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How sustainable is Timberland ?

Timberland & sustainability


Timberland_logo

13 out of 21

Sustainability summary

Based on our sustainability criteria, Timberland has achieved the B label. This means that the brand scores quite well compared to other brands in the shoe sector. Timberland scores especially well for reducing the carbon footprint en for the firm environmental policy. For example, the brand uses 59% recycled materials for the footwear. In the area of labor conditions there still is room for improvement. Still, Timberland is one of the most sustainable choices from our shoe list.

Brand owner: The Timberland Company & VF Corporation
Head office: Stratham, New Hampshire, USA
Sector: Shoes & footwear
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Timberland sustainability score report

Last edited: 19 June 2012 by Mario
Last reviewed: 19 June 2012 by Mario

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

4 out of 4
1. Is there a policy for the brand to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? Timberland has taken several policy measures to reduce carbon emissions. However due to its recent business expansion its 2010 target of 50% absolute emissions reduction for owned and operated facilities and employee travel has been postponed to 2015. 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? Timberland has reduced its carbon footprint from 21.591 tons of CO2 in 2007 to 15.433 tons of CO2 in 2011, which represents a reduction of 28,5%. 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? Due to recent business expansion Timberland has pushed its 2010 target of 50% reduction in absolute emissions to 2015, based on 2006. This represents a reduction target of 25% in the next 5 years. 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? Timberland's carbon footprint includes 96% of the total carbon emissions in the lifecycle of products (see p. 8). Timberland has strategy to reduce emissions in the supply chain, by eg standardizing environmental metrics and resourcing improvements in environmental performance (p. 9). Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

5 out of 8
1. Does the brand (company) have a policy to substitute leather and synthetic rubber with environmentally friendlier materials? For footwear, Timberland reports the use of 59% recycled materials (see source) and mentions Green Rubber (recycled rubber from car tyres) and recycled polyester made from PET bottles (see source at next question). 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 previous remark. 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 previous remark. 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? Timberland has published a statement saying that all Brazilian leather suppliers should publicly commit to supporting a moratorium on any further cattle expansion into the Amazon. This commitment includes implementation of a traceability policy and monitoring to ensure adherence to these principles. However, there is no report on outcome of this policy. 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? Timberland reports that over 92% of leather comes from Silver or better rated Tanneries, according the Environmental Working Group (EWG) system. This includes the active use of wastewater treatment on chromium and other harmful substances. 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? Timberland has a clear focus on sustainable base materials (see previous questions) and harmful substances as PVC and solvents (see next questions), but no additional chemical policies were found, e.g. for dying chemicals. 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%? Timberland report that for over 94% of the footwear PVC is phased out. 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? Timberland states that the company "will continue to expand the use of low-VOC adhesive systems, including the introduction of new water based systems". Timberland reports a current emission level of 62 grams of VOC per pair of shoes, and a target for 42 grams by 2015. Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

4 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? Timberland Code of Conduct was replaced by VF’s Terms of Engagement and Global Compliance Principles. All standards are mentioned in this Code of Conduct. 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. Not mentioned. 2. No, maximum working week is 60, but exceptions are allowed; 3. No. Regarding wages, compliance with local laws or industry standards are mentioned, no 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 no statement about situations in which this right is restricted by law. Source
4. Does this labour conditions policy also apply further down the production chains, at least covering the leather production or the animal farms? Timberland policy to improve labour conditions also applies to leather production stages such as tanneries. The factory list of Timberland (see next question) also includes these leather suppliers. 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? The link shows a list of all active factories, as of december 31, 2011. 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? Timberland participates in a number of MSI's, such as BSR and SA8000 and states that it collaborates with other brands. However, BSR is not acknowledged yet, since info on a code of conduct, monitoring/auditing, and reporting on audit results is missing. Timberland does not communicate what percentage of its collection comes from SA8000 certified factories. 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? See remark for previous question. Source
8. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? Yes, Timberland provides detailed information on its assessment results (pp. 14-21 in latest CSR Report). Scroll down for the quarterly results. 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%? Factories producing for Timberland were partly monitored by SAI, the organization behind SA8000. However, it is not clear what part of the production is certified or otherwise independently verified. Source