Explore Farm Rio in 06820
By Natalie Tallis & Julia Smith
This page will tell you where to find Farm Rio clothing in the 06820 area and provide a look at their sustainability efforts.
Discovering Farm Rio in and around 06820
- Darien Sport Shop, 1127 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820
Farm Rio within ten miles of 06820
- Bloomingdales The SoNo Collection, 100 North Water St, Norwalk, CT 06854 (3 miles)
- Nordstrom The SoNo Collection, 100 North Water St, Norwalk, CT 06854 (3 miles)
What they sell:
Farm Rio is known for its vibrant, tropical designs with bold colors and artistic prints.
Overview
What we like about Farm Rio’s Sustainability Efforts
- 98% of their supply chain in Brazil has been certified by ABVTEX.
- Goal to be a zero-landfill waste company by 2030.
- Prioritize balancing growth with protecting the environment.
- Investing in sustainable practices like reuse, recycling, reducing emissions, and regenerating ecosystems.
It is hard to gauge how sustainable FARM Rio is because so much of its reporting and analysis depends on its parent company, Grupo SOMA. Grupo SOMA also maintains separate reporting on the brand’s performance in its Brazilian vs. Global supply chain.
B-Corp Certification Status
The landing page for FARM Rio’s sustainability efforts offers the headline: “We’re B Corp Certified!” While Farm Rio is not officially B Corp certified, its parent company Grupo SOMA does hold the certification. “We’re proud to share that FARM Rio is now a Certified B Company with a score of 85.1 points as part of Brazil’s largest fashion retail group- Grupo SOMA.”- FARM Rio Website. When we wrote and inquired if Farm Rio would pursue an independent certification, we were told that since 2022, the brand has “met the criteria and standards for B Corp Certification.” However, they are waiting until the entire SOMA Group qualifies for the certification before formally applying for the credential. This seems like an odd decision for the company, and there is no way to verify the claims about Farm Rio that are independent of their parent company.
Sustainability Goals
Farm Rio recently posted its 2023 sustainability Report, the fourth report they have created and made available publicly. The 2022 Sustainability Report is also available to compare the brand’s previous environmental and social efforts. The lag in posting these reports is expected due to the time it takes to collect and analyze data.
Clean Dye Initiatives
FARM Rio says it conducts chemical and biological testing to ensure materials meet environmental standards and restrict the use of harmful substances like PFAS. In its denim line, the brand has adopted sustainable practices to reduce water and energy usage and uses Green Screen-certified chemicals that comply with ZDHC guidelines.
Customer Education
The brand says it is educating its team and customers about post-consumption care to extend the life of its products and reduce water and energy consumption while washing and ironing.
Growth vs Sustainability
The company discusses planting trees, offsetting carbon, and using some responsible raw materials. Yet, these efforts are overshadowed by its exponential growth rate, which directly opposes any sustainability initiatives it implements. Farm Rio co-founder Katia Barros gave an interview to the UK Fashion Network in July 2024. When asked about the brand’s 2023 sales growth forecast, she responded, “ From 2019 to 2023, our company has undergone significant sales growth, achieving a remarkable increase of 102%. Specifically, in 2023 alone, we saw a notable 20% increase in sales, reaching $117 million compared to $95 million in 2022. This growth underscores our consistent upward trajectory and reflects the effectiveness of our strategies in capturing market opportunities and meeting customer demand.” We were concerned, so we contacted FARM Rio and asked how they balance their exponential growth with circularity and sustainability initiatives. They told us: “At FARM Rio, we balance growth and sustainability by embedding circularity into everything we do. It is one of our four core pillars in Brazil and globally. We continually invest in sustainable practices like reuse, recycling, reducing emissions, and regenerating ecosystems. From producing lower-impact products to utilizing surplus fabric and upcycling defective items, we remain committed to minimizing waste. Our goal is to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2030, all while collaborating with partners who share our sustainability vision
