When it comes to skiwear, riders tend to choose by the specs, the waterproofing, the features or pockets, the style, colour, fit… You get the picture. But now, a new trend is beginning to emerge, where riders are picking the most sustainable brands. Recycled and organic materials, eco-friendly processes, Bluesign accreditation, and much more have all become factors in choosing sustainable skiwear brands to support.
So, if you’re wondering just how sustainable the big ski brands are, and you are looking for a new innovative ski jacket or affordable but eco-friendly ski pants, then you’re in luck, because we’ve rounded up all the information so you don’t have to.
Patagonia
Founded in the US, Patagonia is a pioneering outdoor brand with a long-standing commitment to social and environmental responsibility.
Patagonia leads the way in sustainable skiwear with bold moves like making over 90% of its line in Fair Trade Certified factories, ensuring workers receive fair wages and operate in safe working environments. Since Spring 2025, all new products are made without intentionally added PFAS, forever chemicals linked to environmental harm. The brand also pledges to move toward 100% renewable and recyclable raw materials and uses preferred materials in 99% of its products. Their down is fully traceable from farm to fibre, and all virgin cotton is organic, supporting regenerative farming. Since 2020, they have turned over 2,000 tons of discarded fishing nets into gear, and their Nevada repair centre fixed more than 40,000 garments just last year alone.
Dope Snow
Founded in Sweden, Dope Snow has built a global reputation for stylish, functional skiwear with a focus on sustainability.
Dope Snow is a Bluesign System Partner, meaning its entire supply chain is guided by strict environmental and social standards. For Winter 2025, 100% of its collection meets Bluesign Product criteria, with 95% of fabrics Bluesign-approved. All jackets and pants use PFAS-free, Bluesign-approved DWR coatings for water repellency without harmful chemicals and 90% of the polyester in the range is recycled, reducing reliance on virgin materials. The brand has also eliminated plastic from its packaging, opting for paper products made by Swedish company Billerud. Dope Snow’s Renewed programme repairs and re-sells old garments to extend their life, too, while a focus on durability helps cut down on the waste associated with fast fashion. These measures embed sustainability across every stage of production without compromising on the technical performance or style.
Picture Organic Clothing
Founded in France in 2008, Picture Organic Clothing stands out for its colourful style and deeply-rooted commitment to sustainability and transparency.
From the beginning, Picture has always chased sustainability. It uses recycled materials certified by the Global Recycled Standard and Recycled Claim Standard, and sources organic and natural fibres governed by OCS, GOTS, and RDS certifications. The brand is laser-focused on durability, designing gear that’s built to last, and encouraging customers to repair rather than replace. In keeping with the mantra sobriety is cool, Picture avoids unnecessary consumption, supports a lifetime repair warranty, and backs transparent garment tracking with its I Made Your Clothes initiative. On the packaging side, Picture has significantly reduced plastic use (by around 70%) with better folding and roll-packing methods, and channels its profits into environmental and humanitarian projects.
MONTEC
Founded in Sweden, Montec has become known for its sleek backcountry-ready ski and snowboard gear, underpinned by a strong commitment to sustainability.
As a Bluesign System Partner, Montec ensures its production follows strict environmental and social standards from fabric mills to finished products. For Winter 2025, 100% of its collection meets Bluesign Product requirements, with 95% of fabrics Bluesign-approved. All outerwear uses PFAS-free, Bluesign-approved DWR coatings to deliver weather protection without harmful chemicals, and 90% of the polyester used is recycled. Plastic has been eliminated from packaging in favour of paper from Swedish supplier Billerud. The Montec Renewed programme repairs and resells old garments to extend their life, while an emphasis on durability reduces waste and challenges the throwaway culture of fast fashion.
Ortovox
Founded in Germany in 1980, Ortovox is known for combining technical mountaineering gear with strong ethical values and sustainability.
Ortovox operates with a circular mindset, repairing and reselling products through its Second Life shop and offering in-house repairs to extend product life. The brand is firmly committed to reducing consumption, outlined in its ProtACT 2024 strategy, which includes animal welfare, climate protection, social responsibility, supply-chain transparency, and product durability. Ortovox achieved full PFC-free production by summer 2023 and remains climate neutral thanks to partnerships like ClimatePartner that track and offset emissions. It also prioritises renewable energy, responsible materials, fair working conditions through Fair Wear Leader status, and communicates openly through its 2024 Planet Report.
Jones
Founded in the US by Jeremy Jones in 2010, Jones Snowboards blends high-performance gear with a transparent, planet-positive ethos.
Jones Snowboards is a recognised leader in sustainable gear and since 2024, all snowboards and splitboards have been Fair Trade Certified, a first in the industry. They are also produced using 100% solar-powered manufacturing facilities, delivering an 89% reduction in CO₂ emissions. The brand designs with circularity in mind through its Re-Up Tech programme that launched in 2023, which allows dead snowboards (even non-Jones boards) to be recycled into new boards, with up to 95% of materials reused. Outerwear and apparel use Oeko-Tex and/or Bluesign certified fabrics, PFOA and PFAS-free DWR treatments, 100% organic cotton, 100% recycled down, and non-mulesed merino wool. Jones also completed a life cycle assessment in 2020 to better understand the environmental impact of each board they make.
