Image credit: Burton

Burton

Rated: It's a start

price: $$$$

location: United States

Burton has good policies to monitor its suppliers but is not taking adequate steps to manage its greenhouse gas emissions.

Burton sustainability rating

Planet

2 out of 5

People

2 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


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

  • It uses some lower-impact materials including recycled materials.
  • There’s no evidence it’s taking meaningful action to reduce its climate impacts.
  • There’s no evidence it’s taking actions to protect biodiversity in its supply chain.
  • There’s no evidence it takes action to minimise its packaging, which is a driver of plastic waste.

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

  • Its social auditing program covering its entire final production stage is accredited by Fair Labor Association (FLA).
  • There’s no evidence it provides financial security to its suppliers, which can result in poor working conditions and wages.
  • 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 Burton “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

  • It’s published a general statement about minimising animal suffering but not a formal animal welfare policy.
  • It appears to use leather.
  • ZQ Merino Label and Responsible Wool Standard certifies some of the wool it sources.
  • 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 Burton “It's a Start” overall.

Last updated August 2023