VF publishes first Animal Derived Materials Policy
10/05/2017
The policy, developed in partnership with animal welfare organizations, material suppliers and industry groups, sets guidelines for the use of materials by the company’s brands and partners.
Letitia Webster, VF’s vice president of global corporate sustainability, said: “As we continue to promote the development of viable commercial substitutes to animal materials, this policy will help to ensure that the materials we use today are procured from sources that prioritise animal welfare and responsible business practices.”
VF says the supply chain for the wool, down and leather it uses is complex. “The apparel industry represents a portion of this supply chain along with other sizable actors such as the meat and automotive industries, and others,” it said. “In fact, most of the ADMs that VF sources are a direct byproduct of meat production. As such, this limits the sphere of control and influence we alone can have on ensuring animal welfare at all points, including on-farm practices, for example.
“Nevertheless, we are using our influence where we can. We take deliberate actions to ensure adherence to this policy from all suppliers of ADMs. These actions include: communicating the policy to our suppliers; collecting material inventories; requiring signed agreements and proof of origin for all materials; and, promoting standards such as the Responsible Down Standard. Suppliers that do not comply with our ADM policy cannot do business with VF.”
It also set out a policy on Forest Derived Materials: “For the materials that go into our products, we support the CanopyStyle initiative to eliminate the use of ancient and endangered forests in the production of manmade cellulosic materials such as rayon and viscose from our industry by 2017.”
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