This process is so inhumane that its banned in multiple countries but often, the birds used for down are the same ones force-fed for foie gras. Shearers continue to be caught beating, stamping on, cutting, and otherwise badly injuring sheep as if these terrified animals were inanimate objects, said PETA UK Director Elisa Allen. With todays complicated supply chains and most of what we wear being made continents away from the end consumer, how can we be certain that our clothes are really, truly ethically made? Patagonia's decision to stop sourcing wool was by no means easy, although the move was likely necessary to preserve reputation as a brand known for its political activism. In order to ensure that we have best in class supply chain assurance from farm to finished product, we also had to obtain certification for our own brand. PETA has demanded that the company be transparentor, better yet, stop using wool in favor of the many high-quality cruelty-free fabrics now available. Note that Good On You ratings consider hundreds of issues, and it is not possible to list every relevant issue in a summary of the brands performance. Patagonia uses leather and exotic animal hair and states that it sources wool from non-mulesed sheep. Is Boxed Water Really Better Than Bottled Water? Lets take a look at how well it is met. Thesus favours transparency, ethical manufacturing practices and sustainable materials as a means of creating long-lasting, positive change. UK-based GROUNDTRUTH grew from 3 sisters shared belief in the power of collaboration, and their drive to protect people and nurture the planet. Patagonia recognises that buying less is one of the major steps shoppers can take to reduce their own eco footprint, saying It would be hypocritical for us to work for environmental change without encouraging customers to think before they buy. Thats a message we can get behind. Shop Patagonia Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective. Patagonia also discloses policies to protect suppliers in its supply chain from the impacts of COVID-19, but not workers. Having said this, we were able to find great farmers who truly believe that this was possible and wanted to be part of the forward movement to become part of our preferred supplier pool., Burberry targets 100% sustainable cotton by 2022, Class action filed against H&M over Higg labels, ASOS, Boohoo, George probed over greenwashing, XPCC cotton sales tracked across Mainland China, Greenwashing harms customer relations study. We dont know whether Patagonia is addressing this issue, but strongly recommend that it puts its commitments and actions on the public record for that final push in this category. In the last few years, we have released exposs of dozens of facilities on three continents revealing that sheep are mutilated, abused, and skinned alive for wool, including for wool supplied to Patagonia that had been deemed sustainable and, more recently, responsible.. Sascha is a writer, speaker and ethical fashion activist. The standards are contained in the Patagonia Wool Standards (PWS) which includes additional animal welfare requirements beyond Textile Exchanges Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), relating to on-land transportation and off-farm slaughter. And mainly, youve got to make sure that the third-party auditor is actually doing their job.. Stella McCartney, who also used Ovis21 and cut ties with them immediately following the video, commented that the news had prompted her to look into vegan wool: I am devastated by the news but more determined than ever to fight for animal rights in fashion together and monitor even more closely all suppliers involved in this industry to end all innocent lives. Visibility beyond tier 1, especially for global supply chains sourcing raw materials, has proven challenging to many brands. In 2020, a sheep shearer in Australia, as well as one in Scotland, pleaded guilty to charges of animal cruelty. But after PETA and its international affiliates released footage from over 100 sheep-shearing facilities on four continents eliminating the myth that animal abuse happens somewhere else all showing violence, mindless shearing and sheep left with bloody wounds, the credibility of the RWS started to crumble. The brand claimed its standard is "the hardest to meet," because it requires farmers to have visibility on conditions of the slaughterhouse after animals are sold. "This effort has spanned multiple supply chains and countries," the brand said. Some companies water these types of guidelines down, but Patagonia seemed very serious about drafting strict standards that would actually work. Global animal welfare organisation Four Paws called out Patagonia for its inhumane treatment of birds in the past, but the label was quick to respond. So what is Patagonia doing for people, the planet, and animals exactly? The brand has good policies to eliminate hazardous chemicals in its supply chain and uses some eco-friendly materials, including recycled materials. ", Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts. Customers are told that Patagonias mission is to cause no unnecessary harm and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. Yet adopting standards and auditing farms do not eliminate the harm, and wool production is exacerbating the environmental crisis. The development of both the RWS and the PWS took careful consideration of best practices in animal welfare and land management and consultation with farms, animal welfare experts, brands and NGOs. The outdoor apparel brand just released a new wool standard to ensure the natural fiber