Image credit: Timberland

Timberland

Rated: It's a start

price:
$$$$

location: United States

Timberland has good policies to monitor water use in its supply chain but is not taking adequate steps to ensure payment of a living wage for its workers.

Timberland sustainability rating

Planet

3 out of 5

People

3 out of 5

Animals

3 out of 5

Overall rating: It's a start

Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We avoid) to 5 (Great) How we rate


Timberland is owned by VF Corporation.

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 Timberland “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

  • It uses few lower-impact materials, and it does not publish an aggregate breakdown of materials used.
  • It’s set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain but claims it’s not on track.
  • While it offers clothing recycling to consumers, it doesn’t report on its results.
  • It provides evidence on its efforts to minimise packaging.

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 Timberland “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

  • Some of its final stage is located in low risk countries or certified facilities, however it does not publish an aggregate breakdown of suppliers.
  • There’s no evidence it provides financial security to its suppliers, which can result in poor working conditions and wages.
  • Its Code of Conduct covers ILO principles.
  • It audits some of its supply chain including all of the final production stage.
  • It has an external grievance mechanism for workers in its supply chain to anonymously report concerns like harassment and unpaid wages.
  • 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 Timberland “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

  • It appears to use leather, wool, and down.
  • Some of its animal-derived materials consist of recycled or certified alternatives to conventional wool and down.
  • It doesn’t appear to use angora, fur, exotic animal skin, shearling, cashmere, alpaca, or mohair.
  • It has a formal policy aligned with the Five Domains of Animal Welfare.

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

Last updated 2025-10-31