Eco Friendly Companies

Eco-friendly Companies that manufacture outdoor products for the planet.

Eco friendly companies have been making a difference and shifting their focuses from the bottom line to saving the earth. Here are featured companies that are making an impact, not on the earth, but in the industry.

Arbor's philosophy , doesn't care if green is trendy or not; their company is built around "replacing environmentally harmful materials with ecologically based, natural alternatives". They have applied this to their green snowboards and skateboards, to their apparel, to their brick and mortar retail shop offices using scrap materials from their productioin processes and with acquiring wind credits to offset their fossil fuels during operations. They print on recycled paper, use only soy-based ink and contribute a portion of their proceeds to the Nature Conservancy's Hawaiian based efforts.

Big Agnes was built on a group of backcountry enthusiasts that spend all of their free time behind the scenes of Steamboat Springs. Big Agnes has kept their design line simple, building sleeping bags, pads, tents and accessories. By doing this, the team at Big Agnes have been able to focus on making only the best, most technologically advanced, innovative, sleeping bags and tents. Big Agnes has just released their first accomplished eco friendly sleeping bag filled with bamboo synthetic. There is more to come.

Burton’s jackets and pants designed through the new Green Mountain Project offer undeniable performance, style and weatherproofing. Burton employed techniques that are safer on the environment and used post-consumer recycled materials as well as natural resources to ensure the sustainability factor. Burton’s GMP Jackets and Pants are designed using eco-friendly materials, including recycled materials (such as PET) and eco-friendly processes such as water proofing.

Chaco offsets 100% of its electricty with Green Certificates; donates 10% after-tax to conservation and uses recycled rubber in their long-lasting sandals.

El Naturalista develops shoes with the best design in comfort and durability while employing eco-friendly means. As part of their mission statement El Naturalista has implemented an Eco-Policy, an internal law, with which they abide by that includes processes such a vegetable tanning and using recycled products where possible. Manufacturing eco-friendly shoes is their first passion and yet El Naturalista’s passion for humanity is a close second. Since 2004 El Naturalista has been collaborating with Peru Every El Naturalista shoe from the NASCA collection that is sold donates 1 Euro toward helping children in Peru. through the ATAUCHI Project.

Ex Officio uses soy and chemical free organic cotton. Known for their tofutech apparel.

Golite's products are featuring recycled and renewable materials; their Boulder headquarters are now 100% carbon neutral and they practice "zero waste" recycling.

Keen shoes are based on the company's interest of connecting people with the outdoors. Since shoes are the direct connection between people and the earth, Keen was founded on the premise that all persons should live a hybrid life: that is Stand “out” “up” and “for”. Keen has exceeded development innovations by finding new solutions to old problems. Keen just released the 100% recycled and raw material vegan-friendly Ventura shoe.

Lafuma is committed to environmental responsibility. For 15 years Lafuma’s emphasis is to build products with “eco-design (that) offers more with less”. In 1993 they launched the recycled cotton Green bag, and in 2006 the first Eco backpack. Lafuma has developed their own recycled polyester and a waterproofing technique that causes less pollution.

Mion is committed to designing their shoes in the most environmentally friendly way possible through their manufacturing processes and their shoe designs . Mion uses wind power from South Dakota to replace 100% of the energy used in their China manufacturing plant. In Europe, wind turbines and solar panels fuels their distribution plant. In the US 60% of its power is supplemented by solar energy. If that isn’t enough, each of Mion’s US Sales Team drives a vehicle featuring TerraPass.

Osprey backpacks have been around since 1970’s and has received numerous awards from Backpacker Magazine and Outside Magazine. And Fortune Magazine regarded Osprey as “America’s Best” Company in 1991. Yet designing the best performing backpacks isn’t Osprey’s only mission. They have designed their backpacks with environmental integrity in mind. For the past eight years large Osprey backpacks bear the label “Outdoor Ethics: Leave No Trace” to reinforce every backpackers responsibility to care for the environment.

At Patagonia, waste has no reward. In 2000 Patagonia’s partner company, Teijiin, discovered how to recycle old polyester into new polyester garments. As a result Patagonia re-created the Capilene performance garments ‘using 76 percent less energy than if they'd made it out of virgin petroleum.’ What’s even better is Patagonia will accept your donated old tattered capilene shirts and recycle them into new capilene clothing. Fortune Magazine has regarded Patagonia the “blueprint for green businesses”. Patagonia’s long-term goal is to ‘take environmental responsibility for everything (they) make’. They are simply asking you to take small steps.

REI jumped on the pioneer bandwagon with Patagonia by offering eco-labels on their in-house products, opening low-impact stores featuring solar light and heating and using recycled materials in the buildout. REI is also spearheading an environmental governing body to develop guidelines for eco friendly manufacturing processes.

Timberland since the 1950’s has designed their boots to be durable and rugged reflecting excellent craftsmanship. In 1993, Timberland decided that how they did business needed to be as important as the quality of the products they manufactured and sold. For the past several years, Timberland has made great strides in reducing their impact on the environment and contributing to a more sustainable future. Timberland offers their employees stipends toward purchases of Hybrid vehicles, built one of their manufacturing facilities to operate on 60% solar energy, launched Mion, an eco-friendly shoe company, and SmartWool, environmental friendly merino wool products.