Polyurethane
We use polyurethane in waterproof garments, equipment and some stretch yarns, as well as in adhesives and coatings.
Why
Polyurethanes are found in several of our products. They make up things such as our adhesives, waterproof and water-resistant coatings and films, spandex and foams. To avoid the use of PVC in our equipment and luggage lines due to its relatively high environmental impact, we have chosen to use polyurethane instead. The path to an eco-friendly polyurethane is much clearer and already underway. We are constantly striving to improve our manufacturing process and the materials that go into making our products in a way that’s better for the environment.
Where We Are
Farmers who grow their cotton without harmful chemicals reduce their reliance on big agrochemical companies, like Bayer-Monsanto and Syngenta, and reduce their workers’ exposure to potentially toxic and carcinogenic compounds. Organically farmed cotton employs nature-based solutions to manage pests and to build healthy soil, instead of the synthetic pesticides, herbicides, defoliants, fertilizers and GMO seeds used to grow conventional cotton. Organic methods support biodiversity and healthy ecosystems, improve the quality of soil and often use less water.
What’s Next
Our goal is to use more recycled stretch yarns and bio-based polyurethanes in our products. This has the potential to reduce our CO2 emissions because these employ recycling processes that use former waste material (instead of virgin), and plant-based feedstocks.
