Protecting Public Lands: How VF Supports the Places We All Share

Public lands - from local parks and trails to national forests and protected landscapes - are where people move, explore, connect and recharge. They're also vital ecosystems that require ongoing stewardship, investment and effective policy to remain healthy and accessible for generations to come.

In honor of Earth Day, we're highlighting how VF takes a holistic approach to support public lands through our brands, The VF Foundation, and VF-wide action - including sustainability, government affairs and employee volunteering.

VF Corporation: Sustainability, Advocacy & Volunteering

VF's commitment to environmental stewardship includes enterprise-wide, science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Because much of our footprint comes from materials sourcing, we are working to transition key materials toward regenerative, responsibly sourced renewable and recycled sources. Regenerative agriculture practices in particular aim to promote the use of a variety of environmentally preferable practices which can create healthier soil and enhance biodiversity. Last year, VF completed a land footprint assessment with Conservation International, helping set the foundation for a deeper nature strategy.

VF also supports public lands through proactive policy engagement globally. At the federal level, VF -together with Altra®-joined the Outdoor Industry Association on Capitol Hill to promote the protection of millions of acres of public lands. Just this month, The North Face®, Smartwool® and Altra®signedan industry statement spearheaded by The Conservation Alliance to express support to safeguard the future of the Forest Service lands. This year we will continue to advocate for the reauthorization of the Legacy Restoration Fund that expires in September.

At the state level, VF supported efforts such as AB 2578 to create a California Office of Outdoor Recreation, alongside support from The North Face®, Smartwool®, Altra® and Timberland®. Internationally, last October, The North Face®, Smartwool®, and icebreaker® worked with the European Outdoor Conservation Association and Campaign for National Parks to engage UK policymakers to help elevate industry concerns about proposed changes to national park protections; the proposals were ultimately dropped.

Finally, what started nearly 30 years ago with Timberland® has become a VF-wide movement to give back together through volunteerism. Many VF service events focus on protecting and improving public lands, including VF's first annual service trip last summer in North Carolina, where associates helped restore trails and waterways damaged by Hurricane Helene. This Earth Day, associates will volunteer with projects to give back and make a positive impact in communities across the globe.

Brands: Taking Action Where Our Consumers Play

Across VF, our brands bring public lands support to life through partnerships, programs and community engagement.

The North Face® is addressing the growing "nature gap" - the lack of time in and access to nature and its impact on youth - through its global Power of Nature initiative. In partnership with the VF Foundation, The North Face® launched the initiative with a $1 million investment to the National Park Foundation, supporting programming designed to help 300,000 youth and families experience national parks during the 2025-2026 school year.

Smartwool® supports public lands and climate solutions through longstanding partnerships with The Conservation Alliance and Protect Our Winters (POW), and - along with Altra®and The North Face® - has signed on to The Conservation Alliance's Brands for Public Lands Coalition. Altra® and the VF Foundation also partner with Trust for Public Land to support the National Trail Activation Fund, helping advance early-stage trail development. Timberland® continues its tradition of volunteerism, including Earth Day events with Partnerships for Parks NYC at Nostrand Playground in Brooklyn, New York and helping to restore trails and natural habitats with the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, New Hampshire.

The VF Foundation: Access & Stewardship

The VF Foundation advances its Thriving Outside and Protecting Our Planet priorities by investing in partnerships that expand outdoor access and strengthen stewardship - from local projects to national collaboration. Through partners including Trust for Public Land, the National Park Foundation, the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, the Outdoor Foundation, The Summit Foundation, Seacoast Science Center and POW, The VF Foundation has helped unlock close to home access to parks and trails for more than 1.5 million children and families to support both the places where people connect with nature and the systems that sustain outdoor access and preservation.

Public lands are more than places to recreate; they are essential to our health, our communities, and the future of the planet. By supporting policies that protect public lands, forging partnerships with leading organizations, and engaging associates to volunteer, we will continue to safeguard these critical spaces.