Sheep are ruminant animals with digestive systems that constantly generate methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. 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). Not only is a tree planted every time you purchase a NIKIN product, you also get to show your tree pride! Patagonia is certainly a brand worth giving your support to. Thesus favours transparency, ethical manufacturing practices and sustainable materials as a means of creating long-lasting, positive change. The outrage unleashed by an animal-cruelty scandal is something that no brand wants, and setting up what is ultimately a marketing scheme to hold up the appearance of guaranteeing animal welfare helps keep companies out of those hot waters. 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? Text ROCKY to 73822 to urge officials to allow Rocky a lone coyote, who is pacing in apparent distress in a tiny cage, to move to an accredited sanctuary. The company cut ties with that farming network after our expos but once again began obtaining woolincluding from Red Pine, the subject of our new investigation and misleading caring consumers by marketing the wool as responsible. Obviously, there is nothing responsible about slamming heavily pregnant sheep to the floor and leaving them without a coat when theyre about to give birth in freezing temperatures or approving shearing that results in bloody cuts (up to 5 inches long) near their tails and on their udders, ears, necks, and torsosall in violation of Patagonias own standards., PETA has attempted to work behind the scenes with Patagonia over the years, including offering to send our veterinarians on sheep-farm and slaughterhouse visits to assess conditions, but the company has refused all such cooperation. 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. to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way. Products are stocked in sizes S-XL. 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. Topics covered: logistics, freight, operations, procurement, regulation, technology, risk/resilience and more. The label has virtually disappeared from online and offline marketing after PETA teamed up with several other animal protection groups in countries that fell under the Origin Assured scheme, resulting in Cruelty Assured, an investigation that showed the same barbaric abuse on fur farms in those countries that runs rampant in the trade elsewhere. 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. Since fall 2014, all of the virgin downthey use to insulatetheir products has mettheir own Patagonia Traceable Down Standard. This article is based on the Patagonia rating published in February 2022. Just how ethical is Patagonia? By submitting this form, you are agreeing to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal info in accordance with our privacy policy as well as to receiving e-mails from us. For more information, see our How We Rate page and our FAQs. Sheering, like anything, can be done right or it can be done sloppily, Grandin told Outside. In Fall 2017 product season,they went a step further and announced that alltheir virgin down was also certified to the Global Traceable Down Standard (Global TDS), Advanced certification level by NSF International.In 2018, Patagonia went even further and achieved certification at the brand level, becoming the first outdoor brand to be certified to the Advanced Global Traceable Down Standard. In other words, farmers need visibility into their downstream supply chain. On Wednesdaywhen the story broke in Outside magazinePETA sent Patagonias CEO, Rose Marcario, a letter detailing the findings, including the specific violations of the RWS and PWS (see below). Such revenue helps keep this website running, helps us pay our growing core team and allows us to keep the content free for readers like you. Alder is a Canadian brand that offers inclusive sizing, community-informed design, sustainable and ethical production. Sheep were sheared at such high speed that most were left with bloody wounds. Good On You publishes the world's most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands impact on people, the planet, and animals. 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. 2022 Textile Exchange. 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. 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. 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. In some cases, Patagonia turned to synthetic materials to avoid potential sourcing issues. 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. Other video footage shows animals being whipped on their heads, backs, and hindquarters as well as a lambs carcass rotting in a shed and sheep skeletons and shotgun shells strewn on the ground. The brand also publishes a detailed list of suppliers in the final stage of production and some information about the findings of supplier audits, as well as some information about forced labour, gender equality, or freedom of association. And unsurprisingly, animal welfare is the area where humane-washing is believed to abound. 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. In addition, our key wool partners have also met the even more stringent requirements outlined in thePatagonia Wool Standard(PWS). Some companies water these types of guidelines down, but Patagonia seemed very serious about drafting strict standards that would actually work. 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. 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). And that is not all. Use the directoryto search thousands of rated brands. These instances and more have led to the coining of the term humane-washing, a continuation of greenwashing, where corporate marketing is packaged as ethical. Plucking is only meant to take place after birds have been killed for meat, but live-plucking is rampant in the down industry as the supply chain is incredibly murky and complicated, live-plucking can still occur despite reassurances of the contrary. With a mission statement to build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis, Patagonia has set a high bar. 