![]() ![]() That’s about what one human needs to survive for a year. Because water is used throughout the production and lay-up process-in resins, chemical washes, cooling, cleaning, and more-it’s a water-intensive material to make: it consumes an astonishing 2,300 litres per frame. The study compared a carbon-fibre Roubaix road-bike frame to a comparable aluminum model. Sure, some of these endeavours are marketing hot air, but most of them are legitimate. Brands talk about the steps they are taking to make sure working conditions are safe and wages fair, about the work-life balance of their employees, about shifting from carbon-heavy processes and energy sources to more efficient ones, about using recycled and organic raw materials, about advocating for and donating money to the environment, with third-party certification and audits speaking to these efforts. Mostly on the soft-goods side: think outerwear, layering tops and bottoms, sleeping bags, and the like. For the last decade sustainability has been a growing topic and focus in the outdoor gear industry. deconstructed.Īt least these days I can steer readers toward better choices. I encourage consumption and that’s the antithesis of sustainability, the idea of having the least impact on the planet, while improving people’s lives.Ībove: The Hoji boot by Dynafit. Just about every time I tap out a review, I’m telling every reader that they should trade in whatever jacket, ski, or bike they own because this one is better. I have a jacket for every possible situation. If Imelda Marcos hiked or ran, she would drool at my shoe collection. ![]() My ski rack is full of next year’s models. I test the gear, which means going mountain biking, hiking, paddling, climbing, and skiing, and then write a review. Companies send me their latest and greatest. Along with writing articles like this one, I review outdoor gear for magazines and websites. My job is sustainability’s worst nightmare. The full article can be found in the latest Kootenay Mountain Culture magazine out now. This is a sneak peak of the story by Ryan Stuart. For those hard-goods makers, the ride has just begun. Some companies that make your new jacket, gloves, and shoes have shifted toward more sustainability, but the builders of boards and bikes have larger challenges.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |