Kathmandu Sustainability Profile

What do our labels mean?

Kathmandu presents itself as an outdoor brand that is trying to reduce harm across materials, workers’ rights, and supply chains. It has been a certified B Corp since 2019, which means it has been checked against social and environmental standards. The brand says it publishes sustainability reports, maps much of its supply chain, and uses worker voice tools, audits, and industry partnerships to improve conditions. It also has material targets for recycled polyester and Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) wool. Independent ratings are mixed: Good On You says it is “It’s a start,” while Trustpilot reviews are weak for customer service.

Positive Sentiment Found
Public sentiment is mixed but includes some clear positive signals. Good On You rates Kathmandu “It’s a Start” overall, with a 3/5 Planet score, 3/5 People score, and 4/5 Animals score. It notes that the brand uses some lower-impact materials, some bluesign certified fabrics (bluesign is a textile standard that checks chemical and environmental safety), and has a formal animal welfare policy aligned with the Five Freedoms. Good On You also says Kathmandu’s social auditing program is accredited by the Fair Labor Association, and that it traces most animal-derived materials to the first production stage. Independent press coverage also describes Kathmandu as a certified B Corporation and says it has made visible progress on responsible materials, circularity, and supply-chain transparency.

Common Criticisms:
The main negative signal is weak consumer feedback on Trustpilot. Kathmandu’s Australian site has a 2.2 out of 5 rating from 100 reviews, and its New Zealand site has a 2.6 out of 5 rating from 31 reviews. The comments shown in the snippets point to delivery delays and disappointment with product quality and service. On the sustainability side, Good On You still rates the brand only “It’s a Start,” which means it sees some progress but not enough strong evidence across all areas. It also says there is no evidence of living wages in the supply chain and no evidence of biodiversity action. That does not prove harm, but it does show gaps in public proof and transparency.

About Kathmandu

Status
Unverified

Website
Visit Website

Industry
Apparel & Fashion

Kathmandu Sustainability Actions

Publishes sustainability reports

Kathmandu says it publishes annual integrated reports and other policy documents that cover financial, environmental, and social performance. Its reports page also points to current and past sustainability reports, plus policies on materials and chemicals. This shows the brand is trying to keep a public record of its ESG work, rather than leaving it hidden. The company also says its 2021 sustainability report included an ESG materiality assessment, which is a process for finding the issues that matter most to the business and its stakeholders.

12 13 16

B Corp since 2019

Kathmandu says it has been a B Corp since 2019. B Corp is a certification from B Lab, a nonprofit that checks whether a company meets social, environmental, and governance standards. The brand says it takes the certification seriously and uses it to balance profit with impact on people and the planet. It also says its sustainability-linked loan was tied partly to keeping B Corp certification, which shows the certification is linked to its wider business goals.

8 12 13

Maps its supply chain

Kathmandu says it shares its supply chain through Open Supply Hub, a public map of production sites. It says this covers 100% of its tier 1 suppliers and also includes some traced tier 2 suppliers, with updates every six months. The brand also says every facility that makes its products is identified with GPS coordinates. This kind of disclosure helps outside groups check where products are made and can make it easier to spot risks in the supply chain.

8 12 16

Uses worker voice tools

Kathmandu says it uses a direct hotline, email, QR codes, and worker surveys to hear from workers in its supply chain. It also says it works with Ask Your Team, a New Zealand company, to run real-time surveys about worker wellbeing and engagement. These tools are meant to give workers a safer way to raise concerns and share feedback. The brand also says its suppliers must respect freedom of association and collective bargaining, which means workers should be allowed to join together and negotiate.

8 10 16

Sets material sourcing targets

Kathmandu says it is working toward 100% recycled or recyclable polyester by 2030 and 100% Responsible Wool Standard certified wool by 2025. It reported that 62% of all polyester used across apparel and equipment was recycled in FY24, and that 63% of its wool was RWS certified. RWS is a standard that checks animal welfare and land management on wool farms. The brand also says it is exploring bio-based materials and other lower-fossil-fuel options in product development.

12 13 15

See All (6)

Kathmandu Sustainability Commitments

2030

Recycled or recyclable polyester

Kathmandu says it wants all polyester it uses to be recycled or recyclable by 2030. Polyester is a synthetic fabric made from plastic-based materials, so this target is meant to reduce reliance on new fossil-fuel-based inputs. The company says it has already increased recycled polyester use across apparel and equipment, and that it is working with suppliers to bring in more recycled or bio-based fabrics.

2025

All wool to meet RWS

Kathmandu says it aims for 100% of its wool to be certified to the Responsible Wool Standard by 2025. RWS is a third-party standard that checks animal welfare and land management on wool farms. The brand says it had reached 63% RWS-certified wool by the end of FY24 and had helped suppliers gain certification, so this target is already partway complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Kathmandu published a sustainability report?

