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Boardriders

OVERALL

Owned
USA
Rating
Criticisms

Surfwear and youth clothing

Established in Torquay, Australia in 1970, but now based in the USA. In 2015 the American arm filed for bankruptcy, while Oaktree Capital took control of the company as part of a US$175 million refinancing. In Mar 2017 the company was renamed Boardriders Inc (formerly Quiksilver Inc), and in Jan 2018 announced it would acquire struggling Australian surfwear giant Billabong for $200m.

Company Ownership

Boardriders Inc   USA     website      facebook   twitter
  Oaktree Capital Management LP   
   owns 100% of Boardriders Inc  
USA     website   email   facebook   twitter

Asset management

Formed in 1995. Today they have offices in 17 cities in 12 countries. Three quarters of their investments are in North America. Investments include surfwear giants Quiksilver and Billabong.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Boardriders Inc
Social 5/100 in 2022 Ethical Fashion Report
Baptist World Aid Australia's '2022 Ethical Fashion Report' assessed 120 companies on their efforts to mitigate against the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation in their supply chains, as well as protect the environment from the harmful impacts of the fashion industry. Assessment criteria fall into five main categories: policy & governance, tracing & risk, auditing and supplier relationships, worker empowerment and environmental sustainability. This company received a score of 5/100.
Source: Baptist World Aid Australia (2022)
Business Ethics 7/100 in Fashion Transparency Index
The 2022 Fashion Transparency Index reviewed 250 of the world's largest fashion brands and retailers and ranked them according to how much they disclose about their human rights and environmental policies, practices and impacts. Brands owned by this company scored 7%, signifying it has little to no information about their supply chain practices or policies available to the public. The average score was 24% and the highest score was 78%.
Source: Fashion Revolution (2022)
Social No COVID Fashion Commitments
In 2020 Baptist World Aid Australia released The COVID Fashion Report, a special edition of their Ethical Fashion Report. The report is framed around six COVID Fashion Commitments that ask companies to demonstrate the steps and measures they are taking to protect and support the most vulnerable workers in their supply chains. This company showed no evidence of actions that it covered any of the COVID Fashion Commitments.
Source: Baptist World Aid Australia (2020)
Social Sweatshops in China
This 2007 investigative report by China Labour Watch reveals poor work conditions for Chinese workers making products for this company, such as workers being required to work nine hours per day as regular hours in addition to five to six hours of mandatory overtime during peak season which accumulates to 14 work hours per day, about 420 hours per month. [Listed under information due to age of report]
Source: China Labor Watch (2007)
Social Worker exploitation in India
Maid in India', a 2012 report by two Dutch NGOs (SOMO and ICN) revealed how workers in the South Indian garment and textile industry continue to suffer exploitative working conditions while making garments for Western brands. While some recent improvements have been made, thousands of girls work under recruitment and employment schemes that amount to bonded labour. This company was shown to be sourcing from one or more of the four garment manufacturers investigated, and failed to respond to a review request. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: SOMO (2012)
Animals Angora ban
This company has taken angora items off the shelves and promised not to use angora again, following a PETA campaign launched in Dec 2013 which revealed the cruelty inflicted on angora rabbits in Chinese factory farms, where 90% of the world's angora is produced.
Source: PETA (2018)
Business Ethics Quiksilver Foundation
The Quiksilver Foundation was formed in 2004 to bring all of Quiksilver's charitable giving under one umbrella. It is a non-profit organization committed to benefiting and enhancing the quality of life for communities of boardriders across the world by supporting environmental, educational, health and youth-related projects.
Source: company website (2012)
Business Ethics CanopyStyle member
This company is a member of the CanopyStyle initiative, which came about when research found that millions of trees are used every year to produce dissolving pulp, a key ingredient for fabrics such as rayon/viscose. The campaign seeks to phase out the use of endangered forest fibre in fabric.
Source: Canopy (2018)
Social Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: company website (2017)
Business Ethics OpenSecrets.org profile
OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
Source: Open Secrets (2020)
Oaktree Capital Management LP
Business Ethics Involvement in gambling
This company has an investment in Cannery Casino Resorts, which owns two casinos in Las Vegas and one in Pennsylvania.
Source: company website (2017)
Environment Unconventional oil & gas operations
This company has an investment in EXCO Resources, an unconventional oil and natural gas exploration, exploitation, development and production company, with a focus on shale resource plays. Operates mainly in Texas, Louisiana, and Appalachia.
Source: company website (2017)
Business Ethics Socially responsible investing claims
Foolow the link to see this company's policy on socially responsible investing.
Source: company website (2017)
Business Ethics UN Principles for Responsible Investment signatory
UNPRI is a set of six principles direct institutional investors may adopt to consider environmental, social and corporate governance issues when investing. UNPRI is a voluntary agreement.
Source: UNPRI (2020)
Social Involvement with Israel
This company is recommended for divestment by the Project of the American Friends Service Committee for its involvement in the Israeli occupation of parts of Palestine. Oaktree bought Veolia's operations in Israel, including a dump site in the occupied West Bank and a wastewater facility that serves illegal settlements.
Source: AFSC (2021)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Private company
Revenue 1.8 billion USD (2013)
Employees 1,069 (2013)
Subsidiaries Billabong International Ltd 

Surfwear

Founded on Australia's Gold Coast in 1973. After years of struggling financially, Billabong was acquired for $380m by the US company that owns Quiksilver


  - GSM (Operations) Pty Ltd 

Clothing

GSM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Billabong International Ltd. It is the Group Operating Centre and Headquarters. It owns the majority of Billabongs trademarks.


Quiksilver Australia Pty Ltd 

Youth clothing

Quiksilver was established in Torquay, Australia in 1970. Now based in USA.

Contact Details

Address Huntington Beach, California, USA
Website www.boardriders.com

Products / Brands

Boardriders
Billabong Snow/Skate/Surfwear
Billabong Swimwear
Billabong Thongs/Sandals
DC Snow/Skate/Surfwear
DC Skate Shoes
Element Snow/Skate/Surfwear
Element Skate Shoes
Kustom Skate Shoes
Kustom Thongs/Sandals
Quiksilver Menswear (casual)
Quiksilver Snow/Skate/Surfwear
Quiksilver Swimwear
Quiksilver Thongs/Sandals
Roxy Snow/Skate/Surfwear
Roxy Swimwear
RVCA Snow/Skate/Surfwear
Xcel Snow/Skate/Surfwear


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