Smartwool

Smartwool is owned by VF Corporation.

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 Smartwool “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It uses some lower-impact materials, however it does not publish an aggregate breakdown of materials used.
• It’s published a biodiversity protection policy that applies to some of its supply chain.
• 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.
• To minimise waste, it reuses some of its textile offcuts.
• It doesn’t engage with stakeholders on critical water issues.

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 Smartwool “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• Some of its second stage is located in low risk countries or certified facilities, however it does not publish an aggregate breakdown of suppliers.
• It has a limited policy to support diversity and inclusion in its direct operations and supply chain.
• There’s no evidence it provides financial security to its suppliers, which can result in poor working conditions and wages.
• It claims to have a program to improve wages but there’s no evidence it ensures its workers are paid living wages in most of its supply chain.
• During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, it disclosed adequate 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 Smartwool “Good”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It appears to use leather and wool.
• A high proportion of its animal-derived materials consist of recycled or certified alternatives to conventional wool.
• It doesn’t appear to use shearling, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, or down.
• It has a formal policy aligned with the Five Domains of Animal Welfare.

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