Explored

Hemp in the outdoor apparel marketplace these days has a compelling sustainability narrative around it. Well-known brands are ramping up the use of this undeniably cool fiber. I’m often asked if the new Hemp Hound™ Sweater was a “sustainability” move. And, to answer, I’ll defer to the longtime favorite Facebook relationship status – “it’s complicated.”

We checked in with Kelly Hughes, Ruffwear's Sustainability Program Manager, to learn about the chemicals management process at Ruffwear. And, most importantly, how it's our responsibility to use chemistry wisely to protect our consumers, supply chain partners, and the ecological systems in which our manufacturing facilities are located.

Over the past two years, we've been building on our sustainability work by developing and launching a Climate Action Plan. We’ve made some bold goals, and we’re working hard to reach them. Here’s what we’ve done so far, what we’re doing now, and where we’re headed in the pursuit of sustainability with our carbon footprint.  

Something I’ve been curious about for a while is to what extent having a dog in my life impacts the planet. Finn is now 12 years old, and our lives revolve around him. He eats every day, has toys, travels, and has clothes and adventure gear the same as me. Let's look at Finn's carbon pawprint by focusing on the impacts of his food and apparel. 

Ruffwear recently welcomed David Bennett (and his dog, Ginger) to the Pack as our Senior Sustainability Manager. We caught up recently to learn more about him and the work the team is doing to support Ruffwear's sustainability journey.

Whether peering deep into a crevasse or ogling the sprawling vastness from high above, glaciers are inherently artful elements of nature. This was all on designer Liz’s mind as she developed Glacier – this season’s new pattern for the Climate Changer™ Jacket and Climate Changer™ Pullover.

Ruffwear is continuing our commitment to do business better by joining the Outdoor Industry Association’s Climate Action Corps as a Founding Member.

As a company dedicated to making great gear, our definition of success includes embracing our responsibility to both our community and our planet. Today, we’re going to dig deeper into one facet of our sustainability strategy: bluesign® materials.

We checked in with Kelly, Ruffwear's Sustainability Coordinator, to see what she’s learned in her first year. As Kelly explains, it’s an ever-evolving, always-room-to-improve process with numerous factors involved. In this article, we’ll look at Ruffwear’s efforts in establishing an environmentally-conscious supply chain.