As consumers and outdoor enthusiasts, making the right choices for the planet whilst also enjoying the time we have on it can be a conflicting and overwhelming prospect. With so many big brands making even bigger claims about their eco-credentials, it can be difficult to differentiate between the good, the bad, and the greenwashing. Claims such as “made from recycled materials” or “ethically sourced” can feel rather empty without the numbers to back them up, and finding those figures is a complex process even for manufacturers. With their Material Facts tables, Rab are aiming to counteract jargon-heavy sustainability claims, condensing information such as fluorocarbon content, recycled components, renewable energy use and country of manufacture into simple, black and white data.

The program launched in 2023 by Rab and Lowe Alpine’s parent company Equip as a working methodology to provide a clear and simple standard for communicating sustainability credentials to consumers. The hope is that as more brands get on board with the methodology, it will become an industry standard that can be adapted and applied to different product categories. At present, Rab’s Material Facts library covers all of its new apparel and sleeping bags, as well as an archive of older products which is still being built upon. Consumers can easily access the data tables by scanning a QR code on the product hang-tag, or by searching on the Rab website, meeting an increasing demand for transparency and clarity when communicating sustainability.

Building on the scheme, this year Equip and the European Outdoor Group (EOG) established a Material Facts Collective. By inviting other industry leaders, brands and retailers within different product categories to join the working group, it is hoped that the original Material Facts Methodology can be tested and improved to include new data criteria, and to create a standardised system that helps consumers to make better-informed choices. So far, nine brands from the UK, US and Europe have committed to the working group, including Atomic, JD Outdoor and Ortovox. Equip CEO Richard Leedham hopes more will follow suit:

“With a network of leading brands from the industry who have already participated in our webinars and nine brands and retailers already committed to the working group, we’re encouraging more industry partners to join us. Together we can efficiently develop sustainability data that consumers want.”

As the effects of climate change and over-consumption are seen and felt more acutely each day, a methodology of this kind can’t be kept a guarded secret. Katy Stevens, Head of CSR and Sustainability at EOG, said: “In an ideal world, comparable sustainability data flows automatically from brands to retailers, to customers and policymakers. The Material Facts Collective provides a unique opportunity for brands to collaborate on developing that industry standard.”

The first meeting of the working group took place in September, with Equip setting out plans to publish a formalised and unbranded data methodology in 2025.

Discover more about the project at rab.equipment/material-facts