comes from suppliers that don't mistreat their sheep. It now works side by side with the organisation to encourage humane practices industry-wide. "Mapping [wool brands] to the farm is practically impossible due to the number of consolidators, agents and traders that are a feature of the global wool market," Patagonia said. This effort has spanned multiple supply chains and countries. This week, Patagonia released what it'scalling the Patagonia Wool Standard, a set of principles guiding the animal treatment, land-use practices, and sustainability of the wool in its products. On top of the commitment, however, Patagonia also outlined its own 26-page wool standard for its supply chain. released a video apparentlyshowing sheep being badly mistreated. Patagonia, which hadinitiated the process for creating a responsible wool standard in 2014, immediatelyannounced that it would no longer do business with theOvis 21 network. First, some background. Furthermore, when Dutch fur-industry promotion initiative Furlab attempted to run advertisements claiming that fur is ethically sourced, the Advertising Standards Agency slammed down on the ads, agreeing with PETA that such claims didnt carry enough substance. Founded by surf champion Kelly Slater, Outerknown is a sustainable brand that aims to blend style and function with the protection of natural resources. Just how ethical is Patagonia? Msg/data rates may apply. Find the range in 2XS-3XL. Patagonia is making Good efforts for workers with good policies to audit suppliers in its supply chain. Since fall 2014, all of the virgin downthey use to insulatetheir products has mettheir own Patagonia Traceable Down Standard. At that time, Patagonia said it had taken a decision to put a pause on its wool sourcing, until we can assure our customers of a verifiable process that ensures the humane treatment of animals.. To build on that great work we recommend that Patagonia looks at preventing deforestation, paying a living wage across all of its supply chain, and keep reducing the amount of animal-derived materials it uses. Powered by Shopify, Ecological Bags, Care Products and other gear, Mulesing-free Merino Wool and Recycled Wool. Most people who choose to wear down jackets and sleep on feather-filled bedding are horrified when learning about live-plucking the practice of tearing fistfuls of feathers from geese and ducks bodies while the animals are fully conscious. This treatment violates the letter, intent, and purpose of the so-called Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)which Patagonia adopted as a baseline standardand the Patagonia Wool Standard (PWS). In addition, key wool partners will also need to have met the even more stringent requirements outlined in the PWS. Cutting out a supplier required a drastic shift in the brand's supply chain. Labels, standards and certifications, while certainly well-meaning, exist for one reason: to reassure the consumer. sign up for Outside+. Clearly, Patagonia isnt anxious for PETA to show the public whats happening on its suppliers farms. While the brand has implemented greenhouse gas emissions reduction activities throughout its supply chain to reduce its climate impact, we found no evidence it has a policy to prevent deforestation in its supply chain. Shop The North Face Kids Pre-Owned @ Retykle. "It is impossible to ensure immediate changes to objectionable practices on Ovis 21 ranches," Patagonia wrote in a blog post in 2015. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Together, they saw the opportunity to design problem-solving travel goods that drive positive change: reducing plastic pollution and improving peoples lives. Yuki Threads is a premium Australian snowboarding apparel brand. "This is a difficult decision, but its the right thing to do.". A high proportion of its materials are made from recycled fabrics, including its polyester, nylon, and wool. And that is not all. At the meeting, I showed them videos of what a decent sheering should look like. Use the directoryto search thousands of rated brands. Patagonia made the announcement as it updated its wool sourcing strategy, which had ground to a halt in 2015 after the business stopped buying wool from the Ovis 21 network of farms in Argentina after animal rights activists released videos of workers there slashing and stabbing lambs with knives. Its a policy thats been over a year in the making. "We were able to find great farmers who truly believe that this was possible and wanted to be part of the forward movement to become part of our preferred supplier pool. Enjoyed this post & want to show your gratitude? Patagonia is rated Good' for the environment due to these fantastic initiatives, but there is more it can do to achieve the top environment rating. CALIFORNIA US outdoor brand, Patagonia, has announced that all its key wool partners will now have to meet its own stringent internal standards for wool production. These include robust requirements in all areas of the birds lives, and especially protects against force-feeding and live-plucking.Patagoniabegan working in 2007 to tracetheir down supply chain in the interest of sound animal welfare. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. PACT is a U-based brand that is passionate about being part of a movement transforming the way apparel is made. Most importantly, Patagonias business model is different: it rejects fast fashion by creating high-quality, long-lasting products, and offers a repair and reuse program. U.S. only. One of the biggest challenges was finding suppliers who were willing to start this journey with us and accept our requirements for wool, not only in quality but also in animal welfare and land management. In letters to Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario, PETA points out that disturbing video footage and photographs taken at a Utah sheep-shearing operation used by Red Pine Land & Livestock, LLCwhich Patagonia previously lauded as excellent partners that met the brands rigorous criteriashowed pregnant sheep being dragged by their fleece into a trailer and dropped onto its hard floor. The brand has good policies to audit suppliers in its supply chain and it uses a few eco-friendly materials. Wear the change you want to see. And are there any brands like Patagonia that might better meet your needs? Stay up to date on the latest vegan trends and get breaking animal rights news delivered straight to your inbox! Wool is often deemed at best a sustainable, natural fabric and at worst a grey area and brands in the trade rely on the Responsible Wool Standard to assure consumers that animals are treated in a respectful manner. Products are stocked in sizes S-XL. Some of its supply chain is certified by FLA Workplace Code of Conduct and Fair Trade USA in the final stage of production. Good On You publishes the world's most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands impact on people, the planet, and animals. By continuing to use our website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our, Regenerative Agriculture Landscape Analysis, until we can assure our customers of a verifiable process that ensures the humane treatment of animals. Patagonia received a score of 51-60% in the 2021 Fashion Transparency Index. How to Create More Storage Space in a Tiny Garden Shed, How to Turn Leftover Wine Corks into Mini Succulent Planters, 10 Ways to Style Your Indoor Space with Plants, Flowers and Greenery, 'Eco' Perfection Doesn't Exist. In April 2017, PETA observers visited a Utah shearing operation involving sheep associated with Red Pine Land & Livestock, LLCwhich was listed on Patagonias website as an approved supplier until it learned that PETA possessed videotape showing clear violations of its own welfare standards. Eyewitnesses recorded heavily pregnant sheep being whipped, sent stumbling down slippery ramps, being sheared so quickly that most sustained bloody wounds, and being driven out into the desert to give birth in freezing temperatures with virtually no coat to protect them. Lithium constraints have dominated headlines, but experts say a lack of graphite could soon create supply headaches for automakers. Our Patagonia Wool Standard is the hardest to meet; this is due to the fact that two of our additional requirements involve processes that take place after the animals are sold by the farmer (when they are transported to the slaughterhouse, and the conditions in the actual slaughterhouse). The brand now aims to reduce its footprint further, by cutting emissions throughout its supply chain. You can view the Patagonia Wool Standardhere. Im not going to say their guidelines are perfect, but theyve taken a big, giant step., Grandin says Patagonias new guidelines outline certain zero-tolerance policies, oracts that will get a ranch kicked off their approved supplier list. Eco Warrior Princess. The brand believes that outdoor recreation = happiness and the outdoor industry should be focused on fun, not exclusively performance and be a real leader in inclusivity, diversity and sustainability. Products are available in sizes XS-XL. to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way. For more than 50 years, The North Face has made activewear and outdoor sports gear that exceeds expectations. But when it comes to one particularly hot-topic issue animal cruelty these schemes leave big question marks. This treatment of animals clearly violates numerous provisions of the Responsible Wool Standardwhich Patagonia says it has adopted. Feature image via Unsplash, additional images via the brands mentioned. Keep in mind that the vast majority of the value of the animals is in their meat, not their wool, thus the meat customers have more leverage than we do as an apparel brand. "We know that our requirements have challenged farmers to change centuries-old traditional wool ranching practices," the brand said. In 2015, PETAs expos of farms that supplied so-called sustainable wool to Patagonia showed workers ramming knives into conscious lambs throats and starting to skin the animals while they were still alive and kicking. All of its clothing is sweatshop-free and child-labour-free, and its activewear range is almost entirely made from certified organic cotton, with more than 50% also certified as Fair Trade. While Patagonia is certainly a leader in its field, it has some improvements to make and may not be exactly what you are looking for. It even goes so far as to discourage customers from purchasing too many of its products. Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. UPDATE: After twice suspending wool purchases following PETA exposs of extreme cruelty to sheep the last of which showed workers at a Patagonia-approved wool producers shearing operation violating the brands own publicly touted welfare standardsPatagonia has resumed operations but refuses to divulge its new sources of responsible wool, despite repeated appeals for transparency. It manufactures locally to reduce its carbon footprint, and its entire product range is vegan-friendly. To support our work, we may earn a commission on sales made using our offer codes or affiliate links. We suspect that Patagonias standards will prove to be a sham once again. Eco Warrior Princess uses affiliate links. Rather than taking responsibility for what was depicted, the company asserted that it had parted ways with the supplier in March 2017one month before PETAs eyewitness investigationon issues not related to animal welfare. Patagonia failed to acknowledge that it had previously stated that it had carefully vetted Red Pine, identified it as being knowledgeable and passionate about animal welfare, and lauded it as an excellent partner., This isnt the first time that Patagonias cruel wool sourcing has been exposed. Sheering, like anything, can be done right or it can be done sloppily, Grandin told Outside. In 2015, we made the conscious decision to put a pause on our wool sourcing until we can assure our customers of a verifiable process that ensures the humane treatment of animals.. Witnessing the Vegan Fashion Revolution From Inside the Industry, Vogue Paris Issues a Fashion Mandate: Cruelty Is Out, Cruelty-Free Is In, The Ultimate Guide to Decorating a Vegan Home, 10 Plant-Based Influencers and Bloggers to Follow for Veganuary Inspiration, 5 Ethical Fashion Books Newbies Must Read, Why You Should Be Using Vegan Makeup Brushes, Going Plant-Based: Everything You Need to Know, A Guide to High-Performance Vegan Running Shoes, Thankful for Water: 6 Ways to Value This Life-Giving Resource. So if consumers really want to wear that coat or jacket without any lurking doubts relating to animal cruelty, the only label they can trust is one that says vegan. We encourage consumers to shop compassionately by buying only vegan products. This playful brand starkly contrasts with the performance-driven, hard-core athletic brands that currently dominate the outdoor space. She founded the world's first digital vegan fashion magazine Vilda (vildamagazine.com) and her book Vegan Style - a guide to vegan fashion - is out now. Patagonia is the worlds first brand to be certified to both the Responsible Wool Standard and the Traceable Down Standard.Patagonia Traceable Down is traced from parent farm to apparel factory to help ensure that the birds that supply it are protected by the strongest animal welfare and consumer assurance standards. If you make a purchase using a link we may receive a commission. This week, Patagonia also announced its partnership with two fully-vetted wool suppliers, one in Maupin, Oregon, and another in Park City, Utah, that will providewool for their socks. The company said: For the majority of wool sourcing brands, even mapping their wool to the farm is practically impossible due to the number of consolidators, agents and traders that are a feature of the global wool market. We talked about having certain things in their guidelines that you just wont tolerate, Grandin says. Shearers are often paid by volume, not by the hour, which encourages fast, violent work that can lead to gaping wounds on sheeps bodies. Through our diligence we were fortunate to find wool suppliers who were willing to provide us visibility to their farms, and also guarantee the traceability of our wool through the supply chain. Text STOP to end, HELP for more info. Here are some brands like Patagonia for all your ethical outdoor clothing needs. As part of our wider responsibly sourced wool strategy, we have worked not only with the farmers raising the sheep but with our entire manufacturing supply chain to obtain certification to the RWS. Patagonia is taking impressive action to reduce its environmental impact. Wuxly Movement is a Canadian brand that produces outerwear designed to be a unique combination of tech-based and recycled materials for elite performance. Founded in 1941, Jack Wolfskin is a German brand on a mission to motivate people to go outside and connect with nature, experience new things, and enjoy (life outdoors) with family and friends. In an update, the company said in a note that as of fall 2018, all the wool in its products would be certified to the RWS. Animals cannot speak up for themselves in a way that humans understand, which makes it simple for us to label certain processes humane and have that go unchallenged. They met with animal rights organizations and American wool ranchers and performed extensive audits of sheep farms. discourage customers from purchasing too many of its products. 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Patagonia will continue to make products from wool because of its unique performance attributes, the company said in a statement last August. Find PACT in sizes XS-2XL. Get the Good On You newsletter to go deeper into fashions most critical issues. Patagonia is certainly a brand worth giving your support to. In addition, as Patagonia worked directly with farmers raising sheep, one of its biggest challenges was "finding suppliers who were willing to start this journey with us." Shop The North Face Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective. Perhaps the most notable example is the fur industrys Origin Assured label, created to certify consumers that the fur product they were buying came from a country where regulations assured high animal welfare and humane practices. As the brand investigated its wool supply chain, it encountered significant challenges with traceability. Designed by Out of the Sandbox. A few months ago, Patagonia brought Temple Grandin, a livestock welfare consultant and a professor of animal science at Colorado State University, out to their Ventura, California, headquarters for a day-long meeting with Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario and other staffers to discuss ways to improve the treatment of sheep and the auditing process of their wool suppliers.