Salewa

Salewa is owned by OBERALP GROUP.

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 Salewa “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It uses some lower-impact materials.
• There’s no evidence it’s taking meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals in manufacturing.
• There’s no evidence it’s taking actions to protect biodiversity in its supply chain.
• It uses renewable energy in its direct operations (such as stores or offices) but not in its supply chain.

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 Salewa “Good”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• Most of its final production stage is certified by Business Social Compliance Initiative Code of Conduct - BSCI, Fair Wear Foundation, and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production - WRAP.
• Its Code of Conduct covers ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles.
• There’s no evidence it supports diversity and inclusion in its supply chain.
• It claims to have a program to improve wages but there’s no evidence it ensures its workers are paid living wages in most of its supply chain.
• During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it disclosed adequate 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 Salewa “It’s a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It has a formal policy aligned with the Five Freedoms of animal welfare but has few implementation mechanisms in place.
• It appears to use leather.
• It states that it sources wool from non-mulesed sheep.
• Responsible Down Standard certifies the down it uses.
• It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, exotic animal skin, or exotic animal hair.
• It traces some animal-derived materials to the first production stage.

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate Salewa “It’s a Start” overall.