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North Face The Sustainability Actions

Dropped angora after animal welfare concerns

The North Face removed angora items from sale and said it would not use angora again after pressure from an animal welfare campaign. The concern was that angora rabbits were being badly treated in factory farms. This is a past action, not a future promise, and it shows the brand responded to criticism about animal welfare in its supply chain.

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Uses RDS-certified down

The North Face has committed to using RDS-certified down. RDS means Responsible Down Standard, a third-party rule set that checks that down and feathers come from ducks and geese that were treated more carefully, with no live plucking or force feeding. The source also notes that some animal welfare groups still question how strong the standard is in practice.

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Joined bluesign and EOCA

The North Face is listed as a member of bluesign and the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA). bluesign is a textile standard that focuses on safer chemicals, less water and energy use, and better worker safety in production. EOCA is a non-profit group that raises money for conservation work in the outdoor sector. These memberships suggest the brand is involved in wider industry efforts on environmental management.

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Improved materials sourcing score

Textile Exchange rated the company as 'Scaling' on its Material Change Index. This benchmark tracks how apparel companies are shifting toward more sustainable materials such as cotton, polyester, nylon, wool, down, and leather, and how they align with the Sustainable Development Goals and a circular economy. 'Scaling' is the second-highest band, which suggests the brand is making stronger progress than many peers on materials sourcing.

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Published stronger climate disclosure

In 2024, the company received an A- score from CDP on climate change. CDP is a global disclosure system that asks companies to report how they manage emissions and climate risk. Its scoring looks at disclosure, awareness, management, and leadership. An A- suggests the company is reporting and managing climate issues better than many firms, though it is not the top score.

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Improved supply chain transparency

Fashion Revolution gave the company-owned brands a 66 out of 100 in its Fashion Transparency Index. The index checks how much fashion brands disclose about human rights and environmental policies, supplier lists, and future goals. A score of 66% is well above the average of 26%, which suggests the brand publishes more supply chain information than many large fashion companies.

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Scored above average on labour risk

KnowTheChain gave the company 42 out of 100 in its 2023 apparel and footwear benchmark. KnowTheChain looks at how brands identify and deal with forced labour risks in supply chains. The score was above the benchmark average of 21, but still far from the top score, so it points to some progress but also clear room for improvement.

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Improved human rights and gender scores

The company also scored 55 out of 100 in Baptist World Aid Australia's Ethical Fashion Report, 41 out of 100 in the World Benchmarking Alliance Gender Benchmark, and 63 out of 100 in the Social Benchmark. These assessments look at issues like worker rights, decent work, gender equality, and ethical business conduct. The results show mid-range performance rather than best-in-class leadership.

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