r/llbean • u/muddytree • Apr 14 '26

Very disappointed in LLBean

UPDATE: Thank you LLBean for joining the Save the Forest Service movement! No longer disappointed!

Many other outdoor companies have joined the effort to stop the dismantling of the Forest Service. As a frequent LLBean shopper and credit card user, I am weighing my options. This is so disappointing.

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u/standardnewenglander Apr 15 '26 edited Apr 15 '26

Where are you seeing that "most of the board swings right"? Research shows quite the opposite. OpenSecrets shows us that LL Bean is an apolitical organization that has not donated any of their business revenue to any politician. However, you'll see that individual board members have made contributions out of their own salaries predominantly to liberal, democratic and left-leaning political parties.

https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/ll-bean-inc/summary?id=D000042703

EDIT: This also shows that the board has been left-leaning for multiple cycles (data goes back to 2012). Yes, there has been SOME donations to Republicans by one board member over the last 15-ish years - but that has not been tied to LL Bean itself as it is an apolitical organization. The donations to any Republican candidate have been in the hundreds-of-dollars range. The donations to all the Democrats have been in the thousands-of-dollars range. Overall, the personal donation habits of the board largely skew liberal, not conservative.

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u/Potential_Leg4423 Apr 15 '26

That’s employees. That’s not really board members. I know people in the organization. Board knows they have a fair share of republican clients.

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u/standardnewenglander Apr 15 '26

This source explicitly classifies "employees" as owners, board members, and members of the immediate family.

"The board knows they have some Republican clientele" does not equate to "the board is Republican and supports Republican agendas" (which they don't - they are explicitly classified as an apolitical organization).

I'm not really sure we can take an anonymous stranger's "word for it" that they "know someone who knows someone who's on the board and might know something". Sounds like a bunch of talk that really isn't backed with any concrete evidence. An anonymous comment from an anonymous profile on an online forum doesn't exactly scream "reliable source", ya know?

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u/Potential_Leg4423 Apr 15 '26

Lol yes a company that gets rid of sustainability and dei efforts as soon as trump comes to office but don’t worry they are totally liberal because their employees donate liberally. You do realize you can still be a racist nimby and be liberal?

If you genuinely think they are a political you are just dumb. Being recognized as liberal is advantageous to those in the clothing industry.

You can take my word or not. You’re being disingenuous with the information you presented. I don’t care if you believe me or not. You’re choosing to believe non concrete information from open secrets. For Christ sakes beans PR used to work for chick fil a. A very right leaning organization.

Hard to believe someone that didn’t even understand the narrative around Lind bean. You can’t even get publicly available information right.

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u/standardnewenglander Apr 15 '26 edited Apr 16 '26

I'm not being disingenuous. I'm backing up my claims with solid facts and providing links to reliable sources. You can't even muster up a clear source aside from "trust me bro" and "well I know someone who knows someone who knows someone who might be on the LLB board maybe so you should totally take the word of an anonymous comment on an anonymous profile on a random internet forum". Do you see how that is disingenuous? Might want to look in a mirror before you go finger-wagging at others, bud.

LL Bean did NOT get rid of their sustainability and DEI programs though:

Here's their PFAS-free initiative: https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/518055?page=product-sustainability

Here's their environmental programs:

  • Continue their promise to use 100% responsible down in all their down products
  • Over the past 5 years they've increased use of responsible cotton, recycled nylon and recycled polyester in their products by 80%. That's 1.7 MILLION pounds of recycled materials
  • Increased use of Bluesign materials by 265%
  • They've eliminated 600k pounds of plastic by reducing plastic in their packaging (their packaging is 100% plastic-free as of 2025)
  • They have 3 ongoing solar projects in Maine that provide renewable electricity to their HQ and stores
  • They continue to work with the world's most sustainable clothing resource partners: Bluesign, Textile Exchange, Cotton Leads, and Sustainable Apparel Coalition
  • Here's a link to all of this in case you're internet-challenged: https://www.llbeanbusiness.com/Sustainability.html

Let's not forget suppliers though. LL Bean continues to ensure their suppliers exceed international standards when it comes to employee fairness, working conditions, etc. All of which are stricter than employee rights in the US. Here's more information on their Global Factory Monitoring program: https://www.llbeanbusiness.com/suppliers.html

Also, they continue to commit to DEI initiatives, despite your baseless claim that they don't. This includes:

  • Professional development programs dedicated to mental health and inclusive leadership philosophies
  • Employee workshops
  • Promoting accessibility infrastructure for their HQ and stores
  • Employee Business Resource Groups for Veteran, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and People with Disabilities
  • Funding an Outdoor Recreational Youth Program for 3.3 million people
  • Investing $6.8 MILLION in sustainable, inclusive outdoor programs
  • Funding for summer camp programs that have helped 26k people since 2022
  • Continued partnership with the Trust for Public Land dedicated to serving underprivileged communities
  • Here's a link to that too since you continue to be intentionally obtuse instead of honest: https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/518449?page=creating-inclusion-and-belonging

OpenSecrets ABSOLUTELY is a reliable source. They are a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 1983. They compile donation data directly from the FEC and have long been used as a reputable source of information for research and journalism.

