We want you to feel confident that you’re purchasing a well-made product from companies making a positive impact.

For companies to pass our test, they must approach it from a variety of methods, such as:

• Product design: are they built to last? How are they tested? What types of materials are used? How many plastics? Are they reusable or recyclable? Do you minimize scrap materials? What do you do with those scraps?

• Raw materials: How are they sourced? What types of plants/animal fibers are used? How are they cared for? How far do the materials travel during the manufacturing process?

• Facilities: How much energy are you using? How are you sourcing your energy? Water? What’s your carbon footprint?

• Shipping & Supply Chain: How far do goods travel within your supply chain? What’s your emissions footprint?

• Fair Trade & Community: How do you treat your people? How do you support your partners, farms, and logistics companies along all points of your supply chain?

• Retail: How do you package your products? Do you minimize single-use plastics?

• Goals & Beyond: What are your sustainability goals? How do you make steps on reaching them? Do you hide your mistakes or are you transparent? How else do you impact the wellbeing of your community (whether locally, or special causes?)

Read more from some standout companies:

• Cotopaxi: https://www.cotopaxi.com/pages/sustainable-by-design

• Salewa: https://www.salewa.com/en-us/social-and-environmental-responsibility

• Oboz: https://obozfootwear.com/en-us/our-commitment

• Patagonia: https://www.patagonia.com/our-responsibility-programs.html

• Prana: https://www.prana.com/sustainability.html

• The North Face: https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/sustainability

• Toad & Co: https://www.toadandco.com/pages/sustainability