Confidence: High. As of October 2026, Kathmandu has publicly listed current and past sustainability reports on its reports and policies page. It also points readers to annual integrated reports, which cover financial, environmental, and social performance. An integrated report is a single report that combines business and sustainability information. The company also says its 2021 report included an ESG materiality assessment, which is a way of identifying the most important sustainability issues. Consumers can review the reports page for the latest documents.. Sources: Kathmandu reports and policies, Outdoor Industry Compass - https://www.kathmandu.co.nz/pages/reports-policies?srsltid=AU7gw4XAiaUDNoMDCpfYfGVP1UulWveeUY8onW86OqSswN85LNHuLQHB, https://www.oicompass.com/csr-and-sustainability/kathmandu-holdings-publishes-2021-sustainability-report/92627.article

What is Kathmandu's sustainability rating?

Confidence: High. As of October 2026, Good On You rates Kathmandu “It’s a start.” It gives the brand 3/5 for Planet, 3/5 for People, and 4/5 for Animals. Good On You is an independent fashion rating site that scores brands on public evidence about environmental and labour practices. The rating suggests Kathmandu has made some progress, especially on animal welfare, but still has important gaps in transparency and worker pay. Consumers can use the Good On You profile to compare it with other brands.. Sources: Good On You - https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/kathmandu

What sustainability certifications does Kathmandu have?

Confidence: High. As of October 2026, Kathmandu says it has been a B Corp since 2019. B Corp is a certification from B Lab, a nonprofit that checks companies against social and environmental standards. The brand also says some of its wool is certified to the Responsible Wool Standard, which checks animal welfare and land management on wool farms, and Good On You says some fabrics are bluesign certified, meaning they meet chemical and environmental safety rules. These certifications show third-party checks, but they do not cover every product or practice.. Sources: Kathmandu social impact, Good On You - https://www.kathmandu.co.nz/pages/social-impact?srsltid=AU7gw4VeSQ9INmUYWrXvEvGgUCBHeXnyhO0q6ca-3u_hdKneYc9ZfArJ, https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/kathmandu

What is Kathmandu's carbon footprint?

Confidence: Low. As of October 2026, Kathmandu has not publicly disclosed a full carbon footprint in the material provided here. It does say it has a sustainability-linked loan tied partly to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and it is working on lower-impact materials and circularity. A carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas pollution linked to a company’s operations and supply chain. Because the full number is not shown here, consumers who want the latest emissions data should check Kathmandu’s annual integrated reports or climate disclosures.. Sources: ANZ, Kathmandu reports and policies - https://www.anz.com.au/newsroom/new-zealand/2021/05/kathmandu-sustainability-linked-loan/, https://www.kathmandu.co.nz/pages/reports-policies?srsltid=AU7gw4XAiaUDNoMDCpfYfGVP1UulWveeUY8onW86OqSswN85LNHuLQHB

Is Kathmandu's packaging sustainable?

Confidence: Low. As of October 2026, Kathmandu has not clearly published detailed packaging information in the material provided here. The brand does say it is working on recycled or recyclable polyester, circularity pilots, and lower-impact materials, but that is about products rather than packaging. Packaging sustainability usually means using less material, more recycled content, or easier-to-recycle formats. Because no clear packaging policy or packaging score appears here, consumers should check Kathmandu’s latest policies or ask the company directly for packaging details.. Sources: Kathmandu responsible materials, Kathmandu reports and policies - https://www.kmdbrands.com/news/kathmandus-commitment-to-responsible-materials/, https://www.kathmandu.co.nz/pages/reports-policies?srsltid=AU7gw4XAiaUDNoMDCpfYfGVP1UulWveeUY8onW86OqSswN85LNHuLQHB

Is Kathmandu ethical in its supply chain?

Confidence: High. As of October 2026, Kathmandu says it has a Workplace Code of Conduct based on International Labour Organisation standards, requires suppliers to sign it, and uses audits, worker surveys, and a hotline to monitor conditions. It also says it supports freedom of association and collective bargaining, and it publishes a full list of tier 1 suppliers through Open Supply Hub. Good On You says its social auditing program is accredited by the Fair Labor Association, but it also says there is no evidence of living wages in the supply chain. That means there is some strong policy work, but not full proof of fair pay.. Sources: Kathmandu social impact, Good On You - https://www.kathmandu.co.nz/pages/social-impact?srsltid=AU7gw4VeSQ9INmUYWrXvEvGgUCBHeXnyhO0q6ca-3u_hdKneYc9ZfArJ, https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/kathmandu

What is Kathmandu doing about sustainability?

Confidence: High. As of October 2026, Kathmandu says it is working on several areas at once: cleaner materials, supply-chain transparency, worker voice, and circularity. It has targets for 100% recycled or recyclable polyester by 2030 and 100% RWS wool by 2025. It also says it shares supplier data through Open Supply Hub, uses worker surveys and hotlines, and is testing repair and resale through Kathman-REDU. These are concrete steps, but independent ratings still show room for improvement, especially on labour transparency and overall consistency.. Sources: Kathmandu social impact, Kathmandu responsible materials, Good On You - https://www.kathmandu.co.nz/pages/social-impact?srsltid=AU7gw4VeSQ9INmUYWrXvEvGgUCBHeXnyhO0q6ca-3u_hdKneYc9ZfArJ, https://www.kmdbrands.com/news/kathmandus-commitment-to-responsible-materials/, https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/kathmandu

What do our labels mean?

About Kathmandu