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How sustainable is Vans ?

Vans & sustainability


Vans

2 out of 21

Sustainability summary

Brand owner: VF Corporation
Head office: Greensboro, NC, USA
Sector: Shoes & footwear
Categories : 
Free Tags: Outdoors, Skate, Surf, Snow, Skating, surfing, bmx

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What's your sustainability news about Vans?

Vans sustainability score report

Last edited: 6 October 2012 by Mario
Last reviewed: 6 October 2012 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? VF Corporation (brand owner of Vans) reports several policy measures to reduce its carbon emissions, such as the installation of more efficient lighting and HVAC systems, lighting sensors, variable speed controllers, proper insulation and timers. Source
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations' and has the brand already reduced or compensated 10% of these emissions in the last 5 years? VF Corporation (brand owner of Vans) published the 2010 carbon footprint on its website and reports an increase an increase of 1,8% compared to 2009. Source
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce the carbon footprint of its 'own operations' by at least 20% within the next 5 years? VF Corporation (brand owner of Vans) reports that it is in the process of developing a comprehensive carbon management strategy. VF Corporation expects to establish and communicate long-term GHG and energy reduction targets in 2012. 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? Although VFC states that it does business with partners who share VFC's commitment to the environment and conduct their business in a way that is consistent with the company's Environmental Compliance Guidelines, VFC does not mention a concrete policy on reducing carbon emissions in its supply chain yet. Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

0 out of 8
1. Does the brand (company) have a policy to substitute leather and synthetic rubber with environmentally friendlier materials? Neither VFC (brand owner) nor Vans openly communicate a policy for substituting leather and synthetic rubber with environmentally friendlier alternatives. Source
2. Does the brand (company) use these environmentally friendlier alternatives for leather and synthetic rubber for more than 25% of the total use of footwear materials? See remark for environment question 1. Source
3. Does the brand (company) use these environmentally friendlier alternatives for leather and synthetic rubber for more than 50% of the total use of footwear materials? See remark for environment question 1. Source
4. Does the brand have a clear and effective policy to avoid the use of leather that originates from cattle farms in deforestated Amazone areas? Neither VFC (brand owner) nor Vans openly communicate a policy to prevent the destruction of rainforest caused by cattle farm expansion for leather production. Source
5. Does the brand (company) have a clear and effective policy to minimize environmental pollution of chromium and other harmful substances from leather tanning processes, e.g. by waste water treatment or by vegetable tanning? In the chemistry policies of VF Corporation ( brand owner) there is no policy to specific policy to limit chromium and other harmful substances caused by leather tanning processes. Source
6. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle and all production procedures to make the footwear? VF Corporation mentions several initiatives for more responsible chemistry, but no commitment to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle of products. Source
7. Does the brand (company) have a clear target to phase out PVC in their products, and has the brand already achieved a PVC phase out level of more than 90%? VF Corporation (brand owner of Vans) mentions that the company "prefers that products do not contain PVC" and "the ultimate objective being a comprehensive prohibition on all PVC use" (see p.19). However, VF Corporation does not give a clear timeline for phasing out PVC. Source
8. Has the brand (company) a clear and effective policy to minimize the use of solvents based chemicals in their shoe production, and has the brand already achieved a level of average max. 40 grams of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions per pair of shoes? VFC does mention VOC's in their restricted chemical substance list. However, it is unclear what reduction levels are achieved for the footwear production (see page 15). Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

1 out of 9
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 VF Corporation's Global Compliance Principles (see page 1 & 2). 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 working week of 60 hours, not clear whether overtime is voluntary; 3. No, mention of minimum legal wage, not living wage (see page 1 & 2). 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 is mentioned, but nothing found about situations in which this right is restricted by law (see page 2). Source
4. Does this labour conditions policy also apply further down the production chains, at least covering the leather production or the animal farms? VFC does not make clear if the Code of Conduct and consequent labour conditions policy also applies further down the footwear production chain, such as leather tanning or cattle farms. Source
5. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume? VFC does not provide a significant list of direct suppliers on its website. Source
6. 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? VF Corporation's owned factories undergo certification by WRAP, but it is unclear what the current percentage of certified factories is. Also, VF Corporation does not communicate any membership to an MSI. Source
7. 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 question 6. Source
8. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? VF Corporation conducts audits on its suppliers at least once a year (see page 22). Source
9. 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 question 7. Source