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It's great to get outdoors—it's fun and immeasurably good for you. But there's something ironic about going camping or hiking and leaving a negative impact on the planet just by gearing up properly.
But that's precisely what a lot of outdoor gear does, finds a recent study by Ethical Consumer magazine: the outdoor industry not only consumes oil in manufacturing its products, but "everything from jackets to tents are made from non-sustainable, climate-changing oil-based chemicals, the production of which results in highly polluting toxic waste," reports Herald Scotland.
Not only that, but most companies have no policies for protecting overseas workers’ rights, and the increasing use of nanotechnology in things like walking jackets (ever wonder what makes something "breathable"—or produces any of the other fancy features that make advanced outdoor gear so appealing?) will let nanomaterials escape into the environment and potentially harm people and wildlife.
One member of the team who produced the Ethical Consumers buyers' guide said, “It’s the ultimate irony of course that while outdoor gear companies depend upon a pristine environment for their profitability, the vast majority show a total disregard for the environmental impact of their businesses. It would be unfair to single out any one company as being the worst of the lot as they’re all as overwhelmingly poor as each other.”
Some companies did survive the study and come out in a positive light, including two shoe companies we already liked: Ethical Wares and Vegetarian Shoes for walking boots.
To make the best choices, Patagonia is usually a good bet, or consult Ethical Consumer's outdoor gear buyers' guide—or watch a discussion by the team who put the guide together.
More about green outdoor gear:
Outdoors Clothing Made in USA from Natural and Recycled Materials
Patagonia Continue to Walk Their Eco Talk
Green Outdoor Athletic Gear that's Stronger, Better and Beats Out its Conventional Competitors
