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VF Europe

VF

Founded in 1899, VF Corporation is one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies with socially and environmentally responsible operations spanning numerous geographies, product categories and distribution channels.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Charlotte Merlier (Cabinet of Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič) and Zalando SE and

19 Nov 2025 · Customs Union Reform, e-commerce

Response to Waste Framework review to reduce waste and the environmental impact of waste management

22 Nov 2023

VF Corporation Feedback on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive VF outfits consumers around the world through its diverse portfolio of iconic lifestyle brands, including the Timberland ®, Vans ® and The North Face ®. At VF, we power movements of sustainable and active lifestyles for the betterment of people and the planet. Through our environmental sustainability efforts, we are elevating our commitment to take bold action on climate change to protect our planet for generations to come. Our enterprise-wide environmental sustainability strategy prioritizes sustainable materials, circularity, and sustainable packaging to drive scalable change by reducing the environmental impact of VF and our family of brands. VF and our portfolio of brands are advancing initiatives that align with the guiding principles of circularity: minimizing virgin, non-renewable, fossil-based inputs; supporting regenerative processes; (re-)using materials and products for as long as possible; and reducing the waste to landfill stream. VF welcomes the Commission's efforts to revise the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) and would like to highlight few concerns on the design of the future extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes that could inhibit the apparel and footwear industrys ability to successfully design products with recycled materials and make compliance more difficult. Our recommendations echo the Commissions intention to revive the textile sector, as explained in the EU Textiles Ecosystem Transition Pathway. The revision of the WFD must be an opportunity for apparel companies to grow in line with the ambitions of the EU Green Deal. 1. Harmonization of EPR requirements and one, EU-wide register of producers. 2. Harmonized end-of-waste criteria at EU level. 3. Obligated producers to be defined by selling the product to the final consumer. 4. Recognition and incentivization of manufacturers take-back schemes.
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Response to Environmental claims based on environmental footprint methods

21 Jul 2023

VF Corporation welcomes the publication of the Commissions proposal for a Directive on substantiation and communication of explicit environmental claims (a.k.a.: Green Claims Directive) and would like to emphasize few concerns and recommendations. 1. Clarification on rules is necessary. The proposal text allows for different interpretations, enforcement, and verification of explicit environmental claims. This could result in inconsistent standards and instances where certain Member States reject claims that have been supported and validated by other Member States. The development of guidelines by the European Commission would be crucial for the establishment of national approaches preventing the proliferation of diversified standards. We welcome the fact that the Commission recognized the importance of allowing for the mutual recognition for the certificates of conformity. An ideal scenario for the industry would allow for a claim approved in one Member State to be directly applicable in another jurisdiction. 2. Guidance on claims substantiation is key. Further clarification is needed regarding which schemes can be used to substantiate which claims. Currently there are no requirements for the use of Life-cycle analysis (LCA)s, hence the industry is unclear as to when LCAs would be needed to support an environmental claim. A more detailed methodological requirements should be adopted through secondary legislation to ensure that individual data points required in an LCA are sound, impartial, and validated. 3. Verification process should be standardized. The Directives proposed verification process would cause considerable delays in product development and launch. The suggested verification method increases uncertainty for economic operators who, during the process of product development and launch, must simultaneously prioritize go-to-market deadlines while also waiting for substantiation approval. Verification bodies should adopt a decision and issue a Certificate of Conformity within 15 days, making sure all verifiers access claims using the same set of rules. Moreover, the suggested timeline of 30 days to take corrective action is inadequate. 4. Implementation period should be extended. Under the current timeframe, economic operators have about six months to substantiate and verify current and future environmental claims. VF calls for an extension providing economic operators with a 24-month transition period starting only after Member States have completed their national transposition. 5. Prioritization of green labelling is well timed. VF welcomes the European Commission's proposal to incorporate digital means to inform consumers about the substantiation. We call for alignment with the developments under the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation, particularly the Digital Product Passport and we support the modernizations of labelling requirements and the use of more sustainable and economic digital labels for any current and future labelling information. Founded in 1899, VF Corporation is one of the worlds largest active-lifestyle companies which connects people to the activities and experiences through a portfolio of outdoor, active, workwear and streetwear brands including Vans®️, The North Face®️, Timberland®️ and Dickies®️. Our purpose is to power movements of sustainable and active lifestyles for the betterment of people and our planet. We connect this purpose with a relentless drive to create value for all stakeholders and use our company as a force for good.
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Meeting with Biljana Borzan (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and European Advertising Standards Alliance

21 Jun 2022 · Empowering consumers for the green transition

Meeting with Virginijus Sinkevičius (Commissioner) and

17 Jun 2021 · To discuss the forthcoming EU textiles strategy