It is no secret that the clothing industry has much shocking impact on the environment. But, did you know, it’s actually the second largest polluter in the world, only being topped by oil?

In terms of carbon emissions, as an industry, it actually causes more harm than both international flying and maritime shipping combined. Pretty crazy, right?

Outdoor pursuits and lifestyles require lots of adventure equipment and clothing, meaning they can have a big impact. Your time outside absorbed in beautiful natural locations could actually be more damaging than you realize.

It is not saying you should limit your time outside – “HELL NO” – far from it. Embracing ethical adventures and learning to appreciate your surroundings is one of the most powerful steps in protecting this fantastic world we all call home.

Instead, we think you should dive straight into the outdoor realm and become as absorbed as possible – just do it with ethical outdoor gear including clothing.

There are plenty of tips and tactics you can easily adopt to make sure there is not a hidden price to your clothing and equipment. And, it’s not going to cost you an arm and a leg either, in most cases it’ll actually save you money, help you find better products and get you more involved in the outdoors!

What is ethical outdoor clothing?

In our eyes, ethical outdoor clothing brands or products are ones that put an emphasis on environmental, animal and human welfare. It’s pretty difficult to be perfect in every aspect but it’s our aim to highlight gear that comes as close as possible. And, real importantly, can deal with everything you throw at it in the wild.

How to tell if something is sustainable and eco certifications to look out for.

It is all well and good saying try and buy sustainable! But how can you actually tell? Nowadays, ‘eco-friendly’ has become a major selling point and the certifications listed below will normally be advertised with pride. If you’re shopping in-store the info might be on the clothes tags and online on the product description. These are things you can look for:

Recycled materials:

Plenty of brands now use recycled materials in their gear and don’t be fooled, it doesn’t impact the quality at all. It might be made from recycled polyester, reused clothing or even things like collected plastic rubbish, then it gets a second life in insulation, clothing, backpacks, shoes, tents, you name it.

Recycled materials may also be called post-consumer materials or show a percentage of the recycled materials used.

PFC-Free and PTFE-Free:

Normally this is to show that materials have been made waterproof or DWR without the use of PFCs or PTFEs, two chemicals which both have big environmental impacts.

Bluesign ® certified

The Bluesign® certification is a strict criterion used for businesses who put a strong emphasis on people, the environment and resources. It works at all stages of the production and supply chain to make sure the processes, chemicals and materials are safe for the environment, workers and for the end customers. Product materials will sometimes be called Bluesign® approved or Bluesign® certified.

Organic Materials:

Most often, this is used to talk about cotton and means it’s created with less of an environmental impact, using pesticides or chemicals. There has been a big increase in organic outdoor clothing brands using organic materials like hemp and also bamboo.

Be Careful of Green Washing!

‘Eco-friendly’ has become a major selling point so be careful of green washing (trying to sell something as environmentally friendly when it’s not).

When brands add general ‘eco’ terms to clothing, for example eco-friendly hiking boots, eco insulated jacket, green insulation, ethical sleeping bag, sustainable materials, natural materials etc. you should be vigilant. The product might have nothing intentionally sustainable about it but the term is just added for a selling point.

Check the product information for any of the certifications listed above to be sure!

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