainable is Converse ?

Converse & sustainability


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12 out of 21

Sustainability summary

Based on our sustainability criteria, Converse has achieved the B-label. We consider Converse among the more sustainable brands in the footwear sector. Most of Converse shoes are made with canvas instead of leather and the footwear does not contain harmful substances such as PVC. Brand owner Nike Inc. has a clear policy for labour conditions in the production countries.

Brand owner: Nike Inc.
Head office: North Andover, MA, USA
Sector: Shoes & footwear
Categories : 
Free Tags: Basic, Sporty, All Stars, Sneakers

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What's your sustainability news about Converse?

Converse sustainability score report

Last edited: 1 November 2012 by Niels
Last reviewed: 1 November 2012 by Mario

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

2 out of 4
1. Is there a policy for the brand to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? Converse is affiliated to Nike, Inc. (see link of the next question p 7). Nike, Inc. has taken several policy measures to reduce carbon emissions, such as aiming to design all new buildings to LEED standards. Also Nike aims to 'achieve 20% reduction in CO2 emissions per unit from FY11 levels through FY15' (See link / 'Targets & Performance'). 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? Nike, Inc. (brand owner of Converse) has reduced its carbon footprint (which includes all 3 Scopes) from 1.687.900 metric tons of CO2 in 2009 to 1.640.700 metric tons of CO2 in 2011, which represents a reduction of only 2.8% (See 'Progress and Performance', link of the next question). 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? Nike, Inc. (brand owner of Converse) aims to achieve a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions per unit by 2015. However this only accounts for footwear. The company does not publish its goals for its overal CO2 reduction (See 'Looking Ahead'). 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? In 2008 Nike, Inc. (brand owner of Converse) launched 'the Nike Energy and Carbon program' with contract footwear manufacturers to help reduce these emissions. In 2010 Nike expanded this program to include apparel and equipment manufacturing. Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

4 out of 8
1. Does the brand (company) have a policy to substitute leather and synthetic rubber with environmentally friendlier materials? Converse shoes are known for using canvas instead of leather for the major part of the footwear collections. This is part of the brand identity and adhered to. It is not clear if there is also a policy for converse to replace synthetic rubber by environmentally friendlier materials. Converse brand owner Nike also does not have clear policies on this issue. Source
2. Does the brand (company) use these environmentally friendlier alternatives for leather and synthetic rubber for more than 25% of the total use of footwear materials? See also the remark to the previous question. A major part of the shoes from the Converse collection are made of canvas and no leather is used. On total, this would easily represent more than 25% of the total use of materials. Source
3. Does the brand (company) use these environmentally friendlier alternatives for leather and synthetic rubber for more than 50% of the total use of footwear materials? See also the remark to the previous questions. Taken the use of rubber soles into account, it is not clear if the use of environmentally friendlier materials represents more than 50% of the total use of materials. Source
4. Does the brand have a clear and effective policy to avoid the use of leather that originates from cattle farms in deforestated Amazone areas? Nike, Inc. (brand owner of Converse) mentions that in 2009 established an Amazon leather policy, committing not to use leather produced from cattle raised in the Amazon and requiring its Brazilian leather suppliers to certify in writing that the leather they supply for Nike products complies with this policy. However, there is no report on outcome of this pol Source
5. Does the brand (company) have a clear and effective policy to minimize environmental pollution of chromium and other harmful substances from leather tanning processes, e.g. by waste water treatment or by vegetable tanning? Nike Inc. (brand owner of Converse) mentions that chromium IV and other 8 chemicals are currently restricted in all its products. But, no information are found about the prohibition of chromium III. Furthermore, Nike Inc. reports that all active leather supplier factilties for the brand 'Nike' achieved a Leather Working Group (LWG) certification in 2011. For Source
6. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle and all production procedures to make the footwear? Nike, Inc. (brand owner of Converse) has signed the Zero-Discharge Commitment. Companies that signed this document promise to "eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle and all production procedures that are associated with the making and using of company's products, by 2020". Source
7. Does the brand (company) have a clear target to phase out PVC in their products, and has the brand already achieved a PVC phase out level of more than 90%? According to its Restricted Substances List, Nike, Inc. (brand owner of Converse) has banned the PVC out of its products and materials and it is allowed to be used in apparel screen prints only (see page 12). Source
8. Has the brand (company) a clear and effective policy to minimize the use of solvents based chemicals in their shoe production, and has the brand already achieved a level of average max. 40 grams of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions per pair of shoes? Nike, Inc. (brand owner of Converse) provides information regarding the VOC emissions of the Nike Brand. However, the company does not provide information regarding Converse's VOC emissions. Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

6 out of 9
1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labor, no child labor, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace? All standards are mentioned in Converse Code of Conduct (click 'Converse Code of Conduct' on brand owner Nike, Inc.'s website). 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 and paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage? 1. Yes, Converse says that work is performed on the basis of a recognized employment relationship established through country law and practice. 2.No, maximum working week is 60 hours, but hours of overtime is not specified and overtime may be mandatory. 3. No, mentioning of minimum and industry wage, not living wage (click 'Converse Code of Conduct'). 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? Converse´s Code of Conduct only includes the right to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively when this is allowed by law (click 'Converse Code of Conduct'). Source
4. Does this labour conditions policy also apply further down the production chains, at least covering the leather production or the animal farms? Converse mentions that this labour conditions policy binds its contract factories to follow the mentioned standards, but does not make clear if it covers also the leather production or the animal farms (click 'Converse Code of Conduct'). Source
5. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume? Nike, Inc. brand owner of Converse published a list that covers all its active suppliers ('PDF version of the collegiate factory'). Source
6. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labor conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labor conditions? Nike, Inc. brand owner of Converse, is a member of FLA, which means that Labour Unions and/or business-independent NGO’s have a formal and co-decisive voice within the initiative and are co-responsible for its integrity and credibility. Source
7. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labor unions have a decisive voice in this collective initiative or in these certification schemes? Nike, Inc. (brand owner of Converse) is a member of FLA, which means that Labour Unions and/or business-independent NGO’s have a formal and co-decisive voice within the initiative and are co-responsible for its integrity and credibility. Source
8. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? According to the Fair Labor Organisation website, Nike, Inc. brand owner of Converse, is in compliance with the FLA code. FLA publishes detailed per factory audit reports available on the FLA website. Source
9. Has the brand’s labor conditions policy resulted in a ‘compliance level’ of at least 30% of the purchase volume, or a ‘monitored level' of at least 80%? Nike, Inc.'s compliance program (brand owner of Converse) is accredited by FLA. Source