Green technical gear is definitely at the front of our minds as the new year kicks off. Many companies have taken to making tees from organic cotton, but going above and beyond that and pushing the design envelope to bring progressive materials into technical active wear is what really gets us excited. Burton is the latest company to add to that list, launching its Green Mountain Project collection. Featuring everything from snowboarding jackets to boots that incorporate recycled materials and “environmentally friendly waterproofing technologies,” GMP products are engineered to have a lower environmental impact.
Fabrics used in the jackets range from 40% Recycled Poly/60% Poly to 100% Recycled Poly depending on the fabric structure, and various jacket accessories, from cordlocks to zipper pulls, are all recycled. Jackets are waterproofed using a PFOA-free DWR lining. PFOA is a controversial chemical, and probable carcinogen, commonly used in waterproof membranes, that some companies are starting to phase out.
But Burton isn’t just designing jackets that have a lower impact; they’re including boots and boards as well. The Ruler GMP boot is PVC-free and uses mesh made from recycled polyester. Recycled elements being a major component of the GMP collection, the Eco Nico board is composed of recycled steel. The board also touts a FSC-certified wood core and a lacquer free top sheet. Burton’s snowboard business unit director Todd King told the New York Times that the Eco Nico was “the greenest of the green, the most sustainable board we’ve ever made.” With advances like this, Burton leads the way for the snowboard industry as a whole to move towards greener pastures.
Check out the whole collection at www.burton.com.
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