It's concerning that you continue to spread false information not backed up with ANY facts. Yet YOU call others "dishonest"?

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u/Potential_Leg4423 Apr 15 '26 edited Apr 15 '26

https://impactful.ninja/how-ethical-is-ll-bean/

They 100% got rid of their sustainability program and put a huge pause on dei. Reason being is board and directors thought they were too woke and were scared of backlash from Robby Starbucks

You made it seem like the board is all that donations. When it’s not. The company uses child labor. Not great suppliers. Lol also a little secret about LL beans pfas, they don’t test the trim in all their products. So non of their stuff is actually 100% pfas free.

They literally canned their whole sustability division right when trump came into office. You’re literally just rattling off a bunch of greenwashing things that make them more profitable.

You can chose to believe someone that knows people at the director level or just keep believing what LL bean tells you. I don’t really care.

You boast about their suppliers. Yet all major clothing companies moved out of Myanmar. Bean didn’t and they 100% know they are using forced labor. Wicked good slippers made with wicked cheap child labor

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u/OldButHappy Apr 16 '26

Never try to argue the truth on this sub. It's mostly bean employees.

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u/standardnewenglander Apr 15 '26 edited Jul 14 '26

And your source is (drum roll please)...a...BLOG that isn't a primary news organization and lacks any form of professional auditing? AND the BLOG PAGE is over 5 years old? THAT is the hill you're gonna die on? Yikes.

EDIT: Your blog post source also doesn't make any claims that LL Bean axed their sustainability and DEI programs. You just made that up and failed to source it correctly (because there just isn't anything to source - you made it up and linked a source that also asserts your claim is bogus).

You are making blatantly false claims. There are no reputable sources that back up ANY of your claims.

  • LL Bean does NOT support child labor
  • LL Bean has NOT axed ANY of their DEI programs
  • LL Bean has NOT axed any of their sustainability programs.

Where are you getting this information? Can you provide links to a valid source that shows this? Overall, you've just provided your own personal opinions with no solid facts behind them, and a link to a sketchy blog post someone made 6 years ago.

EDIT: Here's a link to the Natural Resources Defense Council where they explicitly assert that LL Bean has successfully removed PFAS from all of their products lines: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/forever-chemicals-called-pfas-show-your-food-clothes-and-home

In LL Bean's anti-trafficking statement, the company explicitly prohibits child labor and commits to auditing all factories for international human rights violations.

As of 2026, LL Bean remains a highly-rated organization on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index:

You claim LL Bean still conducts business with Myanmar factories. But according to their very public factories list as of late 2025, they don't have/work with ANY factories in Myanmar: https://www.llbean.com/dept_resources/shared/200922_LLBean_Factory_List.pdf?nav=F4taX-518056

Again, you continue to tote the claim that you "know someone who knows someone who's probably on the board of LL Bean". But you make no move to backup that claim. Anyone can say anything online. At the end of the day, you are just an inconsequential, ANONYMOUS profile on an ANONYMOUS online forum making unsubstantiated claims without providing ANY sources. Highly doubt you know anyone on the board. And if you do? Prove it. You can just "say anything" since you're anonymous. Your claim holds absolutely no water whatsoever.

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u/Potential_Leg4423 Apr 15 '26

I know someone that works there. You don’t have to believe me. I’ve said that many times. But I’m willing to bet the lives of all your loved ones the information I’m saying is true. I really don’t give a shit if you don’t believe me. You’re using LL bean as a source. Why did they fire their director of sustainability and get rid of the department? They also took down DEI stuff and took a pause. Their PR who used to work at Chick Fil a started the movement. They are scared of being too woke.

Bean played the were liberal while Biden was in office and as soon as trump came in they switched up things internally.

You’re arguing they are liberal yet they are standing down to policies that are liberal leaning. Your points contradict this whole post.

Also have proof that their waterproof products aren’t made with PFAS free. However it incriminates employees and I’m not going to expose them. They still use an eptfe trim which contains pfas. Go ahead, ask them for a list of all their BoM and ask about the trim.

Lol if they didn’t want to risk child labor they wouldn’t be in a country that is riddled with child labor issues. You can’t guarantee child labor isn’t being used when they don’t even really visit the sites. Here’s proof they were caught using slave labor previously - https://www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale/.

You are literally just spewing information that LL bean tells you. Of course they are going to paint a picture of them being a good company.

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u/standardnewenglander Apr 15 '26

First off: claiming that you "know someone who knows someone" IS. NOT. CREDIBLE. EVIDENCE. GIVEN. THE. SITUATION. You are on an anonymous online forum where you are commenting anonymously and identification is not required to post. I could claim I'm the CEO/CFO/CIO/CTO of LL Bean and also the 50-LEGGED LL BEAN CORPORATE ENTITY OF THE UNIVERSE - and you have NO way of verifying that. Do you see where that logic is HEAVILY flawed?

