VF aims to 'combat leather’s environmental impact’ - report
05/12/2019
Timberland’s owner said: “One hundred percent of footwear leather will be finished in Leather Working Group (LWG) silver or gold-rated tanneries by 2021.”
This figure is up from the current 99%.
The report talks of the target for finished leather; leatherbiz.com has asked for clarification of whether tanneries involved in earlier processes are included.
Timberland co-founded the LWG with other brands in 2015, and all of VF’s footwear brands are now committed; its sourcing team works across the group.
The company said: “The global materials sourcing team have worked to onboard and train new tanneries, while continuing to support and maintain certification for our core supplier base. They have also been working closely with our remaining uncertified suppliers who are currently going through the auditing process.”
The VF Foundation funds research at seven US universities exploring regenerative ranching practices. “Further partnerships now aim to take this industry leadership to the next level, continuing to combat the environmental impacts associated with leather production – including promoting regeneration ranching practices in the leather supply chain,” it said.
Its animal-derived materials policy requires it sources raw materials from suppliers that treat animals ethically and humanely and it prohibits the use of fur, angora and exotic leathers. It has also repeated that it will not source leather from cattle raised in the Amazon biome.
For the latest report, VF underwent a two-year process to develop its new science-based targets (SBTs), partnering consultancy the Carbon Trust to model data across its 1,400 owned facilities, distribution centres and logistics as well as more than 100 Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers.
Other targets include:
• by 2030, all its top nine materials (90% of materials-related carbon emissions) will originate from regenerative, responsibly sourced renewable or recycled sources
• 50% of nylon and polyester will be from recycled sources by 2025, up from 11% now; and
• it will be 100% PFC free by 2025, an increase of 64%.
“This is the most comprehensive strategic advice we have delivered to an organisation on how it can achieve its SBTs across its own operations and its value chain,” said Tom Delay, CEO of the Carbon Trust.
“This work sends a strong signal to the apparel sector about the degree of transformation needed to truly address emissions across global supply and distribution chains and multiple brands. The collaborative development process and focus on influencing others is what true corporate leadership looks like. We are excited to see VF achieve its ambitious goals.”
VF brands include The North Face, Vans and Altra.
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