Rip Curl Sustainability Profile

Rip Curl shows a mixed sustainability picture. It has published a range of actions on materials, repair, recycling, waste reduction, and worker pay, and it is a Certified B Corporation, which means it has met B Lab’s standards for social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. The brand says it is moving toward more preferred fibres, more responsible cotton, and more plant-based wetsuit materials. It also runs wetsuit repair and takeback programs and works with partners to reuse production waste. Independent ratings are more cautious, though. Good On You says Rip Curl is only “It’s a start” overall, with weak marks on chemicals and animals. Consumer reviews on Trustpilot are also split, with one regional page much stronger than the main brand page.

Positive Sentiment Found
Public sentiment is mixed but includes some strong positive signals. Rip Curl has a Certified B Corporation status, which means B Lab has checked its social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Good On You rates the brand “It’s a start” overall, with a 3/5 Planet score and 3/5 People score, and notes some use of lower-impact materials, a science-based emissions target, and Fair Labor Association coverage for the final production stage. Independent press and partner pages also highlight recycling and repair work, including more than 32,000 wetsuits recycled globally by 2025 and a European takeback expansion with Circular Flow. Trustpilot also shows a strong 4.4/5 score on Rip Curl Europe’s review page, which suggests many customers are happy with service in that region.

Common Criticisms:
The main criticism is that Rip Curl still looks weak on some core sustainability issues. Good On You says the brand is “Not Good Enough” on animals and only “It’s a start” overall, with no evidence of meaningful action to reduce or remove hazardous chemicals in manufacturing and no clear biodiversity action in its supply chain. The same rating also says the brand only partly traces its supply chain and does not show full living-wage coverage. Consumer reviews on the main Trustpilot page are also poor, with a 1.3/5 score from 94 reviews, which points to repeated customer dissatisfaction, even if those reviews are not all about sustainability. The brand also relies on its own claims for many of its ESG updates, so some progress is not independently verified in the material provided.