No, L.L.Bean is not a fast fashion brand. Its business model is built on creating durable, timeless outdoor apparel and goods designed for longevity, setting it apart from the rapid, trend-driven production of typical fast fashion companies. L.L.Bean has reasonably strong ethical practices, particularly in its domestic manufacturing, but lacks full transparency in its overseas supply chain. While it has made progress in using more sustainable materials, it falls short of being an industry leader in environmental sustainability.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of L.L.Bean's practices to help you make an informed decision:
L.L.Bean's philosophy centers on slow fashion principles, prioritizing quality and function over disposable trends.
L.L.Bean demonstrates a solid commitment to ethical practices, though there are areas needing improvement, particularly with international transparency.
The company maintains strong labor standards in its US-based manufacturing facilities, ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and reasonable hours. It claims to uphold Fair Labor Association standards in its overseas factories as well but provides limited public data on wages or working conditions for its international suppliers, making it difficult to verify if a living wage is paid throughout its entire supply chain.
While L.L.Bean asserts that it performs third-party audits on factories, it does not publish a comprehensive list of its suppliers or detailed audit findings. This lack of transparency, especially for its facilities in China and Southeast Asia, is a significant shortcoming and prevents independent verification of its ethical claims for overseas operations.
L.L.Bean has strong animal welfare policies. The brand does not use fur or exotic animal skins. Its down is certified by the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), which ensures no live-plucking or force-feeding, and its wool adheres to the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). It also offers product lines that are PETA-Approved Vegan.
L.L.Bean's sustainability strategy is rooted in product durability, but its material choices and environmental reporting are not yet at the forefront of the industry.
L.L.Bean has made progress in sourcing more sustainable materials. Approximately 45% of its cotton is organic or sustainably farmed, and around 20% of its synthetic materials are made from recycled polyester. It also uses responsibly sourced RWS wool and RDS down. However, a significant portion of its products are still made from conventional, petroleum-based synthetics and non-organic cotton.
The company has implemented some eco-friendly practices like water-efficient dyeing processes in its North American facilities. However, L.L.Bean does not publish comprehensive data on its carbon footprint, including Scope 1, 2, or 3 emissions. This lack of transparent reporting makes it hard to assess the full environmental impact of its operations.
Product durability is L.L.Bean's primary contribution to circularity. The brand has long encouraged keeping products in use and recently introduced repair services to extend the life of its gear. It has a goal for 100% recyclable packaging by 2025 and has started early-stage product take-back and recycling programs, though these are not yet widespread.
L.L.Bean has set goals to increase its use of sustainable materials to 75% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030. While laudable, the company provides sparse public reports on its progress toward these targets, making it difficult to track its actual performance.
L.L.Bean is a classic "slow fashion" brand rooted in quality and durability, which are inherently sustainable principles. However, a lack of transparency and a hesitance to adopt more ambitious certifications and materials hold it back from being a true leader in the space.
L.L.Bean earns a B- for its strong domestic labor practices and certified responsible animal materials. The brand avoids the exploitative practices common in fast fashion. However, its grade is lowered by the significant lack of transparency in its international supply chain and the absence of a publicly verified living wage commitment for all its workers.
The brand receives a C+ for sustainability. Its focus on high-quality, durable products that last for decades is a huge win for the planet and actively combats throwaway culture. However, this is counterbalanced by its continued reliance on conventional materials and a lack of transparent data on its carbon emissions and progress toward its stated environmental goals.
If you love L.L.Bean's classic, rugged style but want a brand with stronger, verified commitments to sustainability and transparency, consider these alternatives:
Patagonia is a B Corp known for its high-performance outdoor gear ($80-$500+) and radical environmental activism. A leader in sustainability, it uses 98% recycled materials for its polyester fabrics, is Fair Trade Certified for the vast majority of its products, and offers a lifetime repair program called Worn Wear.
Shop now at patagonia.com
Offering accessible, comfortable outdoor and casual wear ($40-$150), this B Corp is Climate Neutral Certified and plants ten trees for every item purchased. Tentree uses sustainable materials like organic cotton, TENCEL™, and recycled polyester, and ensures ethical production in factories that it visits and audits regularly.
Shop now at tentree.com
Known for its coastal-inspired, versatile apparel ($90-$300), Outerknown is Fair Labor Association accredited and is committed to sourcing over 90% sustainable fibers. They publish a full list of their suppliers and are radically transparent about their manufacturing processes and wages.
Shop now at outerknown.com
Based in the UK, Finisterre is a B Corp that designs functional and sustainable clothing for cold-water surfers and outdoor adventurers ($60-$400). It uses innovative materials like recycled insulation and organic cotton, offers repair services, and is deeply committed to circularity.
Shop now at finisterre.com
Yes, in 2018 L.L.Bean changed its famous lifetime satisfaction guarantee. Due to abuse of the policy, returns are now limited to one year with proof of purchase. However, they continue to stand by their products for defects in materials and craftsmanship and still offer repairs for a reasonable fee to extend the life of their items.
The iconic L.L.Bean Boots are still handmade in Brunswick and Lewiston, Maine. While many of the brand's other products are manufactured overseas, its flagship boots remain a testament to its commitment to American craftsmanship and quality.
While both brands focus on quality, Patagonia is significantly more advanced in sustainability. Patagonia is a B Corp, is Climate Neutral Certified, uses a higher percentage of recycled materials, is more transparent about its entire supply chain, and donates 1% of sales to environmental causes. L.L.Bean is a solid choice for durability, but Patagonia is the clear leader in environmental and ethical standards.
