New Balance Sustainability - SustainabilityTracker.com

Sustainability Summary

Good On You - It's a start
Ethical Consumer - This information is locked, visit Ethical Consumer's website
B Corp - Not found
Trustpilot - 1.4/5 (1,523 reviews)
This is an unclaimed profile. New Balance has not joined Sustainability Tracker to verify their sustainability credentials. We gathered what we could from public sources.

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New Balance shows a mixed sustainability picture. Independent ratings say it has started to act on climate, materials, worker rights, and animal welfare, but it is not seen as a leader. Good On You rates it “It’s a start,” pointing to some lower-impact materials, a science-based emissions target, and some worker protections, while also noting gaps in transparency and biodiversity action. Public review sites are much more focused on product and service complaints than sustainability, so there is limited outside evidence of strong consumer trust on ESG issues. Overall, the brand appears to have some policies and programs in place, but there is still a lot it does not publicly explain in detail.

Positive Sentiment Found
Positive public sentiment on sustainability is limited, but there are some clear signals. Good On You rates New Balance “It’s a start” overall, which means the brand has some policies and actions in place across planet, people, and animals, but still leaves major gaps. The rating notes that more than half of the final production stage is certified by the Fair Labor Association (FLA, a group that checks labour standards), that the brand has a code of conduct based on ILO principles, and that it uses some lower-impact and recycled materials. It also says New Balance has a science-based emissions target and trains designers on circularity. These are all signs of some structured ESG work, even if the brand is not seen as a leader.

Common Criticisms:
The strongest outside feedback is negative, especially on Trustpilot. New Balance’s UK Trustpilot page shows a 1.4 out of 5 rating from 1,523 reviews, and the Australian page shows 2.2 out of 5 from 8 reviews. The snippets point to complaints about product quality, including soles cracking and stitching coming apart, along with customer service issues. On the sustainability side, Good On You says the brand is only “It’s a start,” not a leader, and notes several gaps: it does not publish a full breakdown of materials, it is not on track for its science-based emissions target, and there is no evidence of action to protect biodiversity in its supply chain. That means the public record shows some progress, but also weak transparency and unfinished work.

About New Balance

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Unverified

Website
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Industry
Apparel & Fashion

New Balance Sustainability Actions

Uses some lower-impact materials

New Balance says it uses some lower-impact materials, including recycled materials, in its products. Good On You notes that the brand does not publish a full breakdown of the materials it uses, so outsiders cannot see how much of its range uses these inputs. This means there is some progress, but the public picture is still incomplete.

Set an emissions target

The brand has set a science-based target (a climate goal based on what scientists say is needed) to cut greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and its supply chain. Good On You says the company also states that it is not on track to meet that target. That suggests the goal exists, but delivery is still a problem.

Trains designers on circularity

New Balance trains its designers to improve circularity, which means making products and systems that keep materials in use for longer and reduce waste. This is a practical step because design choices affect how easy a product is to repair, reuse, or recycle later. The available information does not show how far this training has changed the full product range.

Uses FLA-certified production

Good On You says more than half of New Balance’s final production stage is certified by the Fair Labor Association (FLA), a group that checks labour standards in supply chains. It also says the brand has a code of conduct based on International Labour Organization (ILO) principles. These steps suggest some worker protections are in place in the last stage of making products.

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Supports supplier finances

The brand has initiatives that help give suppliers more financial security. Good On You says this can support better working conditions for workers, because suppliers under less pressure may be less likely to cut corners on pay or safety. The source does not give full details on how these initiatives work across the whole supply chain.

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See All (6)

New Balance Sustainability Commitments

2030

Science-based emissions target

New Balance has a science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its own operations and supply chain. A science-based target is a climate goal set in line with what climate science says is needed. The public material says the company is not currently on track, so the target exists but still needs stronger action to be met.

New Balance Partnerships

Suppliers

Repreve

Frequently Asked Questions

Has New Balance published a sustainability report?

Confidence: Low. As of October 2026, New Balance has not publicly disclosed a sustainability report in the material provided here. The available third-party sources focus on ratings and review snippets rather than a full company report. Good On You does assess the brand using public information, but that is not the same as a standalone sustainability report. Consumers who want a fuller picture can check New Balance’s own sustainability pages and ask for the latest report directly from the company.. Sources: Good On You, New Balance Australia - https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/new-balance, https://www.newbalance.com.au/

What is New Balance's sustainability rating?

Confidence: High. As of October 2026, Good On You rates New Balance “It’s a start.” Good On You scores brands on planet, people, and animals using public information, with 1 meaning “We avoid” and 5 meaning “Great.” In the material provided, New Balance is described as having some lower-impact materials, a science-based emissions target, and some worker protections, but also major gaps in transparency and progress. That is why the overall rating stays in the middle rather than at the top.. Sources: Good On You, Good On You article - https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/new-balance, https://goodonyou.eco/how-ethical-is-new-balance/

What sustainability certifications does New Balance have?

Confidence: Moderate. As of October 2026, the material shows that more than half of New Balance’s final production stage is certified by the Fair Labor Association (FLA), which checks labour standards in supply chains. Good On You also says the brand’s Code of Conduct covers International Labour Organization (ILO) principles. However, no B Corp certification is shown here, and the material does not list a full set of product certifications such as GOTS or ISO 14001. Consumers wanting a full certification list should check the brand’s own disclosures.. Sources: Good On You, B Lab - https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/new-balance, https://www.bcorporation.net/

What is New Balance's carbon footprint?

Confidence: Low. As of October 2026, New Balance has not publicly disclosed a full carbon footprint in the material provided here. Good On You says the brand has a science-based target to cut greenhouse gas emissions in its own operations and supply chain, but it also says the company is not on track to meet it. That gives a sense of direction, not a full emissions total. Consumers who want exact numbers should look for the brand’s latest climate or sustainability disclosure.. Sources: Good On You - https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/new-balance

Is New Balance's packaging sustainable?

Confidence: Low. As of October 2026, the material provided here does not give enough public detail to confirm that New Balance’s packaging is sustainable. The third-party sources mention recycled materials, circularity training, and broader supply chain work, but they do not describe packaging in a clear, product-by-product way. That means there is no strong independent evidence here to judge the packaging claim. Consumers can check the brand’s own product pages or contact customer service for packaging details.. Sources: Good On You, New Balance Australia - https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/new-balance, https://www.newbalance.com.au/

Is New Balance ethical in its supply chain and labour practices?

Confidence: Moderate. As of October 2026, the public evidence suggests New Balance has some labour policies, but the picture is incomplete. Good On You says more than half of the final production stage is certified by the Fair Labor Association, and that the brand’s Code of Conduct covers ILO principles. It also says the company has initiatives that support supplier finances and disclosed worker-protection policies during Covid-19. At the same time, the brand is not rated highly overall, so the available evidence points to partial progress rather than a fully verified ethical supply chain.. Sources: Good On You - https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/new-balance

What is New Balance doing about sustainability?

Confidence: High. As of October 2026, New Balance appears to be working on several sustainability areas at once. Good On You says it uses some recycled and other lower-impact materials, has a science-based emissions target, trains designers on circularity, and has some worker protections in place through FLA-certified production and a code of conduct based on ILO principles. It also notes gaps, including weak transparency and no clear evidence of biodiversity action. So the brand is doing some things, but the public record still shows unfinished work.. Sources: Good On You, Good On You article - https://directory.goodonyou.eco/brand/new-balance, https://goodonyou.eco/how-ethical-is-new-balance/

New Balance Sustainability Profile

Sustainability Summary

About New Balance