Helly Hansen
Founded in Norway in 1877, Helly Hansen is a popular outdoor brand known for its pro-grade gear.
Helly Hansen is working toward bold sustainability goals, and the brand pledged to use at least 50 per cent recycled polyester and polyamide fibres in 2025. They already use solution-dyed materials in their linings and baselayers to reduce water and chemical usage, and as of this year, all products except a few specialised sailing and buoyancy items use PFC-free DWR treatments. The company is also on course to become carbon neutral and reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and 90 per cent by 2040. Helly Hansen designs with recyclability in mind and have introduced Mono Material garments that make recycling easier.
Arc’teryx
Founded in Canada in 1989, Arc’teryx is known for its high-end, technically focused gear.
Arc’teryx is pushing hard on sustainability and product longevity, with all its packaging now recycled or FSC-certified, helping to reduce waste and minimise environmental impact. The brand’s Arc’teryx Renewed programme offers repaired and refurbished gear, extending product life and countering fast fashion. In manufacturing, Arc’teryx uses performance fibre–based DWR coatings that are PFC-free, and increasingly incorporates recycled and responsibly sourced materials across its line. They track supply chain emissions and aim to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2035 through energy efficiency, renewable energy, and carbon offsetting.
Black Diamond
Founded in the US in 1989, Black Diamond is known for high-performance for climbing and skiing gear.
Black Diamond integrates sustainability into all of its design, production, and business practices. The brand uses Bluesign-approved fabrics in the majority of its range, ensuring safer chemicals, reduced waste, and responsible manufacturing. It has eliminated PFCs from its DWR coatings in outerwear, opting for more environmentally friendly alternatives. Black Diamond is also committed to extending product life through repair services, designing gear that is durable and easy to maintain. They are a member of the Outdoor Industry Association’s Climate Action Corps and have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with science-based targets. Through careful material selection, ethical sourcing, and long-term durability, Black Diamond continues to push for technical excellence while lowering its environmental footprint.
Norrøna
Founded in Norway in 1929, Norrøna is a family-owned brand celebrated for its premium, technical outdoor clothing and gear.
Norrøna’s Roadmap 2029 sets out some pretty ambitious sustainability goals, including reaching 100% responsible materials, complete traceability, and net zero emissions by 2029. The brand is already a Bluesign System Partner, with the majority of its fabrics Bluesign-approved or recycled. All DWR treatments are now fluorocarbon-free, and they have committed to ensuring full supply chain transparency. Norrøna also offers a repair service to extend the life of its products and reduce waste.
Outdoor Research
Founded in Seattle in 1981, Outdoor Research is known for technical, adventure-ready gear designed for demanding backcountry conditions.
The brand’s sustainability work mostly focuses on using responsible materials, reducing waste, and ensuring product longevity. Many products now incorporate recycled or Bluesign-approved fabrics, and all DWR treatments are free from harmful PFAS. Outdoor Research also run the Infinite Guarantee programme, repairing or replacing gear to keep it in use for as long as possible. The company is increasing renewable energy use in its operations, too, and actively works with its supply chain to improve environmental and social standards.
Fjällräven
Founded in Sweden in 1960, Fjällräven is renowned for its super functional outdoor gear built to last, their focus on timeless designs and ultimate durability.
Sustainability is at the core of Fjällräven’s design ethos and for many of their designs the brand uses hardwearing, repairable materials like its signature G-1000 fabric, which is a blend of recycled polyester and organic cotton. It has eliminated PFAS from all products and increasingly sources wool that is traceable and ethically produced. Many garments carry the Fjällräven Numbers label, signalling a design intended to endure for decades with the option to repair rather than replace. The company also prioritises resource efficiency in manufacturing and partners with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition to measure and reduce its environmental impact.
Icebreaker
Founded in New Zealand in 1995, Icebreaker pioneered the use of merino wool as a natural alternative to synthetic fabrics like polyester.
Icebreaker’s sustainability vision focuses on natural fibres and ethical supply chains. The brand’s apparel is made from merino wool sourced through partnerships with growers who follow strict animal welfare standards, including a ban on mulesing (a practice involving removing the skin from the rear end of sheep in order to help prevent flystrike infection, a practice banned in the UK). They have also committed to using 100% plastic-free fibres by 2028, replacing synthetics with natural or plant-based alternatives wherever possible. Icebreaker also publishes detailed annual Transparency Reports outlining its environmental and social progress to give customers an unimpeded look at exactly what they’re doing behind the scenes.
Conclusion
It’s certainly a trend that’s taking the industry by storm, and as the days and seasons pass, more and more brands join the climate crusade, improving their practices alongside the quality of their goods. These are just a few examples of the brands leading the sustainability charge, and it begs the question: how far can they take this, and what will the skiwear industry look like by the end? If there’s a clock on the world of snowsports under the heel of climate change, the brands above are doing all they can to slow the countdown. And buying from them is a great way to support both your favourite brand, and the planet.
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