Hazardous Chemicals in the Outdoor Industry

Hazardous Chemicals in the Outdoor Industry

By David Hanney

Hazardous Chemicals in the Outdoor Industry

From waterpoofs to wetsuits to bike suspension, the outdoor industry has a problem with potentially hazardous chemicals and toxins. They're used thoughout the production process when making outdoor clothing and equipment.

We work with our suppliers to prohibit the use of the most dangerous chemicals and lead the way to make a cleaner and more sustainable outdoor industry.

A Brief Overview

  1. Pollution and toxins in the outdoor industry
  2. Alpkit restricted substances list and route to zero hazardous chemicals
  3. Where can I find out more about hazardous chemicals?

Pollution and toxins in the outdoor industry

About 8000 synthetic chemicals are used in the clothing industry from material production through to the finished garment. The most commonly used chemicals that are hazardous in nature can include: fire retardants; volatile organic chemicals (VOCs); organophosphates; chloroprene; AZO dyes; polyfluorinated substances (PFASs) such as formaldehyde; and phthalates.

We do not profess to be expert in the understanding the nature and impact of all of the chemicals used in our production processes. However, we want to minimise our impact. We make cleaner and more sustainable outdoor clothing equipment by working with industry experts, collaborating with our mills and factories, and seeking 100% sustainably sourced materials wherever possible.

Alpkit restricted substances list and route to zero

We have specific policies in place to address the use of hazardous chemicals in our supply chain. We eliminate organophosphates in tents, PVC from our sleeping mats and all our DWRs are PFC-free.

We have a Restricted Substances List that all our factories and mills sign up to. It prohibits the use of the most hazardous chemicals. We adopt the Restricted Substances List used by the American & Footwear Association.

We sign up to ZHDC Roadmap to Zero to eliminate harmful chemicals from our supply chain.

Where can I find out more about hazardous chemicals and outdoor products?

There are many resources available online to learn more about hazardous chemicals.

Your next reads

We Give 1% For The Planet

It’s part of our Alpkit DNA to give back. We’ve been donating 1% of our sales to the Alpkit Foundation since 2015. And we’ve now been certified by ...
February 17, 2022

Our Use of Recycled Materials

We’re doing our bit. And we always have. We’re on a long journey towards being an even more environmentally and socially responsible business. Part...
April 06, 2022

Our Use Of Natural Fibres - Traditional Technologies, Modern Design

We've introduced lots of natural fibre products to our clothing and equipment ranges over the last 5 years. From base layers and midlayers to packs...
November 04, 2021

Why Repair and Reuse Beats Recycle

100 billion items of clothing are made every year for 8 billion people. The globalisation of the clothing industry is wreaking havoc on our environ...
May 24, 2023

GRI Content Index to Alpkit 2023 Sustainability Report

Our 2023 Sustainability Report uses the GRI standards framework. GRI is the Global Reporting Initiative that sets out best practice for how busine...
March 08, 2023

Deforestation and the Outdoor Industry

Without care and action, the outdoor clothes we wear and products we use could be associated with deforestation. We aim to eliminate the risk defor...
March 08, 2023

Conflict Minerals

We live in a worldwide trading system with complex supply chains that spans across the globe. Everyday products such as phones, TVs and batteries h...
March 05, 2023

What is the Responsible Wool Standard?

As part of our continuing efforts to be an ethical company, our Rathlin, Tryfan and Brenin and Idwal all use 100% Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) c...
October 27, 2022

Our Journey Towards Plastic Free Packaging

Sustainability has been at the heart of everything we’ve done since we were a teeny tiny start up. We’re now a B Corp, a member of The Microfibre C...
June 20, 2022

Our Responsible Cotton Sourcing Policy

We’re a product-led company. Design is integral to what we do. Choosing the best materials we can is a huge part of that and we take advantage of n...
April 01, 2022

Inside Alpkit: The Faces Behind our UK Made Products

Hiking, bikepacking, bouldering... Whatever your outdoor addiction is, we generally make kit for it and have been doing so for over 15 years. We'r...
February 28, 2022

Leave a Trace

Plant a tree. Repair a wall. Pick up litter. Say 'hi' to a stranger. Pass things on. Repair old gear. Use sustainable materials. Make gear you'll l...
October 29, 2021

Is Circularity A Myth?

