Celebrate this Earth Day by getting outside and following the Leave No Trace seven principles.  Earth Day  is the perfect opportunity to enjoy our planet’s beauty, while considering how to preserve it for generations to come. As part of this effort, NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) trains casual adventurers and park rangers alike in the 7 principles of Leave No Trace to minimize our impact in the wilderness. Today, I am joined by Shannon Rochelle, the NOLS Expedition Curriculum Manager and a Leave No Trace Master Educator, as she shares the 7 Leave No Trace principles and wh ..read more

It seems that many brands are moving in the right direction in terms of phasing PFAS out of their products, but one of the many aspects complicating this process is the potential for contamination. In this episode, we hear directly from leading outdoor industry brands like Keen, Outdoor Research, Fjallraven, and Houdini Sportswear alongside scientists and environmental epidemiologists about how and why PFAS spreads and contaminates products so easily. Guests featured in this episode: - Stefan Posner,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠textile and polymer chemist⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Alex Lauver, ⁠⁠Outdoor Research⁠ - Kirsten Blackburn ..read more

In episode 129 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we return to a highly requested topic area on the show: product packaging.  By now, we all know that plastic is a problem, but what are the alternatives? And how can we as consumers really know if other single-use packaging options are as green as they say they are?  Well, we answer those questions and many more with the founder of SOFi Products, Brandon Leeds.  SOFi Products is an innovative manufacturer of sustainable paper products. They are known for their world's best paper straws that do not get soggy and more recently SOFi ..read more

As we learned in earlier episodes, phase-out and regulatory efforts for PFAS were not swift, and they certainly are not complete. However, because of the recent regulatory changes on consumer goods, specifically in California, many US-based outdoor brands and chemical companies have finally committed to removing PFAS from their products.  Guests featured in this episode: - Greg Brietmier, ⁠Mystery Ranch⁠ - Mike Schade,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Toxic Free Future⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Ammi Borenstein, ⁠⁠Snaplinc Consulting⁠ - Alex Lauver, ⁠⁠Outdoor Research⁠ - Kevin Myette, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesign⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Theresa Mckenney, ⁠Nemo Equipment ..read more

In episode 128 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, I chatted with Katie Houston about Sawyer's clean water projects. Sawyer is a pioneering water filtration company with a rich history spanning over three decades, dedicated to providing innovative solutions for clean water access worldwide. Established in 1984, Sawyer has continuously evolved its product line, offering a range of advanced filtration systems designed for outdoor adventures, emergency preparedness, and humanitarian aid. From portable water bottles to high-flow gravity systems, Sawyer's commitment to quality and sustainability has ..read more

The goal of this series is to provide useful information for consumers regarding PFAS, specifically within the outdoor industry, but also for those of us working in the industry. I learned from every single person that I interviewed and talked to about the topic of PFAS, and one of the patterns I noticed during production was that most of the European brands like Jack Wolfskin, Fjallraven, and Houdini Sportswear were early adopters of phasing PFAS out of their products.  As early as 2009, some of these brands had already begun or, at the very least, made the decision to remove harmful che ..read more

Episode 127 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast is an open letter to the outdoor industry—a call to action to do more and make less. If you’ve followed this podcast for a while, you know we are all about environmental action. While I believe individuals can make a difference to achieve more significant impacts, we need the industry to lead the way and decide to do better for the future of our planet and the younger generations. I had a blast chatting with Rick Saez for this episode. While it is a bit different from other conversations we’ve had on the show, it is one that I think will resonate w ..read more

As more regulations come into play, many outdoor brands have moved the needle and promised to phase PFAS out of their products and apparel by 2025.  While this is great news, what’s curious as a consumer is that alternative chemistry has existed for quite some time. Brands like Nikwax never needed to use harmful chemicals to achieve waterproof capabilities, and now Nikwax is one brand leading the charge with industry-wide innovations with cleaner chemistry.   In later episodes, we will explore how both European and US brands have moved to phase out PFAS in their product lines, b ..read more

Regulatory efforts across the globe have been pushing for removing certain types of PFAS in specific product categories. Still, there are many limitations, and regulators often receive pushback from chemical companies. In episode four of the Forever Chemicals ten-part podcast series, we break down the increase of PFAS regulation in the US and the EU, along with the limitations we face in the pursuit of cleaner chemistry. Subscribe to the Forever Chemicals Podcast to hear the full series: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forever-chemicals/id1724693010⁠ Guests featured in this episode: - J ..read more

In episode three of the Forever Chemicals ten-part podcast series, we give an overview of how PFAS is used in modern-day production, and get an inside look at why it became a performance chemistry in the outdoor industry. Subscribe to the Forever Chemicals Podcast to hear the full series: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forever-chemicals/id1724693010⁠ Guests featured in this episode: - Mike Schade,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Toxic Free Future⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Ammi Borenstein, ⁠Snaplinc Consulting⁠ - Arlene Blum,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Green Science Policy Institute ⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Stefan Posner,⁠ ⁠⁠textile and polymer chemist⁠⁠⁠ - Alex Lauver, ⁠Ou ..read more