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. Shop Patagonia Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective. To support our work, we may earn a commission on sales made using our offer codes or affiliate links. Feature image via Unsplash, additional images via the brands mentioned. 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 Patagonia scandal brought wool into the spotlight in a way that it had previously been spared from. Weve talked to the people who do the work, worked through what is actually possible, and put forth the highest possible standards in a new supply chain that involves the best possible partners, Patagonia said in a statement. 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. Patagonia said all of its wool is certified to the, On top of the commitment, however, Patagonia also outlined its own, We know that our requirements have challenged farmers to change centuries-old traditional wool ranching practices," the brand said. The brand has good policies to eliminate hazardous chemicals in its supply chain and uses some eco-friendly materials, including recycled materials. Products are available in sizes XS-XL. 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. Sascha is a writer, speaker and ethical fashion activist. sign up for Outside+. 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. Weve given Patagonia an overall rating of Good, based on our own research. This allows certification of not only the down material in our products but the full final product itself. 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. 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. PETA Leads the Charge: Inside the Global Effort to Take Down Exotic Skins, Are You Patricks Star? Patagonia has also conducted research with industry bodies on the impact of microplastics. 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.. Clearly, Patagonia isnt anxious for PETA to show the public whats happening on its suppliers farms. 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. 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. Obtaining a final stage certification mark is an important milestone for Patagonia as a brand. 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. U.S. only. And are there any brands like Patagonia that might better meet your needs? 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. This brand lives up to the standards it set itself by pushing for sustainability across the board. In August 2015, the animal rights organization PETA released a video apparentlyshowing sheep being badly mistreated at a farm in Argentina that was part of a supply group called Ovis 21, which sold wool to Patagonia and other brands. clipse creates climate control UPF 50+ clothing essentials and accessories to help keep the whole family sunsafe. 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. Please take a moment to post polite comments on Patagonias blog urging the company to cut ties with the abusive wool industry. You can view the Patagonia Wool Standardhere. Patagonia said it worked with its entire manufacturing supply chain on responsible wool sourcing, including the scourer (who washes and processes raw wool), the spinner and the factory. Lets take a look at how well it is met. We are also looking into vegan wool as well, in the same manner we were able to develop and incorporate high-end alternatives to leather and fur over the years.. 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. PETA has an obligation to expose the sham of animal skins marketed as responsiblemarketing schemes that target and dupe compassionate consumers into supporting cruel actions. Workers then stitch the gashes closed without giving the animals any painkillers. 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." Find the range in 2XS-3XL. Patagonia has also improved its animal welfare policies, going from Its a Start to Good in this category. Cutting out a supplier required a drastic shift in the brand's supply chain. 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. A high proportion of its materials are made from recycled fabrics, including its polyester, nylon, and wool. But when it comes to one particularly hot-topic issue animal cruelty these schemes leave big question marks. The Responsible Wool Standard is a sham, and PETA is advising retailers to stop duping consumers and supporting this abuse by switching to vegan wool and other cruelty-free fibres., Related Post: Witnessing the Vegan Fashion Revolution From Inside the Industry. Were glad to see the brand improve over the years. Shop Jack Wolfskin Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective. 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. The apparel brand made the decision in 2015 to stop buying wool entirely from Ovis21, a network of farmers. The brand now aims to reduce its footprint further, by cutting emissions throughout its supply chain. Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. 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. Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more , Weekendbee is operated from Finland by Weekendbee Oy, 2022 Weekendbee - sustainable sportswear. Patagonia will continue to make products from wool because of its unique performance attributes, the company said in a statement last August. Find the range in sizes XS-2XL. 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. Designed by Out of the Sandbox. 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. Shop Patagonia Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective, Shop The North Face Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective, Shop The North Face Kids Pre-Owned @ Retykle, Shop Jack Wolfskin Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective, Discover more ethical and sustainable outdoorwear brands. 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. PETA-Rescued Labradoodle Looking for New Home, Breeding Breathing-Impaired Dogs Is Flat-Out Cruel, Celebrate International Friendship Day With These Heartwarming PETA Rescue Stories, PETA Primate Scientist Eviscerates Experimentation Industrys Pathetic Secrecy Defense, How Muslims Can Help Animals in the New Year. This effort has spanned multiple supply chains and countries. If you make a purchase using a link we may receive a commission. 