GHG emissions:

VF Corporation has set an emissions reduction target for its own operations of 55% by 2030 from a 2017 base year, which is in line with keeping warming below 1.5°C.

The company has also set an emissions reduction target for its supply chain of 30% by 2030 from a 2017 base year. This target is not in line with the 55% reduction required.

Renewable energy:

VF Corporation has set a renewable energy target in its own operations of 100% by 2025, but it will be a mix of additional to the grid and renewable energy credits.

VF Corporation has yet to set a target of 100% renewable energy for its supply chain by 2030, which is an essential step for decarbonising its manufacturing.

Coal phase-out:

VF Corporation has publicly set a target to phase out coal-fired boilers from its supply chain by 2030 to reduce air pollution and cut emissions.

GHG emissions:

VF Corporation publicly reports GHG emissions in its own operations, and in its supply chain. The company does provide a full breakdown of its Scope 3 emissions.

Energy use:

VF Corporation does publicly report its energy use for its own operations, and does provide a breakdown of its renewable energy use and how that energy is sourced.

For its supply chain, VF Corporation does not publicly report its energy use, a breakdown of its suppliers’ renewable energy use, or how that energy is sourced.

Suppliers:

VF Corporation provides a partial supplier list to Tier 1 and 2.

VF Corporation provides some of its suppliers with training and resources to help them make energy efficiency improvements, including new energy-efficiency programs at 20 Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier factories across Bangladesh, Cambodia, Jordan and Vietnam. VF Corporation does not report providing its major suppliers with financial incentives for energy efficiency measures, and does not require them to make energy savings as a condition of contract.

VF Corporation does not require suppliers to reduce thermal coal demand in their manufacturing processes.

VF Corporation does report providing its suppliers with training and resources to help them transition to renewable energy, including working with German international development organization GIZ to introduce new renewable energy programs at Tier 1 and Tier 2 factories in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Jordan, Korea and Vietnam. The company does report providing financial support or incentives to make the energy transition, such as financial support to Vietnam partner factories through the Vietnam Improvement Program. But it does not require suppliers to use renewable energy as a condition of contract.

VF Corporation does require its suppliers to disclose GHG emissions data but does not require them to set GHG emissions reduction targets, and it does not require suppliers to provide facility level data via the Higg Index.

VF Corporation has not made any commitments to phase out fossil fuel based materials, but its Icebreaker brand is 100% fossil fuel-fibre-free.

VF Corporation has made a public policy to ban the sourcing of leather from Brazil. However, VF Corporation was found to be at high risk of sourcing leather from deforestation in the Amazon Biome in the Nowhere to Hide report.

Low-carbon materials:

VF Corporation is working to increase closed-loop apparel-to-apparel recycling for synthetics by working to innovate and scale textile recycling technology, and setting a goal to source more polyester from recycled materials by FY26. VF Corporation has not committed to reduce the impact of its raw materials sourcing by switching to organic cotton or cotton sourced from regenerative agriculture by 2030, but it commits that all cotton purchased by VF Corporation will be grown in the U.S., Australia or under a third-party cotton-growing sustainability scheme.

Increasing circularity:

VF Corporation has a general policy to support regenerative processes, (re-)use materials and products for as long as possible, and reduce the waste to landfill stream, but needs to do more to improve the repairability and resale of its products across its brands. It does offer limited product take-back via its brand Timberland.

VF Corporation does publicly report its material mix, but it does not report the volume of materials. It does report how it manages its material waste. But it does not publicly report its deadstock quantities.

VF Corporation does report its shipping emissions annually, does provide a breakdown of its transportation methods, and does include shipping emissions in its GHG reduction targets.

VF Corporation has a policy to avoid aviation and commit to slower shipping methods such as maritime, rail and land. The company is also working with Maersk Eco Delivery to reduce some marine shipping emissions, but should do more to prioritise greener ports and reduce distances. It reported an impressive 73.4% drop in its upstream transportation and distribution emissions between 2019 and 2021.

VF Corporation has not committed to transitioning to zero emissions vessels (ZEV) by 2030. The company has not used its voice publicly to advocate for Zero Emission Shipping.

VF Corporation has not committed to transitioning its last mile delivery to zero emission vehicles.

VF Corporation signed a statement of mutual aspiration encouraging the government of Indonesia to accelerate a renewable energy transition to achieve at least 50% RE energy mix by 2045. The company supported the Inflation Reduction Act which included investments related to reducing climate related risks to the economy. The company’s CEO, along with 6 other business CEOs, called on U.S. Congressional leaders for ambitious federal climate legislation.