Extend our reach.
Long-standing partnerships with our suppliers play a key role in reducing emissions—we’re on this journey together.
The majority of our greenhouse gas emissions lie within our supply chain, from growing raw materials
such as cotton to sewing the finished product.
When we work toward decarbonization and environmental sustainability with our suppliers, from farmers through to our cut and sew factories, the benefits are multi-pronged, from reducing water usage in the communities where our suppliers operate, or converting farms from conventional agriculture to regenerative systems, to providing trainings and resources on cleaner energy solutions such as electric boilers.
Our Supplier Commitment
Our goal is to collaborate with our suppliers to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions intensity per product we produce (calculated by dividing the emissions from making our products by the total number of products) by 50% by 2030 compared to our fiscal year 2017.
Collaboration Is Key
Over the years we have partnered with the Apparel Impact Institute, the International Finance Corporation’s Vietnam Improvement Program (VIP) and Partnership for Cleaner Textile (PaCT) Program, the German International Development Agency (GIZ) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to support our suppliers in increasing their energy efficiency and lowering their greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2018, 35 of our current suppliers have participated in an energy efficiency or renewable energy program.
Of The North Face supplier facilities that completed the Higg Index Facilities Environmental Module (FEM) in 2023:
48 utilized on-site solar energy, totaling
52,542,228 kWh
19 purchased renewable energy, totaling
97,094,050 kWh
Water Stewardship
We’re also working with our suppliers to manage wastewater quality because water is an essential resource. In 2025 VF adopted Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Wastewater Guidelines as VF’s Wastewater Standards. Used throughout our industry, ZDHC’s guidelines set globally unified expectations for suppliers and are created with input from a wide range of stakeholders. Learn more about VF’s Wastewater Standards and other policies and standards for suppliers here.