PERTEX® SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

E N V I R O N M E N TA L P R OT E C T I O N

As a long-standing ingredient brand in the outdoor industry we understand our increased responsibility to protect the world in which we thrive.

We are committed to minimising our impact upon the environment through responsible production

and business practices.

To help further these aims, we have set some ambitious targets:

01 I N T R O D U C T I O N

REDUCE DEMAND FOR VIRGIN RAW

MATERIALS

REDUCE ENERGY & WATER CONSUMPTION

ELIMINATE THE USE OF POTENTIALLY

HARMFUL CHEMICALS

• 80% of fabrics produced to contain a minimum of 50% recycled content

• 100% of fabrics produced to use non-fluorinated DWR finishes

• Introduction of solution dyed products

80%100%

OUR AIMS

G O A L D AT E 2 0 2 2

We are committed to replacing virgin raw materials with those from recycled waste streams wherever possible. By doing so, we reduce the demand for virgin raw materials, divert waste material from landfill and also reduce our energy and water consumption.

02

50%

29M

R AW M AT E R I A L S

The Pertex® Eco range of fabrics represent this commitment; these fabrics contain a minimum 50% recycled content, and many contain 100% recycled content.

Pertex® Eco polyester fabrics utilise waste post-consumer PET bottles whilst the Nylon fabrics utilize post-industrial waste.

Between 2016 and 2019 we diverted 29 million PET bottles and 400 tons of Nylon waste from landfill to create yarns for Pertex® fabrics.

33% 33 % of 2019 fabric production contains a minimum of 50% recycled content our goal is to increase this to 80% of fabric production by 2022

Our focus on sustainability does not mean that we have stopped pushing the boundaries of performance fabrics, we believe that through our constant innovation we can achieve both. Such innovations include superlight 10 denier Pertex® Quantum made from 100% recycled Nylon and YFuse fabrics made from both 100% recycled polyester and 100% recycled Nylon.

As part of our sustainable raw materials program we are continuing to explore alternative pathways including biodegradable & bio-based polymers.

B E T W E E N 2 0 1 6 A N D 2 0 1 9 W E D I V E R T E D 2 9 M I L L I O N P E T B O T T L E S A N D 4 0 0 T O N S O F N Y L O N WA S T E F R O M L A N D F I L L

Pertex® is proud to be a Bluesign® System Partner. The Bluesign® System sets standards and controls, for environmentally friendly and safe fabric production.

Our partnership with Bluesign® helps to ensure that we can eliminate potentially harmful chemicals from our entire supply chain.

03

22%100%

R E S P O N S I B L E C H E M I C A L S M A N A G E M E N T

DURABLE WATER REPELLENT FINISHES

Since 2010, we have invested significant research and development resource into developing high performing, non-fluorinated durable water repellent (DWR) finishing technology.

We made this decision as we recognise the concern regarding the release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into the environment.

22% of 2019 production uses non-fluorinated DWR finish.

GOAL is 100% of Pertex® production to use non-fluorinated DWR finish by 2022.

Pertex® begin non-fluorinated DWR finish development

The first Pertex® fabrics with non-fluorinated DWR launched

Greenpeace “Footprints in the Snow” report published

Greenpeace “Detox Outdoor” report published

22% of Pertex® fabric production uses non-fluorinated DWR finish

Goal is 100% of fabric production uses non-fluorinated DWR finish

TRANSITION TIMELINE:

2 0 1 0

2 0 1 1

2 0 1 5

2 0 1 6

2 0 1 9

2 0 2 2

One of the most polluting, energy and water intensive processes of fabric production is conventional bath dyeing. Solution dyeing removes the need for this process by colouring the polymer before it is spun into yarn.

Our goal is to launch solution dyed options across a number of Pertex fabrics by 2022.

04

60%2022

S O L U T I O N DY E I N G

Solution dyeing uses up to 60% less water than conventional bath dyeing and reduces CO2 emissions by up to 50%.

We are proud to be a Sustaining Member of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA).

EOCA is a ‘not-for-profit’ association which funds vital conservation projects across the globe.

The vision of EOCA is that: “The outdoor sector and the millions of people who enjoy the great outdoors are active champions for the conservation of nature and wild places.”

EOCA has funded a wide range of projects including clean-up operations on a mountain peak in Kyrgyzstan, the protection of brown bears in northern Spain, protection of marsh fritillaries in Ireland and creation of a trans-boundary hiking trail in Macedonia and Albania.

Pertex® has been a Sustaining Member of EOCA since 2015.

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y I N I T I AT I V E S05

06 PA R T N E R S

SYSTEMPARTNER

As part of our responsible and sustainable practices we work with a number of independent certification bodies, including Bluesign®, OEKO-TEX® and Global Recycled Standard.

“ At Rab, we aim to work with partners who are as committed as we are to delivering quality products with positive sustainability credentials. That’s why working with brands like Pertex, who actively work to minimise their environmental impact and who understand the important in protecting the world we live in, is so important to us.”

Tim Fish - Brand Director, Rab.

“ By having a partner supplier like Pertex continuously developing further within the sustainable area of materials, we at Peak Performance feel that is perfectly aligned with us as a brand and were we want to go next when it comes to our materials. Sustainability is a given aspect in our material selection process and here we see that Pertex is right there on the same page as us.”

Lina Bredberg - Fabric R&D, Peak Performance.