The North Face

The North Face 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 The North Face “Good”. 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.
• Every step of the life cycle for all of its products has circular principles fully embedded including for design, materials, production techniques, and end of life.
• It’s set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain but claims it’s not on track.
• It provides evidence on its efforts to minimise packaging.

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 The North Face “It's a Start”. 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.
• There’s no evidence it provides financial security to its suppliers, which can result in poor working conditions and wages.
• Its Code of Conduct covers ILO principles.
• It audits some of its supply chain including all of the final production stage.
• It has an external grievance mechanism for workers in its supply chain to anonymously report concerns like harassment and unpaid 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 The North Face “Good”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

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

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate The North Face “Good” overall.