Responsibility: Sustainable Origins
Making bike clothing isn't environmentally perfect. Without getting into a deeply philosophical argument harkening to deep ecology and environmental lines in the sand, we're stating right now that it's our goal to be better, if not perfect, at reducing our impact and improving our place in the world. Hence, we look at how our materials are made, what we do in our process and ways we can improve. Here are three ways we're considering our environmental impact, three ways we're considering the impact of our products and our brand.
#1 Material Standards: Bluesign & Oeko-Tex Approved Fabrics - The solution for sustainable textile manufacturing, Bluesign works through textile manufacturer to establish management systems for improving environmental outcomes in five areas of the manufacturing: resource productivity, consumer safety, water emissions, air emissions, and occupational health and safety. System partners regularly report their progress in energy, water and chemical usage and are subject to on-site visits.The bluesign system is based on input-stream management. Chemicals are assigned to one of three categories: blue – safe to use; gray – special handling required; and black – forbidden. The bluesign system helps factories properly manage gray chemicals and replace black chemicals with safer alternatives.What does this mean for your clothing? That it bears the most sustainable origins available. Related to this, we work to create highly durable clothing. We've had folks crash on our kit and report no crashes, however that's uncommon. (YMMV) Similarly, Oeko-tex is an independent testing and certification system for textile products from all stages of production (yarns, fabrics, ready-to-use end products, including accessories) along the textile supply chain. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, Oeko-tex oversees 15 neutral test and research institutes in Europe and Japan with contact offices in over 60 countries around the world. The result is internationally standardized criteria for testing for sorting the most sustainably available textiles.
#2 Packaging: Biodegradable - The world has enough plastic bags. Our opaque white packaging is 100% biodegradable and are able to disintegrate completely making the gear only the lasting element of what we deliver.
#3 Brand Outreach - Our brand supports the Conservation Alliance and World Bicycle Relief, programs that effect change through outreach. Through membership, collaboration and communication, we're proud to be among brands in the outdoor industry supporting the conservation of wild places (because that's where great adventure happens) and the proliferation of bikes as a tool for social change. Learn more about our stance on responsibility on support here.
