Backpacker Magazine – March 2008

Green Gear Report Card 2008

The first industry-wide survey about which gear manufacturers are positively impacting the environment

by: Berne Broudy

Tags:
• Gear
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• Environment
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• Health
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Schoeller
Known for its superior soft-shell fabrics, this Swiss supplier founded and complies with Bluesign, which certifies a material (or process) as eco-friendly, taking into account every step of its creation, including air and water emissions, workers' health, and resource management. schoellerusa.com

Sierra Designs
Last year, SD switched to dye-free white tent canopies, eliminating harsh chemicals typically used in the dying process (and making tent interiors brighter). It is using more DAC NSL poles (which use the most environmentally friendly anodization process available) and PVC-free seam tape. It offers 90% sustainable sleeping bags with Climashield Green and PrimaLoft Recycled insulations, EcoSensor recycled shells, and Cocona antimicrobial treatment, a natural coconut husk byproduct. sierradesigns.com

SmartWool
Known for socks and increasingly its apparel and gloves, SmartWool uses raw materials that are 90% natural and biodegradable. It is the world's largest purchaser of New Zealand wool (sustainable farming there helps maintain undeveloped lands), and SmartWool fiber production uses three to five times less energy than synthetic fiber production. Employees get 40 hours paid vacation anually to support local nonprofits. smartwool.com

Sole
This footbed maker packages its products with a corn-based plastic called NatureWorks that uses up to 68% less fossil fuels in production compared to traditional plastics. All corporate materials are printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper with vegetable-based inks, and footbed scraps are used to insulate its factory. yoursole.com

Teko Socks
Its socks are made from 75% organic, renewable, and/or recycled materials, and all models in the EcoMerino Wool line use a non-chlorine, Bluesign-certified production process. Teko is integrating more recycled materials into its socks, and has cut packaging by 40%. Its uses renewable energy for its manufacturing and offices, buys carbon credits for transportation, and makes fixtures from recycled and renewable materials. tekosocks.com



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