While many European brands began voluntarily phasing out PFAS in outdoor equipment years ago, US brands have been dragging their feet and are now claiming they’ve been progressive all along. Will incoming legislation finally level the playing field? ‘Don’t count on it’ says podcast host and producer Meg Carney. Industry discourse around using per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals in production has spanned over a decade. Despite knowledge of the widespread harm this class of tens of thousands of chemicals poses, much of the North American outdoor industry dragged its feet to make ..read more

When it comes to outdoor clothing and equipment, “Made in EU” often stands for advantages such as strict quality standards and shorter delivery routes. Our guide provides an overview of ten brands that manufacture in Europe, and their advantages in terms of sustainability. “Where does my equipment come from and what were the manufacturing conditions?” These are some elementary questions one needs to ask to begin making environmentally conscious gear decisions. Sometimes it’s not straightforward to research the most sustainable product or brand, but finding out where the manufacturing is locate ..read more

Experts estimate that up to 50 % of wool remains unused in the largest sheep-farming countries of Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. There should be more appreciation for European Wool. European wool receives little attention. In contrast to the popular merino wool from Down Under, many feel that it’s too rough and scratchy, which is why it is often not used. But contrary to this opinion, it’s precisely its coarser structure that makes it perfectly suitable for insulation material for outdoor clothing, as the wool padding Lavalan demonstrates. At the same time, European sheep fa ..read more

No, this is not the classical magazine gear guide – this is the Suston version. We believe that the most sustainable outdoor products are the ones that are used over and over again. Editor-in-Chief Gabriel Arthur goes ski touring and chooses ten favorites that have stood the test of (a very long) time. About the test: I started ski touring with climbing skins at the age of 18, first in the Swedish mountains and then in the mountains around Chamonix. It has been my favorite outdoor activity ever since. It requires really good clothes and equipment. In a snowstorm above the tree line, gear can e ..read more

Tougher legislation, complex traceability and CO2-calculations are just some of the issues on the daily agenda of the sustainability teams – with the global environmental crisis as a backdrop. How can outdoor companies navigate and steer in the right directions? And not get swamped in the daily operations? In a series of interviews Suston, Editor-in-chief Gabriel Arthur reaches out to industry changemakers to hear about their long-term perspectives. Gabriel Arthur: As a journalist, I’ve been following developments in sustainability and the outdoors for almost twenty years. Apart from a few ear ..read more

Waterproofing specialist Nikwax has announced a significant milestone in its sustainability journey by successfully achieving its scope 1 and scope 2 carbon emission reduction goals 18 months earlier than originally planned. Back in 2022 Nikwax released its Sustainability Report, committing to 20 projects to meet its sustainability goals by 2025.  Achieving its target of a 30% reduction in scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions ahead of schedule, Nikwax claims that it has successfully reduced its carbon footprint and mitigated its impact on the planet and people. “We are delighted with our result ..read more

Could the well-established LCA methodology be the missing catalyst needed to empower both business and consumers to make more sustainable decisions? Textiles expert Bowie Miles thinks so, but we just need to do one thing first. Every product, every company – indeed each one of us – casts a shadow on the environment.  Understanding the environmental impacts of all the products we use is crucial and fast becoming a regulative requirement.   The million-dollar question is how do we accurately measure these impacts? This is where Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) enters the arena.   ..read more

As the industry grapples with the challenges of sustainability and circularity, Performance Days serves as a pivotal platform for stakeholders to collaborate, innovate, and navigate the evolving landscape of polyester sourcing and manufacturing. The biannual European fair for the material Ingredient Sourcing market, scheduled March 20-21st at Messe Munich, is set once again to address critical industry concerns: Such as the impending shortage of recycled polyester (rPET). With the EU Green Deal legislation looming and its mandate to recycle plastic bottles into new ones, the event will focus o ..read more

Many outdoor companies use recycled materials to improve their ecological footprint and move towards circular business models. But what is upcycling and downcycling, and how do they fit into the bigger picture? First, what does recycling mean and what forms does it take? In the literal sense, “re-cycling” means bringing something “back” into the “cycle.” The most natural form of recycling is composting, i.e. the biological decomposition of organic materials and their reutilization in new organic substances. Technical recycling involves collecting waste materials, processing them and turning th ..read more

The Microfibre Consortium (TMC), in partnership with Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC), launches a new course designed to help textile manufacturers reduce the release of microfibers into wastewater during production processes. TMC has developed a series of new e-learning modules for suppliers, based on their “Preliminary Guidelines: Control of Microfibres in Wastewater,” which was published in 2022. Hosted on the ZDHC Academy, the course is free to take for signatories of The Microfibre 2030 Commitment and €20 per learner for non-signatory organizations. The new e-learning course h ..read more