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Why use recycled materials in outdoor clothing?
In today's world, the outdoor industry faces a critical challenge: balancing our love for adventure with the need to protect our planet. With the clothing industry alone contributing a staggering 1.2 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, the call for sustainability has never been more urgent.
At RevolutionRace, we've named our sustainability initiative “The Responsible Race”. This isn't just any race; it's a commitment to transform how outdoor clothing is made and used. Our approach isn't narrow; we look at the big picture. We're rethinking the entire lifecycle of our garments—from the drawing board to their final days—to ensure that sustainability is the fundamental principle guiding our actions. As a step on our journey, we’re delving into the world of recycled materials, not merely as alternatives to traditional fabrics but as a foundational move towards a more sustainable future.
“We are passionate about making our business more sustainable, which involves setting strategies, selecting suppliers, reducing environmental impacts during production, improving labour conditions in the supply chain, and finding ways to make our products more circular."
Stephanie Andersson | Sustainability Manager
Why recycled polyester?
Polyester makes up 52% of our textile materials, dominating our product composition. Its popularity in outdoor clothing stems from its lightweight, quick-drying, and moisture-wicking properties. Additionally, it blends seamlessly with natural fibres like cotton and wool, creating a versatile fabric that enhances the overall performance and comfort of outdoor clothing and gear.
Since many of our clothes are made from polyester, using recycled polyester allows us to have a positive impact on the fibre production phase. By choosing recycled polyester, we reduce our dependence on virgin materials like fossil fuels, utilise waste, and decrease CO2 emissions, contributing positively to environmental sustainability.
>50%
of the polyester and polyamide we use shall be from more sustainable alternatives by 2025,
meaning it should be certified or recycled.
What is the difference between recycled polyester and virgin polyester?
The environmental impact of producing virgin polyester is considerable. It relies on non-renewable resources such as oil and gas extracted from the earth and then refined and chemically transformed into polyester fibres. The process is energy-intensive and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
Recycled polyester, on the other hand, is made from recycled PET bottles. The process involves collecting and cleaning the bottles, breaking them into small chips, melting them, and spinning them into new polyester fibres. Using this recycling process greatly reduces CO2 emissions in the raw material production phase, which also reduces the environmental impact of the finished product.
Looking at the bigger picture, the type of raw material we use may make a small difference. But in sustainability, every little step counts! It’s all part of our journey towards a greener future. We're committed to enhancing both our raw materials and production processes to make them more sustainable and resource-efficient.
Stephanie Andersson | Sustainability Manager
The disadvantage of recycled polyester
The quality and durability of recycled plastic can vary depending on its source, which poses challenges in maintaining consistent quality—a key expectation from our customers. While using PET makes it easier to control for quality, it's often diverted from closed-loop recycling systems. Instead of repeatedly being reused for new bottles, it's repurposed for clothing, which is much harder to recycle.
Recycling other plastics, such as ocean waste, for clothing poses significant challenges due to colour variations and lack of uniformity. It requires additional production steps and results in greater variability in the final product, affecting both quality and colour consistency.
So, with all this in mind, why use polyester in outdoor clothing at all? When designing clothing, choosing materials based on their intended use is crucial. Polyester is often preferred for outdoor clothing due to its durability and performance during high-intensity activities.
Beyond recycled materials in outdoor clothing
Starting with recycled materials is only the first step towards making our outdoor clothing more sustainable. To really make an impact, we need to think about making clothes that can be recycled or reused, which means looking at the whole process: using fewer resources, making less waste, making production more efficient, and helping customers choose better options. There's a lot of new ideas being explored to make this happen, but we also need to make sure it's affordable for everyone. Because it's only when these solutions become widespread that we'll see the biggest positive impact on the environment.
Research has found that the most harm to the environment from products, like how much energy they use, the pollution they cause, how much water they need, and the chemicals involved, happens mostly when adding dye and finishings, not when making the fibres.1 To help us make a greater impact, we became a Bluesign® System Partner in 2023, reinforcing our commitment to safe production and our products being free from hazardous chemicals.
Overproduction and small-batch production
Another challenge in the clothing industry is overproduction. The relentless pursuit of trends results in the production of large quantities of clothing, with many not being sold or thrown away after being worn a few times. In fact, the amount of clothes made has doubled in the last 15 years, while the average number of times a garment is worn has decreased by 36%.1
At RevolutionRace, our direct-to-customer approach streamlines every aspect of the product journey and helps us build a close relationship with our community. By eliminating intermediaries and adopting a small-batch production strategy, we remove the need for unnecessary sales samples and enable constant product updates based on customer feedback. It also strengthens our ability to meet demand accurately, reducing returns and minimising overproduction.
<3%
Overproduction should never exceed 3%. In 2023, only 0.3% of all products produced
were not sold directly to end customers.
What can you do?
How you use and care for your clothes makes up about 24% of their carbon footprint.2 The more you use the product, the more sustainable it is. But that’s not only good for the environment, it’s good for your wallet too! According to a customer survey, our returning customers wear their new pants over 50 times, and 83% of the respondents have had them for less than a year.3
A product worn 100 times is ten times more sustainable than one worn just ten times.
A product left unused can never be sustainable.
Stephanie Andersson | Sustainability Manager
Simple Steps for Sustainable Outdoor Shopping
Look into what you need! Before buying, think about what you'll use the product for and learn about the materials and features that might be helpful. We've put together guides to help you pick the right outdoor clothes and gear for your needs.
Find your size! Choosing the right size online can be challenging. Use our size guide and measure yourself and a piece of clothing you already like the fit of. This can help you pick the right size more easily. Also, reading reviews from other customers about how things fit can give you good tips.
Take good care of your items! Make sure to follow the washing and care instructions. If your clothing has a DWR treatment, remember to refresh it as needed.
Fix and wear it again! Outdoor activities can wear out clothes. If your Nordwand or RVRC GP Pants get holes or tears, use our Repair Kits to fix them up and use them again!
Sources
Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2017): A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning Fashion’s Future. https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/a-new-textiles-economy
UNEP (2023): Sustainability and Circularity in the Textile Value Chain: A Global Roadmap.
RevolutionRace (2023): Sustainability Report 2022/23. Page 20. https://storage.mfn.se/a54c5c7a-7500-4116-9b50-9b31099854b9/rvrc-sustainability-report-2022-23.pdf
