Get Latest Business News from All Over the World 24/7 throughout the Year: 13 products from Outdoor Retailer's Snow Show that reveal how companies are upping their sustainability methods

FjallPack 2 Les Shu/Business Insider

Sustainability is a major theme at Denver, Colorado's Outdoor Retailer conference, the biggest tradeshow for the outdoor industry.
From durable recycled polyester to crushed oyster shells, outdoor companies are implementing unique materials and methods in making their products sustainable.
We looked at 13 products that show how outdoor companies are elevating their sustainability game.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

You can't walk past more than two or three booths at Outdoor Retailer without seeing the words sustainable or eco-friendly — it's something the outdoor industry (led by those who attend OR) have championed for years — long before it became de rigueur in mainstream fashion. Though it's not surprising to see so many brands embrace eco-friendly clothing or sustainable manufacturing practices at the show, it is a breath of fresh air (pun intended).

But sustainability methods are questionable, particularly in clothing. A manufacturer can claim its products are environmentally friendly even when the use of recycled materials constitutes a small percentage of the overall construction. It's why in recent years, the outdoor industry has been working toward being even more transparent in how it makes sustainable products, including the type of materials used — from man-made fabrics like Polartec Power Air, Cordura Eco, and Repreve, to novel reuse of materials like sailcloth and wool.

Nearly every company that exhibited at the 2020 Outdoor Retailer Snow Show has a sustainability story. Here are 13 companies that delivered an eco-friendly message at OR in interesting ways. Most will go on sale in fall 2020, but some are available now or soon.

Knitwear: Sherpa Adventure Gear Lumbini Pullover
Snowshoes: Crescent Moon Biodegradable Snowshoes
Travel bag: Tentree Mobius Duffel
Sunglasses: Zeal Optics Aspen
High-tech fabric: Helly Hansen LIFA Infinity Pro
Everyday backpack: JanSport Recycled SuperBreak
Fleece jacket: Houdini Mono Air Half-Zip and Houdi
Lunch containers: Light My Fire MealKit BIO
Color water bottle: Klean Kanteen Insulated TK Wide
Ski jacket: Obermeyer Tuscany II
Wool backpack: Fjallraven Kanken Re-Wool
Moisture-wicking, breathable shirt: Headsweats Short Sleeve Performance Tee Shirt
Tote bags: Sea Bags

Responsibly-sourced knitwear

Les Shu/Business Insider

Sherpa Adventure Gear Lumbini Pullover — available in fall 2020

Sherpa's recent rebrand saw the brand focus on both fashion and sustainability, while also continuing its social-conscious work in giving back to the people of Nepal — including a new education program that aims to provide 10 million days of schooling for children by 2030.

On the sustainability front, Sherpa's upcoming Lumbini Pullover caught our attention. Handmade in Nepal, it's made from a fabric that was created from crushed, leftover oyster shells that have been discarded after having the meat removed. The knitwear also creates jobs for women in Nepal, helping them provide additional income for their families.

Snowshoes

Les Shu/Business Insider

Crescent Moon Biodegradable Snowshoes — estimated availability in fall 2020

Crescent Moon joined the wave of sustainability at this winter's Outdoor Retailer Snow Show by unveiling a new biodegradable material it plans to use on its snowshoes. Called Eco Plastic, the new foam will be manufactured out of potato and corn starch, as well as other food waste. The brand says that Eco Plastic will also fully biodegrade in just one year (and can even be 50% degraded after just four months).

The foam not only provides better cushioning but it also gives you more boost to propel you forward. You're even able to run in them, Crescent Moon told Business Insider. Optional removable lugs give you greater traction on ice, too.

And don't worry about durability concerns, either. Crescent Moon says that with proper care and storage, any snowshoe featuring Eco Plastic foam holds up just as well as its non-biodegradable kin.

Travel bag

Les Shu/Business Insider

Tentree Mobius Duffel, $108 — available in fall 2020

The Vancouver, Canada-based brand, Tentree debuted a new travel duffel that's made of 95% recycled materials, including recycled polyester fabric (Repreve) and an algae-based foam padding. Everything down to the buckles, padding, and zippers is made of recycled or renewable materials, like algae. The duffel is said to use 45% less energy, 20% less water, and 30% less carbon dioxide than similar bags. We love that it has ample room, too, including a separate compartment for dirties or shoes.

The company already has a backpack in the Mobius collection, which is available now. It uses the same materials as the upcoming duffel.

Tentree also unveiled the very first hooded sweatshirt to be certified cradle-to-cradle (C2C) Gold, giving it the highest sustainability rating for any hoodie on the market. Not only is the French Terry hoodie ($68, also available in fall 2020) manufactured using Fair Trade Certified Organic cotton but its fully compostable, too — the threads, prints, and trims are all compostable and non-toxic for the soil. The C2C Gold rating also shows that the apparel (and brand) support fair wages for the farmers who originally grew the cotton used.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

See Also: