Kontoor Brands, Inc. (KTB) — ESG & Values Scores

Environment story

Kontoor discloses limited quantitative emissions data; Scope 1, 2, and 3 metrics are not explicitly reported in the 10-K. The company acknowledges climate change risks and sustainability commitments in its Code of Conduct and 2024 Sustainability Progress Report (referenced but not provided). No verified net-zero target year is disclosed in the filing. The company mentions a 'science-based target related to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions' and 'savings in water consumption across supply chain,' but quantitative progress and specific 2035/2045 thresholds are absent. No evidence of large-scale decarbonization infrastructure investments (renewable energy procurement, facility electrification) is detailed. Manufacturing facility closures in Q3 2025 and supply-chain transformation are cited for cost/flexibility reasons, not emissions reduction. The company does not appear to rely heavily on carbon offsets based on available disclosures. Overall, environmental transparency and quantitative commitments are insufficient to support a higher score.

Criticisms on file

Limited Emissions Disclosure: Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions not quantified or reported in 10-K; sustainability metrics referenced but relegated to external report not provided.
Source: KTB_10k.txt, Item 1 (Business), Corporate Sustainability and Social Responsibility section.
No Disclosed Net-Zero Target Year: While company acknowledges climate change as a risk factor and mentions science-based targets, no specific 2030, 2035, 2045, or 2050 net-zero commitment is stated in the 10-K.
Source: KTB_10k.txt, Item 1A (Risk Factors), Item 1 (Business).
Manufacturing Facility Closures Driven by Cost, Not Emissions: Q3 2025 closure of manufacturing facilities cited for 'flexibility, balance costs, improve speed of service' rather than decarbonization.
Source: KTB_10k.txt, ITEM 7 (MD&A), Macroeconomic Environment and Other Recent Developments section.

Disclosed initiatives

Science-Based Emissions Reduction Target

Company references a 'science-based target related to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions' in Item 1 (Business) and Corporate Sustainability section; detailed metrics and timeline not disclosed in 10-K.

Unquantified; specific target year and baseline not provided.
Water Consumption Reduction

Commitment to 'savings in water consumption across supply chain' mentioned in sustainability pillars (People, Product, Planet, Prosperity framework).

Unquantified; no baseline or target metrics disclosed.
Hazardous Chemical Reduction

Goal to reduce 'use or generation of hazardous chemicals in sourcing or manufacturing of products.'

Unquantified; no baseline or progress metrics disclosed.
Preferred Raw Materials Sourcing

Commitment to 'preferred sourcing of raw materials for products' as part of sustainability strategy.

Unquantified; no disclosure of % of materials from preferred sources.

Social story

Kontoor reports approximately 10,600 employees globally as of January 3, 2026, with 4% of international employees covered by trade-sponsored or governmental bargaining arrangements. No CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio is disclosed. Diversity metrics for leadership and workforce are not quantified in the 10-K. The company emphasizes attracting and retaining talent reflecting 'communities and consumers,' fostering 'belonging,' and maintaining health and safety with an 'Occupational Safety and Health Administration recordable incident rate significantly below industry average,' but detailed representation percentages, pay equity data, and turnover rates are absent. No documented union-suppression activities or major strikes within 24 months are mentioned. Supply-chain labor practices are noted as a focus area with 'compliance principles,' but no specific audit findings or remediation of human-rights hazards (e.g., forced labor, child labor, wage violations) are disclosed. The company operates manufacturing in Mexico and sources from ~330 contract facilities across 28 countries, primarily in Asia (Bangladesh leading), creating potential exposure to labor-rights risks; however, the 10-K provides no detailed supply-chain audit results.

Criticisms on file

No Disclosed CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratio: Compensation data for CEO and median employee not reported in 10-K; unable to assess pay equity compliance or excessive CEO pay.
Source: KTB_10k.txt; compensation details not present in Item 1 (Business), ITEM 7 (MD&A) or footnotes provided.
Absence of Workforce Diversity Metrics: Leadership and workforce gender/racial representation not quantified; 'communities and consumers' language used but no % disclosed for women, underrepresented minorities in executive or board roles.
Source: KTB_10k.txt, Item 1 (Business), Human Capital section.
Limited Supply-Chain Labor Audit Disclosure: Company sources from ~330 contract manufacturers across 28 countries, primarily Bangladesh, yet no detailed audit findings, remediation of wage/safety/forced-labor violations, or modern slavery statement are provided in 10-K.
Source: KTB_10k.txt, Item 1 (Business), Global Sourcing Strategy and PRODUCT, MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION-RELATED RISKS sections.
No Turnover Rate Disclosed: Employee retention and turnover metrics not reported; inability to assess talent retention or workforce stability.
Source: KTB_10k.txt; turnover data absent from Human Capital section and financial statements.