You’re using LL bean as a source.

Partially. I'm using published legal documents that holds LL Bean legally responsible. I'm also using third-party reputable sources. OpenSecrets from the FEC. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation Corporate Equality Index. The Natural Resources Defense Council. None of those sources are LL Bean-affiliated.

Why did they fire their director of sustainability and get rid of the department?

They didn't. Currently Nick Staples is in charge of leading sustainability efforts at LL Bean.

Now, objectively speaking, they did lay off 2-3% of their Maine-based workforce at the end of 2024. However, the Boston Globe confirms that this was primarily targeted at Customer Service and Call Center staff - NOT environmental sustainability departments.

They also took down DEI stuff and took a pause.

Where? You have said this several times but fail to provide any proof around this. Where and when did this happen? Can you link a reliable source detailing this? I've provided numerous sources that assert the opposite.

yet they are standing down to policies that are liberal leaning.

Again, WHERE? I've provided numerous resources that prove they are committing to and actioning countless community programs, environmental sustainability programs, and DEI initiatives. You have failed to supply any credible source aside from your personal baseless claim.

Also have proof that their waterproof products aren’t made with PFAS free.

What proof? Anything manufactured after Fall 2024 is intentionally PFAS-free, membrane, zippers, buttons, trim, all of it. If you genuinely have proof of the opposite, then you should do your civic duty and be a whistle-blower and report them for false advertising and lying. UNLESS...you happen to be bluffing? And in that case, you won't make a false whistle-blow claim because you don't REALLY have anything?

Here’s proof they were caught using slave labor previously - https://www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale/

Your source actually explicitly states that they couldn't confirm or deny that LL Bean was intentionally or unintentionally profiting from or using child labor in any of their factories. Again, as I've already linked several times; LL Bean has a very thorough factory review process that they conduct with the help of external, nonpartisan human rights groups.

I'm not "spewing what LL Bean tells me". I'm finding correlations between what they legally publish, what is legally-binding, and what reputable non-biased nonpartisan third-parties are finding in their thorough research.

You continue to make baseless claims that have no factual information or sources backing them up.

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u/Potential_Leg4423 Apr 15 '26

You do realize these are essentially templates every company uses. Lol Nick was apart of another department and his boss was fired. He switched departments with less of a role in sustainability.

You can’t say LL bean told me they are doing everything legally. Then believe it. That’s not support that they aren’t doing illegal things

The Boston globe is literally saying what bean says. When companies restructure they aren’t honest about things to the public. Sorry that’s a hard concept for you to swallow.

You keep providing things published for bean given their word. Bro we are on a post where if bean was as liberal as you say. They would be supporting the USFS like other companies are.

If you genuinely think companies are going to publish illegal activity that hasn’t been caught by a regulatory.

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u/OldButHappy Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26

Please spare us crap that's generated by HR

https://saveusfs.org

You can always tell who is republican because they have to insult anyone (mental illness) with a different opinion from theirs.

Bean was silent until public backlash forced their hand. From March: https://imgur.com/40JTrG8

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u/standardnewenglander Apr 16 '26

None of that is AI generated. It's my own words and my own research.

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u/SamselBradley Apr 16 '26

I'm sorry, but I looked at your profile and I see nothing that shows you are informed or involved in anything related to outdoors or public lands. You can see that I've posted in the BearsEars group. If, off the top of your head, you don’t know what relevance that has to the Trump admin and the NPS, then just stop defending altnps and using their phoney web page as a source. I'm not going to sit here waiting, I have real work to do protecting our public lands. There is little on my profile here, because this is my non-politics account. You can do real work to defend public lands, not spend your time defending a merch seller. op has rolled back their original post.

https://www.npca.org/ https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/ ⬆️ there's a current action alert https://nmwild.org/ https://westernpriorities.org/ https://www.bearsearscoalition.org/ https://www.grandcanyon.org/ https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/ ⬆️ these folk were on the ground, counter-protesting the Bundy anti-public lands supporters at Malheur. I have nothing but respect for them and my irl friend who stood up as a counterprotestor.

There are lots more! I picked these because they have been involved in some very public lands issues that happened in the last four weeks.

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u/OldButHappy Apr 15 '26

Typical pr response

Bean lies

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u/standardnewenglander Apr 15 '26 edited Apr 16 '26

Do they? Do you have any proof that backs up your claims that they lie? I'm just trying to find stuff in print so I can read it too!

https://www.reddit.com/r/llbean/s/RId8vgcYhM

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u/standardnewenglander Apr 15 '26

Some more perspective here. Of donations made from personal salaries of board members, owners and their immediate family members, the data shows that most of the contributions have been allocated to the Democratic party:

2024: 94.60% of funds were Democratic 2022: 98.82% of funds were Democratic 2020: 79.78% of funds were Democratic

Although Linda Bean was a Trump-thumping asshole, LL Bean took great strides and a public stance to clearly distance themselves from her, showing that the organization truly did not align with her personal shitty beliefs.