Patagonia

Our “Planet” rating evaluates brands based on the environmental policies in their supply chains, from carbon emissions and wastewater to business models and product circularity. Here we rate Patagonia “Good”. These are a few issues influencing its score:

• It uses a high proportion of lower-impact materials including recycled materials.
• It uses low impact materials that help limit the chemicals, water, and wastewater in its supply chain.
• It offers clothing recycling to consumers to help address end-of-life textile waste.
• It uses a medium proportion of bluesign certified fabrics.

Workers’ rights are central to our “People” rating, which assess brands’ policies and practices on everything from child labour to living wages and gender equality. Here we rate Patagonia “Good”. These are a few issues influencing its score:

• Its social auditing program covering its entire final production stage is accredited by Fair Labor Association (FLA).
• It received a score of 41-50% in the 2022 Fashion Transparency Index.
• There’s no evidence it supports diversity and inclusion in its supply chain.
• It ensures some workers in the final production stage are paid living wages, though not in its entire supply chain.
• During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it disclosed some policies to protect workers in its supply chain from the virus.

Brands’ animal welfare policies and, where applicable, how well they trace their animal-derived products are the focus of our “Animals” rating. Here we rate Patagonia “Good”. These are a few issues influencing its score:

• It has a formal policy aligned with the Five Freedoms of animal welfare.
• It appears to use leather and recycled exotic animal hair.
• It uses recycled wool in some of its wool products.
• It uses some recycled down in its products.
• It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, or exotic animal skin.
• It traces most animal-derived materials to the first production stage.

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate Patagonia “Good” overall.