Disclosed initiatives

Employer of Choice Strategy

Company states strategic objective to establish itself as 'employer of choice in the industry' with focus on attracting/retaining high-performing talent, career development, and fostering sense of belonging.

Qualitative commitment; no quantified outcomes disclosed.
Health and Safety Policies

Company reports 'Occupational Safety and Health Administration recordable incident rate significantly below industry average' with stated goal of reaching zero injuries. Strong health and safety policies described as exceeding governmental standards.

Above-industry safety performance claimed; specific RIR metrics not disclosed.
Global Compliance Standards for Suppliers

Company states reliance on suppliers sharing its values and adhering to 'highest ethical standards'; compliance principles referenced for third-party suppliers and manufacturers.

Unquantified; no audit data or remediation disclosures provided.

Governance story

Kontoor reports compliance with NYSE corporate governance listing standards and maintains a Board of Directors and management team described as 'highly experienced.' The 10-K does not disclose board independence percentage or dual-class voting structure details, preventing full assessment against the 75% independence threshold and supermajority founder-voting penalty. The company has a Code of Business Conduct and charters for Audit, Talent/Compensation, and Nominating/Governance committees, with the Nominating and Governance Committee regularly reviewing sustainability/ESG strategies. Annual lobbying expenditures are not disclosed in the filing; the company acknowledges trade-policy risks (tariffs) but does not detail active lobbying to weaken climate or consumer-protection regulation. No material antitrust, consumer-safety, or financial-fraud regulatory proceedings are disclosed. The company has experienced significant debt refinancing in 2025 to fund the Helly Hansen acquisition and maintains covenants under the 2025 Credit Agreement. No evidence of shareholder litigation over climate proposals or activist suppression is mentioned. Governance transparency on board composition, lobbying spend, and antitrust/regulatory actions is limited.

Criticisms on file

Board Independence Percentage Not Disclosed: 10-K does not state board independence %, preventing assessment against 75% threshold; cannot confirm compliance with scoring rule.
Source: KTB_10k.txt, Item 1 (Business), Corporate Governance section; no specific independence % provided.
Dual-Class Share Structure Not Clarified: No explicit statement confirming or denying dual-class voting rights; inability to assess founder supermajority voting penalty.
Source: KTB_10k.txt; share structure details absent from Item 1 (Business) and governance sections.
Lobbying Expenditure Not Disclosed: Annual lobbying spend not reported in 10-K; company acknowledges trade-policy risks and uncertainty regarding tariff negotiations but does not detail active lobbying to weaken climate/consumer-protection regulation.
Source: KTB_10k.txt, RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, Changes to trade policy section; no lobbying spend or trade-association climate-alignment data provided.
Anti-Takeover Provisions Referenced but Not Detailed: 10-K mentions 'anti-takeover provisions in organizational documents' as a risk factor but provides no specifics on rights plans, classified boards, or supermajority voting requirements.
Source: KTB_10k.txt, Item 1A (Risk Factors) section.

Disclosed initiatives

Corporate Governance Framework

Company maintains Corporate Governance Principles, Code of Business Conduct, and charters for Audit Committee, Talent and Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Governance Committee; available on corporate website and upon shareholder request.

Establishes governance structure; specific independence %, policies on executive compensation, and anti-takeover provisions not detailed in 10-K.
Board Oversight of Sustainability and ESG

Nominating and Governance Committee regularly reviews and evaluates progress of sustainability, social, and governance strategies; Board of Directors promotes responsible corporate citizenship and oversees compliance with Kontoor standards.

Formalizes ESG governance; specific metrics, reporting cadence, and enforcement mechanisms not disclosed.
Executive Compensation Governance

Talent and Compensation Committee charter exists and governs compensation policies; company states management team has 'unwavering commitment to employees, shareholders and business.'

Committee structure in place; specific pay-for-performance metrics, clawback provisions, and CEO pay alignment not detailed in 10-K.

These are Missionomics' own editorial scores — directional signals built from disclosed facts under a published method, not certifications or definitive ratings of Kontoor Brands, Inc.. Coverage and confidence vary by data point, and figures can lag real-world changes. Read the full Methodology for sourcing, scoring, and correction details — or open Kontoor Brands, Inc. in the app for interactive charts and portfolio building.

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