Guide to Sustainable Outdoor Brands
The outdoor industry has a paradox: we buy gear to enjoy nature, but manufacturing that gear impacts the environment. Increasingly, brands are addressing this tension through sustainable materials, ethical manufacturing, repair programs, and reduced environmental footprints. Here's how to evaluate brands and find ones that align with your values.
How to Evaluate Sustainability
Key Certifications to Look For
B Corporation (B Corp): Meets rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Companies must recertify every three years.
bluesign: Ensures textiles are produced with the safest possible chemicals and lowest resource consumption. Addresses the entire supply chain.
Fair Trade Certified: Ensures factory workers receive fair wages, work in safe conditions, and have environmental protections.
Responsible Down Standard (RDS): Certifies that down and feathers come from animals that were not force-fed or live-plucked.
OEKO-TEX: Tests finished products for harmful chemicals. Standard 100 means safe for human contact.
Climate Neutral Certified: Companies measure, reduce, and offset their entire carbon footprint annually.
Questions to Ask
- Does the company publish a detailed sustainability report?
- What percentage of materials are recycled or renewable?
- Does the company offer a repair program?
- Are factories audited for worker welfare?
- What's the company's carbon reduction plan?
- Is sustainability marketing backed by specific data, or is it vague greenwashing?
Leading Sustainable Brands
Patagonia
The benchmark for outdoor industry sustainability.
- B Corp certified since 2012
- 1% for the Planet member (donates 1% of sales to environmental causes)
- Worn Wear program: buys back, repairs, and resells used gear
- Switched to 100% renewable electricity in owned facilities
- Extensive supply chain transparency
- Self-imposed "Earth tax" and transferred company ownership to environmental trust
- Pioneered recycled polyester use in outdoor gear
Cotopaxi
Built with sustainability and social impact at the core.
- B Corp certified
- Repurposed fabric collections (Del Dia line uses leftover factory materials)
- Climate Neutral certified
- Gear for Good grant program supports global poverty alleviation
- Transparent supply chain reporting
Fjallraven
Swedish brand with a long sustainability track record.
- Organic cotton and recycled polyester across product lines
- G-1000 Eco fabric uses recycled polyester and organic cotton
- Re-Fjallraven program repairs and resells used gear
- Foxes for a Cleaner Arctic initiative
- Fluorocarbon-free impregnation for waterproofing
REI
The largest consumer cooperative in the outdoor industry.
- B Corp aspiring (cooperatives face unique certification challenges)
- REI Used Gear program diverts gear from landfills
- Product sustainability standards for all sold products
- Stewardship fund invests in outdoor access and conservation
- Employee-owned cooperative structure
prAna
Clothing brand focused on sustainable and fair trade practices.
- Fair Trade Certified factory partner
- Extensive use of organic cotton, recycled materials, and hemp
- Responsible packaging program
- Bluesign certified materials
Nemo Equipment
Innovative sleeping pad and tent manufacturer with strong sustainability focus.
- Endless Promise program: take-back and recycling for all Nemo products
- Sustainability-focused product design (reduced material waste)
- Osmo fabric system eliminates PFC waterproofing chemicals
Sustainable Material Choices
Recycled Polyester
Made from post-consumer plastic bottles and post-industrial waste.
- Reduces petroleum dependence
- Keeps plastic out of landfills
- Performance identical to virgin polyester
- Found in jackets, base layers, fleece, and sleeping bags
Organic Cotton
Grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
- Reduces water pollution and soil degradation
- Better for farm worker health
- Typically softer and more comfortable
- Higher cost but worth it for environmental impact
Recycled Nylon
Made from discarded fishing nets, fabric scraps, and industrial waste.
- Reduces ocean plastic pollution
- Same performance as virgin nylon
- Used in shells, packs, and accessories
- Econyl (regenerated nylon) is a leading branded version
Merino Wool
A naturally renewable, biodegradable fiber.
- Requires no synthetic chemicals to perform
- Naturally odor-resistant (fewer washes needed)
- Biodegrades at end of life
- Look for ethical sourcing (mulesing-free certifications)
Hemp
One of the most sustainable natural fibers.
- Grows without pesticides
- Requires less water than cotton
- Improves soil health
- Durable and naturally antimicrobial
- Blended with cotton or synthetic fibers for outdoor performance
PFC-Free DWR
Traditional DWR (durable water repellent) coatings use PFCs (perfluorinated compounds) that persist in the environment forever.
- Many brands now offer PFC-free waterproofing
- Performance is slightly reduced but improving rapidly
- Nikwax has offered PFC-free treatments for decades
- Gore-Tex is transitioning to PFC-free membranes
Repair and Longevity
Why Repair Matters
The most sustainable piece of gear is the one you already own. Extending a product's life by even one year significantly reduces its environmental impact.
Brand Repair Programs
- Patagonia Worn Wear: Free repairs for Patagonia products
- Arc'teryx ReBird: Repair program plus resale of used gear
- REI: In-store repair services for members
- Fjallraven Re-Fjallraven: Repair and resale program
- The North Face Renewed: Refurbished gear for resale
DIY Repair
Learn basic gear repair to extend the life of all your equipment:
- Patch holes with tenacious tape or iron-on patches
- Seam seal aging waterproof layers
- Replace worn zippers (most tailors can do this)
- Resole hiking boots instead of replacing them
- Re-waterproof jackets with wash-in or spray-on treatments
Second-Hand Gear
Buying used gear is the most sustainable option:
- REI Used Gear: Quality-checked returns and trade-ins
- Patagonia Worn Wear: Used Patagonia products
- GearTrade: Online marketplace for used outdoor gear
- Facebook Marketplace: Local used gear sales
- Thrift stores: Occasional gems at rock-bottom prices
Making Better Choices
The Buy Less Approach
Before any purchase, ask:
- Do I actually need this, or do I want it?
- Can I borrow, rent, or buy used instead?
- Will this replace something I already own, or add to the pile?
- Will I use this enough to justify its environmental cost?
- Is it built to last, or will I replace it in two seasons?
When You Do Buy
- Choose quality over quantity
- Look for sustainability certifications
- Support brands with genuine (not performative) environmental commitments
- Buy versatile gear that serves multiple purposes
- Consider the full lifecycle: manufacturing, use, and end of life
Recommended Gear
Based on this guide's topics, here are some top-rated products to consider:
- Marmot Birdhouse 3-Shelf Hanging Tent Organizer ($34.95, 119 g)
- MSR Blizzard Tent Stakes ($29.96, 20 g)
- MSR Carbon Core Tent Stakes ($48.95, 6 g)
- Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Backpacking Tent - Olive Green / 2 Person ($549.95, 1.2 kg)
- Snow Peak Aluminum Tarp Pole ($59.95, 1.0 kg)
- Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Graphic Hoody for Men - Fitz Roy Tarpon: Wispy Green X-Dye / L ($49.98, 181 g)
- Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Graphic Hoody for Men - Fitz Roy Tarpon: Wispy Green X-Dye / M ($49.98, 181 g)
- Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Graphic Hoody for Men - Fitz Roy Tarpon: Wispy Green X-Dye / XL ($49.98, 181 g)