Boden

Commons couldn't find information on the overall proportion of materials this brand uses. We assume larger brands are still dependent on high emissions synthetic matierials. Boden makes some garments with lower emissions fibers, including recycled linen and recycled cotton, as well as high emissions fibers, including polyamide, metallised fibre, viscose, elastane, and conventional cotton. It makes items with fiber certifications including RWS, GCS, RMS, BCI, LWG, and it's a member of the Better Cotton Initiative. It plans to reduce its reliance on high impact fibers with the goal of 80% of products made from sustainably sourced material by 2025. Commons wasn't able to find recent reported progress on this goal within the last year. We require large brands to report at least annually on any stated goals.

Boden reports using an unknown proportion of solar energy in its production. Boden sources and manufactures its materials globally, which is standard practice in the fashion industry.

Boden's eco-friendly packaging materials include 100% recycled paper and 100% recycled cardboard, though it also still uses plastic or unknown recycled content. It's working to minimize packaging by rightsizing materials and improving collection and recycling of its shipping boxes.

Boden has a free-under-warranty repair program and offers a 1 year quality guarantee. It gives detailed care instructions to extend garment lifespan.

Boden has a take back program, called Pass It On, that accepts its own brand's clothing for donation and recycling. It doesn't share information on the efficacy of this program.

Boden offers a core collection but also releases new items seasonally. It claims to donate its unsold products to charity but doesn't provide more detail.

Commons is still evaluating this brand's marketing emails.

Boden has a sustainability page with information about materials, packaging , supply chain partners, current initiatives and progress, and production waste, but this page is hard to find on its site. Larger brands have a greater responsibility to make this information clearly available due to its outsized impact.This page was last updated in 2023 Boden previously published detailed annual progress updates, but the page is no longer accessible. Its latest annual update was from 2023.

Boden has measured its emissions, but it's not clear what process it used. It reports emissions on an organization-wide level, but doesn't provide a full data breakdown.

Boden has unofficial reduction targets for 2025 that were achieved 2 years early, in part by offsetting its scope 1 and 2 emissions with gold accredited wind projects. It hasn't shared any plans to reduce its scope 3 emissions, likely the largest portion of its footprint.

Boden publishes thorough information about its supply chain partners, across the production chain, on Open Supply Hub. It has a supplier code of conduct, which includes provisions for annual audits of tier 1 partners, restricting subcontracting, prohibiting forced labor, and ensuring the right to collective bargaining.