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The North Face

At Wedge, we have gathered and analyzed the following information on The North Face to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of its sustainability efforts.

The North Face

As you may know The North Face is a part of the VF corporation which is an American global apparel and footwear company founded in 1899. The company's 13 brands are organized into three categories: Outdoor, Active and Work. The company controls 55% of the U.S. backpack market with the JanSport, Eastpak, Timberland, and Vans brands.


Carbon Emissions:  

  • The North Face's parent company, VF Corporation, is working hard to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases they produce. They've set a goal to reduce their emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to what they were producing in 2017. As of 2022, they've already reduced their emissions by 66%.

  • They're also working to reduce emissions from their suppliers and transportation by 30% by 2030 compared to 2017 levels. As of 2021, they've managed to reduce these emissions by 8%.


Carbon intensity measures greenhouse gas emissions in relation to a company's revenue or employees. It helps assess a company's carbon footprint and commitment to reducing emissions. 


The North Face has a goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030. In 2021, the company's CO2 intensity was 1.44 kg CO2e/€1000 revenue, which is lower than the average for the apparel industry. However, The North Face's CO2 intensity is higher than some of its competitors, such as Patagonia (1.1 kg CO2e/€1000 revenue) and Arc'teryx (0.9 kg CO2e/€1000 revenue).


Labor Practices:

The North Face's commitment to ethical labor practices includes: a public commitment but doesn't include: an action plan and separate labor costs. Living wage paid rating of 1/5.

For more details, visit the brand's Fashion Checker page.

Renewable Energy Sources:

The North Face has a goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2025. In 2021, the company used 36% renewable energy. The North Face is working to increase its use of renewable energy by investing in solar and wind projects.


Transparency: The North Face's Fashion Transparency Index score is 65.8- better than 99% of the other brands in the index. The index assesses brands' transparency regarding their social and environmental policies. For more information, visit the Fashion Revolution website.

Sustainable Materials:

The North Face's Sustainable Materials Vision aims to ensure that their top nine materials originate from regenerative, responsibly sourced renewable, and/or recycled sources by 2030.

  • Recycled Materials: VF Corporation is aiming to source 50% of their polyester from recycled materials by 2026. As of 2021, they've already achieved 36%.

  • The North Face is committed to using sustainable materials. The company has a goal of using 50% recycled or renewable materials by 2025. In 2021, the company used 30% recycled or renewable materials. The North Face is working to increase its use of sustainable materials by developing new materials and working with suppliers to source sustainable materials.

  • Other Materials: Top materials used by weight:

    • Rubber: 40%

    • Polyester: 18%

    • Cotton: 15%

    • Leather: 5%

    • Paper: 4%

    • Nylon: 3%

    • Foam: 2%

    • Wool: 1%

    • Down: 1%

    • Others (including brass, polypropylene, etc.): 11%


Animal Welfare:

The North Face has a number of policies in place to ensure that animals are treated humanely in the production of these materials. However, some animal rights activists argue that no matter how well-regulated the industry is, it is still cruel to use animals for clothing.

Here are some of the arguments for and against The North Face's use of animal derived materials:

Arguments for:

  • The North Face only uses animal derived materials that are certified by reputable organizations, such as the Responsible Down Standard and the Wool Standard. These certifications help to ensure that animals are treated humanely in the production of these materials.

  • The North Face works with its suppliers to ensure that animals are treated humanely throughout the production process. This includes conducting audits of suppliers and requiring them to adhere to The North Face's animal welfare standards.

  • The North Face is committed to ensuring that animals are treated humanely in the production of its products. These policies and practices help to ensure that animals are not harmed in the making of The North Face products.

Arguments against:

  • Some animal rights activists argue that no matter how well-regulated the industry is, it is still cruel to use animals for clothing.

  • There are a number of vegan and cruelty-free alternatives to animal derived materials available.

  • Some consumers may choose not to buy products from The North Face because of its use of animal derived materials.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to buy products from The North Face is a personal one. Consumers should weigh the arguments for and against The North Face's use of animal derived materials and make a decision that is right for them.

Waste Management: VF Corporation is working to reduce waste. Since 2015, they've managed to recycle or reuse more than 86,000 metric tons of materials that would have otherwise ended up in the landfill. As of 2022, they're recycling or reusing 97% of the waste from their distribution centers.

Across all their activities, they're recycling or reusing 90% of their waste as of 2022.

They're also aiming to get rid of all unnecessary single-use plastics in their operations and events by 2024.


2nd-hand Services:

The North Face offers a number of second-hand services, including:

  • The North Face Renewed is a program that offers refurbished The North Face products at a discounted price. Products in this program are inspected, cleaned, and repaired by The North Face before being sold.


  • The North Face Worn Wear is a program that allows customers to sell their used The North Face products. Customers can either ship their products to The North Face or drop them off at a participating retailer. The North Face will then inspect the products and offer a price. If the customer accepts the price, The North Face will sell the product on its Worn Wear website.


  • The North Face Gear Upcycling Program is a program that allows customers to donate their used The North Face products to be recycled or upcycled. The North Face will then use the donated products to create new products or to support environmental initiatives.

The North Face 2nd hand services are a great way to save money on The North Face products and to help the environment. By buying refurbished or used products, you are helping to reduce the amount of waste that is produced by the fashion industry.

Here are some of the benefits of using The North Face 2nd hand services:

  • Save money: You can save a significant amount of money by buying refurbished or used The North Face products.

  • Help the environment: By buying refurbished or used products, you are helping to reduce the amount of waste that is produced by the fashion industry.

  • Get quality products: The North Face is a reputable brand that produces high-quality products. Even when products are used, they are still in good condition.

  • Support The North Face: When you buy refurbished or used The North Face products, you are supporting the brand and its commitment to sustainability.

If you are looking for a way to save money, help the environment, and get quality products, then you should consider using The North Face 2nd hand services.

Warranty:

The North Face offers a limited lifetime warranty on most of its products. This means that if your product is defective, The North Face will repair or replace it for free, no matter how long you have had it. There are a few exceptions to this warranty, such as products that have been damaged by accident or neglect.

To make a warranty claim, you will need to provide proof of purchase and a description of the problem. You can do this by contacting The North Face customer service department.

Here are some of the things that are covered under The North Face warranty:

  • Defects in materials and workmanship

  • Manufacturing defects

  • Product failure

  • Product damage

Here are some of the things that are not covered under The North Face warranty:

  • Damage caused by accident

  • Damage caused by neglect

  • Damage caused by normal wear and tear

  • Damage caused by unauthorized repairs

If you have a product that is covered under The North Face warranty, you can be sure that you will be taken care of. The North Face is committed to providing its customers with quality products and excellent customer service.

The North Face warranty is valid for the lifetime of the product, from the date of purchase. This means that if you buy a The North Face product today, it will be covered by the warranty for as long as you own it. This is a very generous warranty, and it shows that The North Face is confident in the quality of its products.

Offsetting Carbon:

Carbon offsetting is the process of compensating for greenhouse gas emissions by investing in projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The North Face has a number of carbon offset projects, including:

  • Planting trees: Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The North Face has planted trees in a number of different locations around the world.

  • Investing in renewable energy projects: Renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind farms, do not produce greenhouse gases. The North Face has invested in a number of renewable energy projects around the world.

The North Face surpasses the average score in 5/10 sustainability parameters we evaluate.


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