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. Together, they saw the opportunity to design problem-solving travel goods that drive positive change: reducing plastic pollution and improving peoples lives. Is Boxed Water Really Better Than Bottled Water? This means the farmer has to obtain information on transportation and slaughter from their customers to whom the animals are sold. That includes actions such asletting sheep starve, certain slaughtering methods, or mulesing, which involves aggressively cutting skin from the animals backside to avoid infestation. The event shook the world of fashion Patagonia was long known as a brand with sustainability and ethics at the forefront of their philosophy, which contributed to making this one of the most memorable instances proving that labels and certifications dont go a very long way to protect the animals used in fashion production. It even goes so far as to discourage customers from purchasing too many of its products. Eco Warrior Princess. 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. This involved changing the way we worked across many departments and even undergoing onsite RWS audits at our distribution center. Text STOP to end, HELP for more info. "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. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. 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. 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. The range is generally available in sizes XS-2XL. Several other companies follow the standard, including H&M, REI and Williams Sonoma. Patagonia suggested that supply chain traceability and finding like-minded farmers have been key challenges along the way. 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. Additionally, sheep require energy-intensive feed grown with large amounts of chemical-laden fertilizer, and they generate massive amounts of manure, which create even more pollution of the land, water, and air. PACT is a U-based brand that is passionate about being part of a movement transforming the way apparel is made. 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. Patagonia is making Good efforts for workers with good policies to audit suppliers in its supply chain. All Rights Reserved, Profile on LaRhea Pepper, Managing Director of Textile Exchange, ISPO Munich 2018: Interview with Textile Exchange, This site uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. For more than 50 years, The North Face has made activewear and outdoor sports gear that exceeds expectations. Powered by Shopify, Ecological Bags, Care Products and other gear, Mulesing-free Merino Wool and Recycled Wool. 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. 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. First, some background. 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.. Patagonias down is accredited by the Responsible Down Standard and the brand does not use angora, fur, or exotic animal skin. Get the Good On You newsletter to go deeper into fashions most critical issues. This playful brand starkly contrasts with the performance-driven, hard-core athletic brands that currently dominate the outdoor space. Shop The North Face Kids Pre-Owned @ Retykle. "W, By signing up to receive our newsletter, you agree to our, A looming graphite shortage could snarl the EV battery supply chain, FedEx to consolidate stations, delivery routes in $2B operational overhaul, Amazon slows network expansion in response to cooling customer demand, Stanley Black & Decker to slash SKUs, footprint in $1.5B savings plan, LaserShip and OnTrac launch transcontinental delivery ahead of peak season, FedEx Ground warns contractors group negotiations a breach of contract, The state of retail supply chains in 2022, How to approach risk management in supply chain, Navigating supply chain peak season in 2022, U.S. economy faces recession question as inflationary pressures continue, US Pushes Expansion of China Chip Ban, Key Suppliers Say, Peak shipping season into holidays begins for a volatile supply chain, Supply Chain Sustainability Doesnt Have to Break to Bank, Iowa Manufacturing 4.0: Unleashing New Potential, How to Know When to Go: When Logistics Gets in the Way of an Amazing Customer Experience, Pepsi Bottling Ventures plans $35M production expansion, House sends Biden $52B boost for US semiconductor production, Patagonia will reintroduce wool into its products this fall, after putting "a pause" on its wool sourcing in 2015, the company, After three years of investigation, Patagonia said all wool in its products follows the. Tax included. We suspect that Patagonias standards will prove to be a sham once again. Founded by surf champion Kelly Slater, Outerknown is a sustainable brand that aims to blend style and function with the protection of natural resources. (They are still seeking sources for the companys merino wool baselayers and other products.) Enjoyed this post & want to show your gratitude? Patagonia received a score of 51-60% in the 2021 Fashion Transparency Index. 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. In addition, key wool partners will also need to have met the even more stringent requirements outlined in the PWS. 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. Copyright 2010-2018. We talked about having certain things in their guidelines that you just wont tolerate, Grandin says. Good on people,the planet and animals.Good on you. It now has a formal animal welfare policy aligned with Five Freedoms and has clear mechanisms to implement. The brand reuses all its offcuts to minimise textile waste and is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, working to ensure good working conditions for its workers. Patagonia uses leather and exotic animal hair and states that it sources wool from non-mulesed sheep. Eleven exposs of 99 sheep operations on four continents have revealed that sheep are regularly beaten, kicked, punched, and mutilated in the wool industry. released a video apparentlyshowing sheep being badly mistreated. Visibility beyond tier 1, especially for global supply chains sourcing raw materials, has proven challenging to many brands. If youre the kind of person who likes to wear their morals, look no further.
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