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How sustainable is Burton ?

Burton & sustainability


Burton (snowboarding)

3 out of 16

Sustainability summary

Based on our sustainability criteria, Burton has achieved the E-label. This is our lowest possible sustainability score, and Burton has earned it by communicating nothing concrete about the policies for environment, carbon emissions or labor conditions in low-wages countries. For us as consumers, it is unclear whether Burton is committed to sustainability or not.

Brand owner: Burton Snowboards North America
Head office: Burlington, U.S.A.
Sector: Sport & outdoor clothing
Categories : Male, Female, Kids
Free Tags: Burton, Bags, Caps, Shirts, Pullover, Jackets, Jeans, Dress

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Burton sustainability score report

Last edited: 8 May 2013 by Mario
Last reviewed: 8 May 2013 by Mario

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

1 out of 4
1. Is there a policy for the brand to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? Starting in 2013, Burton has committed to a 5% annual energy reduction at their Burlington Global headquarters through a collaboration with Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. Source
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual absolute carbon footprint of its 'own operations' (Scope 1 & 2) and has the brand already reduced or compensated 10% of these emissions in the last 5 years? Burton does not publish the annual carbon footprint of last years on its website. So it is not clear if the policy measures actually helped reduce the total annual carbon emissions. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its absolute ‘own operations’ carbon emissions by at least 20% within the next 5 years? See remark for carbon emissions policy question 1. Source
4. Does the brand (company) also have a policy to reduce/compensate carbon emissions generated from the product supply chain that is beyond own operations (Scope 3)? Burton does not communicate a policy to reduce the carbon emissions in the supply chain that is beyond own operations on its website. Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

1 out of 4
1. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 5% of its volume? Burton uses organic cotton and recycled polyester, but it is not clear what percentage of the total volume this represents. Source
2. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 10% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
3. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 25% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
4. Does the brand (company) have an environmental policy related to the ‘wet processes’ within the production cycle, like bleaching and dying of fabrics? Since 2011 Burton has started a partnership with bluesign to improve the environmental impact of its clothing. Furthermore, Burton has a publicly available restricted substance list (see page 3-31). Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

1 out of 8
1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labor, no child labor, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace? All standards are mentioned in Burton's Code of Conduct (see page 1). Source
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary and paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage? 1. Not mentioned; 2. No, maximum workweek is 48 hours plus 12 hours overtime, overtime may be mandatory; 3. No, mentioning of minimum wage, not living wage. Source
3. Does this Code of Conduct include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining? Freedom of association and the right to bargain collectively is mentioned, but nothing found about situations in which this right is restricted by law (see page 1). Source
4. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume? Burton does not provide a significant list of direct suppliers on its website. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
5. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labor conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labor conditions? Burton does not communicate any information about being part of a collective initiative or purchasing from an accredited supplier, on its website. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
6. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labor unions have a decisive voice in this collective initiative or in these certification schemes? See remark for labor conditions policy question 5. Source
7. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? Burton aims to audit 100% of the brand's contract manufacturers in 2013. Source
8. Has the brand’s labor conditions policy resulted in a ‘compliance level’ of at least 30% of the purchase volume, or a ‘monitored level' of at least 80%? See remark for labor conditions policy question 7. Source