Replying to Thinking about sustainability in the ski industry.....

Hey NS!
I am currently in a college class called inquiry into sustainability and one of my class projects is to post up a small article my group and I wrote. we wrote it about gear manufactures. specifically snow industry ones.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the subject!


Sustainability in Clothing Manufacturers

When it comes to shopping for new outdoor gear and clothing, there are manufactures who produce goods ethically and those who do not. Part of your thought process when shopping for these items should cross the path of sustainability and ethics. Below explains a company who has excellent sustainable ethics and a few who do not.
Patagonia is a very eco-aware company that puts a lot of exertion into offering safe products that come from the least harmful raw materials. They have also invested in innovated technologies and strictly monitor their waste. A portion of their profits, which they call “Earth Tax”, goes to grassroots organizations that allay damage they do cause. Patagonia has recently introduced a program called the Common Threads Initiative which is an effort to keep all Patagonia products out of landfills. They recycle old clothes into new so that nothing is wasted. Common Threads Initiative is an addition to the proposal of 100% recyclable clothing, created five years ago, and it is the final step in the clothing recycle program which will be active this fall. Along with the Common Threads Program many other environmentalist programs have been put into place by Patagonia one of which is The Conservation Alliance; “In 1989, Patagonia co-founded The Conservation Alliance, along with REI, The North Face and Kelty, to encourage other companies in the outdoor industry to give money to environmental organizations and to become more involved in environmental work.” This program now has over 170 members and in 2010 the entire alliance collected $900,000 which was all donated to grassroots environmental groups who work to protect threatened wild lands and biodiversity.

When it comes to clothing production many major brands do everything they can to cut their costs in order to put more money in the pockets of both their investors and executives. Many times this means cutting corners in concerns to workers rights, fair labor standards, and sustainable production. Sweatshops in the second and third world produce most of these unethical products. Companies such as Nike, Victoria’s Secret, The Gap, and Abercrombie and Fitch all use illegal sweatshops that employ children to produce the goods they bring to retail. When making your shopping decisions keep in mind where the goods came from and look for products made in the USA or in places you know do not tolerate sweatshops and the exploitation of children. Goods, especially clothing items can be manufactured ethically and brought to market for a fair price. It is up to you to find and choose those companies that are taking the ethical and sustainable route.

Green is the new gold, and companies are realizing that going green is what many consumers are demanding. Especially in the outdoor industry, because the people who are using the products love the outdoors and to be able to continue that love we must respect the outdoors by producing products in a sustainable manner and recycling the old. That is exactly the direction major outdoor clothing manufacturers are heading. They are managing/reducing the toxins used in finishes and dyes, increasing production out of recycled materials, and giving funds to environmental organizations. On top of that the outdoor clothing industry is shifting towards utilizing organic fibers, that are produced in a sustainable manner such as organic bamboo, cotton, and wool. Many companies are also upcycling their normally discarded waste into the creation of new products. Manufacturers are reducing and redesigning their product packaging. Many of the new trends will spread into the rest of the industry because not only do they save on the environment, but by recycling old product, utilizing waste, and lessening packaging they are saving on their budget as well.