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Eco-Conscious Brands We Love!

Eco-Conscious Brands We Love!


As an outdoors retailer, our main goal is to encourage people to Go Out and Play in the stunning natural environment that is our planet Earth. Keeping the spaces we play in both clean and accessible has always been something on the top of our to do list. Earth Day is every day at Wild Rock.  Every business has a carbon footprint, and here at Wild Rock we believe it is our responsibility to reduce waste and protect our planet for future generations to enjoy. Every little thing adds up and makes a difference– from composting to bike commuting to switching to renewable energy sources. 

We also know it is important to align ourselves with brands that share the same core values. We featured six brands in a previous blog that are making impressive efforts towards ethical practices and we thought it was time to let you know about a few more trail blazers that we’ve been super impressed with. 


Patagonia 

Patagonia has long woven sustainability into how they operate their business. They are an outdoors company icon and leader in eco and ethical activism. They guarantee everything they make because they know prioritizing durability results in consuming less energy, wasting less water and creating less trash. They know that everything they make has an impact on the planet so they strive to work with sustainable and eco-friendly materials. They create environmental programs and social responsibility programs to raise the bar within the company and to stoke public awareness. They are transparent about where and how they do business across the supply chain. 

Patagonia by the numbers:

1% of sales go to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. 

85% of their line is Fair Trade Certified (TM) sewn.

94% of their line uses recycled materials

100% of their down is certified to the Advanced Global Traceable Down Standard. 

Patagonia hopes to be carbon neutral by 2025! 


Tilley 

Tilley Hats are synonymous with the durable “Guaranteed for Life” concept. Developed four decades ago, they are one of the first companies to pioneer a Guaranteed for Life program specific to products that are meant to be worn with longevity. Tilley is committed to sustainability through the use of natural and recycled materials, and sustainable fibres. In 2022, more than 65% of their hats will be made with recycled material and sustainable fibres.

Tilley recently reimagined Black Friday as a digital event that strived to cool our planet and further their sustainability goals. This past Black Friday for 24 hours they permanently removed carbon for every Tilley digital interaction!


Keen

Keen footwear is a company that is Keen to make conscientious choices that minimize their impact on the environment. They are on a mission to leave the planet better than they found it.  For starters, they are PFC free. It took 4 years to remove these extremely toxic chemicals from their products. Keen really runs the extra mile when it comes to plastic– they weave recycled plastic into sandal webbing, boot insulation, and anywhere else they can. Keen on creating a smaller footprint, they’ve separated from the herd by manufacturing socks with American-grown, American-spun Merino wool.

Here are a few more of the sustainable choices they've been making:

  • Pesticide-Free Odor Control for Healthier Ecosystems
  • Certified Better Leather for Cleaner Water
  • Recycled P.E.T. Plastic for Happier Oceans and Less Waste
  • 100% Organic Cotton for Better, American-Made T-shirts
  • Upcycled and Recycled Materials for More Circular Products
  • Water-Based Solvents to Reduce Greenhouse Gases
  • Plant-Based Cushioning for a More Biodegradable Insole

Every step makes an impact and Keen is on the trail to a healthier planet for all of us! 

Biolite

Biolite isn’t just a company that sells a super rad fire pit, although it may be one of our favourite camping products. The company sparked from the founders’ frustration that almost all efficient camping stoves require fossil fuels. The idea of a wood-burning stove able to utilize its own thermal energy to improve combustion was ignited. The BioLite CampStove was born! From there, the founder knew there was a bigger issue at hand–  half the planet lives in energy poverty, lacking safe and reliable ways to cook, charge, and light their lives. Clearly it was imperative to build a business model that would enable them to bring safe, affordable energy to those who needed it most. Now, BioLite operates using a unique business model called Parallel Innovation: their team incubates core energy technologies and then turns them into products unique to their outdoor customers. Revenues from their outdoor markets are reinvested in building a commercially sustainable business that can bring safe, affordable energy to families living in energy poverty across India and Africa. Now that’s how to bring the warm and fuzzy feelings inside and out! 


Luci Solar Lights

The products alone contribute to a better, greener way of living– solar! The company behind Luci Solar light also strives to make sure people all over the world have access to clean, safe and affordable energy. They work with over 700 NGOs and nonprofits, providing clean energy to those who need it most. Through their partners they distribute clean energy options that provide a more economical and environmentally friendly approach to everyday tasks. Each Luci product you purchase not only helps you move to renewable energy sources but also goes toward people all over the world that need it the most. You are making a difference with every purchase.  

Luci Solar Lights by the numbers:

2,540,000+ Tons of CO2 averted

3,880,000+ Lives impacted

700+ Non-profit and NGO partners worldwide


Pearl Izumi

Pearl Izumi is a cycling and outdoor gear company that is shredding their way to help change the course of climate change. They are rolling towards a more sustainable design, but refuse to compromise on performance and durability. All of their products still carry a lifetime warranty, and include free in-house repairs. They have set their sights on eliminating single use plastic and virgin forest fibres from their packing by 2025 and plan to reach net positive as a business by 2025. This means they are using less oil in how they do their business and they are well on their  way to making 90% of their products from sustainable materials by the end of 2022.

Pearl Izumi is even including you in their mission to help the environment with their Pedal to Zero line. Every garment in their BikeStyle Spring 22 collection will include the number of miles necessary to ride, instead of driving a car, to zero out its carbon footprint. This enables you to choose to ride its climate impact out of existence. They are using the  globally-recognized Higg Index to calculate how many miles you need to ride to counteract the impact produced by each of their new BikeStyle® products.


TREK

TREK bikes give people a solution to three of the world’s most complex problems– congestion, public health and climate change. Realizing that even products that benefit people and the planet leave behind a footprint, TREK began conducting emissions audits. They have been making big strides to lighten their footprint ever since. They offer full transparency publishing regular reports on their impressive progress to their website. 

They are currently working on, or have already implemented, the following 10 goals: 

  • Reduce reliance on air freight
  • Consolidate shipping to retailers
  • Increase their use of renewable energy
  • Reduce corporate travel 
  • Increase use of alternative materials
  • Create zero-landfill manufacturing facilities
  • Establish and protect new trails
  • Remove plastic waste
  • Increase access to bike share
  • Increase cycling mode share

 

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