This is an extract from Damian Hall's upcoming book, We Can't Run Away From This. It's about improving running's footprint in the climate emergency...
July 21, 2022

Extending our commitment to 1% for the Planet

The world doesn't change overnight. Fortunately, we are in it for the long haul. Our love of the outdoors and the world's wild places guides the wa...
February 02, 2024

Alpkit nominated Brand of the Year in TGO Awards 2024

We're delighted to have been nominated for Brand of the Year in the TGO Awards 2024. The winners are voted for by the public and voting is now open...
January 21, 2024

Send Your Sleeping Bag to Syria and Turkey

The Continuum Project is currently focusing its efforts on the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. We're collecting donations of sleeping bags to send ...
February 14, 2023

Highly Commended at the edie Sustainability Leaders Awards!

This Wednesday the 30th of March, we were awarded Highly Commended Small Business of the Year at the edie Sustainability Leaders Awards. Yay! Th...
April 01, 2022

How We Can Support Ukraine

We’re coming together to support those affected by the war in Ukraine. We are calling out for and coordinating donations of good, usable kit. Thank...
March 10, 2022

Net Zero With Science Based Targets

Our Full Life Carbon Footprint Estimating our full life carbon footprint is incredibly exciting. It focuses the urgent action to tackle our clim...
February 18, 2022

Double Donation, Double Thank You

Wow, what a whirlwind that was. Our Black Friday Sale is now over. Thanks to our customers, we have raised enough to support over another 100 proje...
November 30, 2021

We Won Sustainability Entrepreneur of the Year!

We won Sustainability Entrepreneur of the Year for the Midlands region at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards! The Great British Entrepreneur ...
November 23, 2021

Double Donation to the Alpkit Foundation for Black Friday

It’s on. Our Black Friday sale is back. And it's massive. From the 17th to midnight on the 29th of November, shop discounted products across online...
November 17, 2021

Towards a Net Zero Workplace

In November last year, Mark Stacey, our Head of Retail, went to visit a potential new store in Edinburgh. On the way back, he took a call. "How was...
October 21, 2021

We've signed the Microfibre 2030 Commitment

Whether we like it or not, we will all leave our mark on the earth. But we want to leave a good one. We’ve just become a signatory of the Microfibr...
October 06, 2021

We've been shortlisted for Sustainability Entrepreneur of the Year

We're finalists for the 2021 Great British Entrepreneur Awards for the Midlands region – and in a year of 4,800 entries! We've made it to the fi...
July 13, 2021

We’ve committed to reduce our carbon emissions by 46%

We’re taking active measures to reduce our carbon emissions by 46%, as part of a commitment to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. To meet t...
July 09, 2021

Mountain Rescue fundraiser weekend

The late May bank holiday weekend saw some fantastic weather, perfect for getting out on the hills. It also gave us the chance to raise money for t...
June 11, 2021

10% of sales in store for local MRT

This bank holiday weekend each of our stores will be donating 10% of sales to their local Mountain Rescue Team through the Alpkit Foundation. W...
May 21, 2021

9 in 10 UK outdoor enthusiasts consider sustainability in their purchase decisions

Sustainability is so important to us here. And we know it's something that many of our customers care deeply about too, which is why we were deligh...
May 12, 2021

Can Business be a Force for Good?

We're facing many challenges. From the climate change, through diversity & inclusion in the outdoors to improving working conditions in supply ...
February 12, 2021

People and Planet Before Profit

Alpkit 2021 Sustainability Report We're proud to release our 2021 Sustainability Report in a landmark year. A treasured moment of last year w...
February 02, 2021

It's Official - We're a B Corp

Alpkit is excited to announce that we’ve reached a significant milestone: achieving certification as a B Corporation. From day one, Alpkit has a...
September 02, 2020

Introducing our Sustainability Policy

We've been going nice places and doing good things for a while, well before we set up Alpkit back in 2004,and it's developed into our main guiding ...
September 13, 2019

Kitsquad Bridge the Gap to Outdoor Adventures for Those in Need

In a world that increasingly values outdoor experiences, the barriers faced by individuals and families on low incomes can often go unnoticed, or i...
January 10, 2024

Apply! £10,000 to grassroots projects within National Parks

On August 19th Jen and Cookie, her rescue dog, set off on an adventure to walk across all national parks in England. 10-weeks-10-national-parks-and...
September 14, 2023

Woodland Gatherings

It’s so often the drive and passion of individuals that impacts across a wider community. As Ukrainian families began to arrive and find refuge in ...
December 17, 2022

A percentage of goodness from Oram

We're delighted to have Anthony Oram choosing the Alpkit Foundation as part of his 1% For the Planet commitment. It's great to be helping and shari...
December 02, 2022

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

=