Our products benefit from a wide variety of sustainable features to varying degrees so we developed a system of 8 Icons to represent those features our suppliers tell us apply to each qualifying product. Where we link an Icon to a product more detail is often given on the Product or Brand page and we will be adding more and more detailed information as we develop this area.
Our 8 features cover
Bluesign certified materials seek to eliminate use of harmful substances.
Ensuring workers in the supply chain are treated fairly.
No leather or animal based glues but the same durability and performance.
A proportion of this product uses recycled materials.
The main fabric in this product is PFC free.
Cotton grown without chemical fertilisers, pesticides or genetically modified seeds.
The down used by our suppliers comes from ducks and geese which have been treated well.
This product is guaranteed for a period in excess of 12 months.
This product contains some materials which are Bluesign® approved. Bluesign® is the industry leading initiative which works with chemical suppliers, textile mills and component manufacturers to eliminate harmful substances from the supply chain; ensuring that products are safe for consumers, workers and the environment.
Our key suppliers take positive steps to ensure that workers in their supply chain are treated fairly. Some suppliers personally inspect all factories on a regular basis and many are members of The Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) which is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that is engaged in improving the working conditions in the textile and apparel industry on a wide scale.
FWF takes a strategic approach, focusing on the issues that make the biggest impact. Things like: establishing a living wage, because workers across the garment industry are rarely paid enough to survive on, and gender-based violence, because the majority of garment workers are women who face daily discrimination and harassment. FWF finds ways to address these issues at both the brand level and on the factory floor, because it's all connected.
For more information about the Fair Wear Foundation, please visit: www.fairwear.org
Two main things make footwear vegan - no leather and no animal-based glue. Vegan shoes come with a far lower cost in terms of the environment as well as animal rights, so are a good ethical option. There is no reason vegan-friendly shoes using 100 percent synthetic materials shouldn't offer the durability, traction and support of a traditional leather walking boot.
Up to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic waste enters our oceans each year and plenty more ends up in landfill. By choosing recycled gear you can help to keep plastic from polluting our waterways and reduce our dependence on oil while also cutting CO2 emissions.
Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatments include the use of PFCs (Per-fluorinated compounds) due to their superior water and oil repellency. As manufacturers became aware of the potential negative impacts of PFCs they moved DWRs away from the longer chain 'C8' chemistry to 'C6' chemistry allowing them to eliminate the by-products of greatest concern. Our brands continue to work in partnership with their fabric suppliers to develop PFC-free options.
The cultivation of organic cotton is subject to high environmental standards. For example, the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides is prohibited, as is the use of genetically modified seeds. This benefits the environment in the region of cultivation, as well as the cotton farmers, who are no longer exposed to hazardous chemicals during their work.
Responsible Down Standard, is an independent global animal welfare standard, to ensure that the down used by our suppliers comes from ducks and geese which have been treated well and are healthy and safe from inhumane practices like live plucking and force-feeding.
Longevity can be the most sustainable feature of all, with innovative design, thoughtful construction and rigorous field testing to ensure products are built to last - you will be making the most of the resources that went into making your kit and helping to cut down on waste.
There are many ways you can look after your technical kit to maximise its working life from regular cleaning simple repairs to fabric recoating. And if one of our products lets you down due to a construction or quality issue, we will always endeavour to repair or replace.
