Lee

Lee is owned by Kontoor Brands.

Our “Planet” rating evaluates brands based on the environmental policies in their supply chains, from carbon emissions and wastewater to business models and product circularity. Here we rate Lee “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It uses some lower-impact materials including recycled materials.
• It’s set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain but there’s no evidence it is on track.
• It trains its designers to improve the circularity of its products.
• It’s published a biodiversity protection policy that applies to some of its supply chain.

Workers’ rights are central to our “People” rating, which assess brands’ policies and practices on everything from child labour to living wages and gender equality. Here we rate Lee “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• Some of its final stage is located in low risk countries or certified facilities, however it does not publish an aggregate breakdown of suppliers.
• Its recruitment procedures aim to identify and support workers at risk of modern slavery.
• Its Code of Conduct covers ILO principles.
• Its initiatives help provide financial security for its suppliers, which can ensure better job conditions for workers.
• There’s no evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in its supply chain.
• During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, it disclosed some policies to protect workers in its supply chain from the virus.

Brands’ animal welfare policies and, where applicable, how well they trace their animal-derived products are the focus of our “Animals” rating. Here we rate Lee “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It appears to use leather, shearling, wool, and down.
• Some of its animal-derived materials consist of recycled or certified alternatives to conventional down.
• It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, exotic animal skin, cashmere, alpaca, or mohair.
• It has a formal policy but it is not aligned with the Five Domains of Animal Welfare.
• It uses few animal-derived materials.

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate Lee “It's a Start” overall.