Volcom

Volcom is a part of the Fair Labor Association (FLA), which requires its members to comply with the 10 principles of sustainable working conditions and responsible sourcing and production. The FLA’s code of conduct is based on the standards set out by the International Labor Organisation (ILO), which promotes workers’ rights.

In addition to its apparel, Volcom has set up a charity called ​‘The Volcom Giveback Series™’, which supports non-profit organisations and other community-led initiatives.

Volcom’s jackets, jumpers, suits, socks and t‑shirts are all made from regular cotton and/​or polyester. The backpacks and wallets are also made of polyester, which is a synthetic material that releases microplastics into the environment. 

Volcom wants to use more and more recycled polyester and nylon, as well as sustainable cotton. Their Eco-True collection features Repreve recycled polyester made from PET bottles and Econyl recycled nylon made from post-consumer waste. Volcom refers to organic, recycled, CMiA or BCI cotton as ​‘sustainable cotton’. Read COSH!’s deep-dive into the advantages of organic cotton here.

At COSH!, we prefer (recycled) organic cotton. The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) and Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA) labels only aim to reduce the use of chemicals and pesticides, not at banning them completely. Additionally, only 10% of the cotton needs to be BCI for an item of clothing to obtain the label… You therefore can’t be sure whether you’re actually buying a piece made from sustainable cotton when you see the CMiA and BCI labels. 

That is why we always recommend using GOTS-certified organic cotton, which ensures no pesticides or chemicals have been used and that the working conditions are good. Another great thing about natural materials such as cotton is that they do not release microplastics when you wash and wear them. They don’t pollute the environment therefore if they end up in landfill. Volcom sometimes also uses natural hemp – learn all about hemp here! 

If you’re interested in a pair of Volcom jeans, choose some from their Water Aware collection. Thanks to a set of water efficiency techniques, Volcom has been able to save an average of 13 litres of water per pair of jeans compared to their regular Volcom jeans. 

Volcom uses the Higg Index and Textile Exchange guidelines to calculate the impact of their materials when choosing them to make their winter jackets, jumpers and t‑shirts. However, Volcom still has some work to do and here at COSH! we’re looking forward to seeing their future sustainable collections. 

Volcom sometimes uses recycled materials, but these by no means make up the majority of their collections. In fact, they often mix different fibres together meaning their clothing is neither recyclable nor biodegradable once no longer wearable. Volcom can therefore not be called a circular brand.

COSH! would prefer to see Volcom work with mono-materials, i.e. fabrics that are composed of 100% the same fibres. That way, their clothing would be recyclable and, if made from natural fabrics, biodegradable.

Unfortunately though, Volcom does not say where its clothes are produced, or list its suppliers. It is therefore impossible for us to check what the actual working conditions are like. They have a small ​‘Made in Europe’ collection, where some t‑shirts are made in Portugal, but the rest of Volcom’s collections are likely made in Asian countries. COSH! would like to know more about this because due to a lack of transparency, we cannot conclude anything about the length of the supply chain.

Volcom uses down and feathers in their jackets. While these keep you warm in the winter, it is important to consider the circumstances in which the animals are raised. Volcom is committed to animal welfare and since 2017, has only used down which is certified by the Responsible Down Standard (RDS).

If your style is fresh and sporty, Volcom is what you’re looking for. Designed for skateboarders, surfers, snowboarders and snowboarders, they’re durable, designed to be worn while you’re doing your favourite sports!

Volcom has a dedicated sustainability section on its website, although the information is limited. Volcom has set several targets for the brand in terms of sustainable materials, to what extent these have been achieved or not is not clear.

COSH! does not have sufficient information about the production sites, and the volume and percentages of each material used by the brand in their collections.