Arc'teryx Gamma SL Pant Sustainability Report

The Gamma SL stands out for its excellent long-term durability relative to weight. The softshell nylon face fabric resists abrasion better than most in its class and shows minimal signs of wear even after seasons of climbing, hiking, and scrambling. It holds its shape well over time, unlike lighter alternatives that tend to stretch or pill. The one known weak point is the thigh pocket fabric, which can thin out from phone pressure during climbs. Still, this issue is easily patchable, and overall longevity is among the best we’ve seen in a lightweight hiking pant.

Choosing durable outdoor gear is perhaps the most effective way to reduce environmental impact—the longer it lasts, the less it needs to be produced. Our proprietary longevity rating evaluates overall build quality based on factors such as materials, fabric denier, component durability (including zippers and toggles), real-world performance as reported by our field testers, and our experiences with the brand. Overall, we feel strongly that reducing overall consumption is a cornerstone of sustainability.

The Arc'teryx Gamma SL uses a primary material that is 86% nylon and 14% elastane and contains 43% recycled content. However, the lining material is not recycled and includes 100% polyester. In 2024, Arc’teryx used 31% recycled or low-impact nylon and 47% recycled or low-impact polyester (up from 14% and 41% in 2023, respectively). While the company fell short of its interim goal of reaching 50% recycled nylon and 75% recycled polyester by 2025, it anticipates being on track to achieve 100% recycled or low-impact nylon and polyester by 2030.

Outdoor gear can be made partly or entirely from recycled materials, the most common being nylon, polyester, wool, and down. Some products include a single recycled component or a partially recycled fabric, while others are 100% recycled (generally excluding accessories like zippers, Velcro, toggles, etc.). For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate the amount of recycled materials in a particular product and assign points accordingly.

These pants feature Bluesign-approved primary and lining fabrics. Arc’teryx became a Bluesign System Partner in 2013, signaling its commitment to reducing its environmental and chemical impacts. Since then, the brand has adopted Bluesign’s Restricted Substance List across its supply chain. While Arc’teryx does not publish the overall percentage of Bluesign-approved materials it uses, the majority of Arc’teryx products reviewed by Better Trail incorporate them.

Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile certification system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A Bluesign-approved material indicates that it has undergone a rigorous vetting process based on the criteria above. A Bluesign Product goes the next mile, containing at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and at least 30% Bluesign-approved accessories.

The Arc'teryx Gamma SL has a PFAS-free DWR. While some Arc’teryx products still feature a DWR treatment that contains PFAS, the brand has stated that, as of early 2025, most of its products with DWRs are now PFAS free.

The DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish is a product’s direct defense against outside moisture, and commonly contains PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These synthetic compounds, known as "forever chemicals,” are found in a range of gear categories, from jackets to footwear. They resist water, oil, and heat exceptionally well, making them ideal for outdoor use, but their nearly indestructible nature also means that they take an extremely long time to degrade in nature, if at all. PFAS can eventually end up in everything from soil to drinking water and have been linked to a range of health issues.

The Gamma SL is manufactured in a Fair Trade Certified (FTC) factory. In 2021, Arc’teryx achieved Fair Trade Certification for three of its Vancouver-based factories. By 2025, the company reported supporting 22 factories in earning certification, including one of the first-ever FTC footwear factories. Fair Trade Certification ensures that factories adhere to rigorous social and environmental standards, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and sustainable resource management. Arc’teryx aims to manufacture 80% of its products in FTC factories by the end of 2025. FTC partner brands also pay into Fair Trade Premiums, a fund owned by workers who collectively choose how to use the money to improve their communities.

This criterion evaluates a brand's commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing its environmental impact throughout the production process. Responsible manufacturing is most commonly demonstrated through certifications and membership in programs such as Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accreditation of Production, and the Fair Labor Association. We also recognize brands that prioritize local production, such as those that manufacture primarily in the United States or Europe, to reduce carbon emissions, maintain better oversight of working conditions, and comply with strict social and environmental regulations.

Unlike industry competitors such as Patagonia or REI, Arc’teryx has made limited progress toward recycled or reduced packaging initiatives. In 2024, the brand estimated that packaging waste accounted for around 1% of its total emissions. It plans to build out a waste management strategy in 2025.

Packaging can add significant waste to an outdoor gear purchase and often ends up in landfills. Many brands are using recycled packaging and/or making efforts to reduce packaging altogether. For example, they may use a certain percentage of recycled cardboard or make efforts to use less plastic or paper across their packaging operation. In some cases, brands also use Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, which helps to ensure sustainable sourcing of forest materials.

Arc’teryx offers robust repair services through its ReBird program. Most repairs are free, while others are provided for a small fee. Simple repairs can be handled in-store at ReBird Service Centers, while more complex repairs can be mailed into the brand. In 2024, Arc’teryx opened 12 new ReBird Service Centers globally, bringing its total to 18. The brand reported repairing over 28,000 garments the same year, constituting an almost 40% increase in total repairs. Arc’teryx also prioritizes education by publishing washing and waterproofing tutorials to ensure people can keep their gear functioning properly.

Repair services extend the lifespan of outdoor gear and reduce overall consumption. Some brands offer comprehensive repair programs that can fix a wide range of issues, while others have more limited capabilities. If a brand's warranty policy only covers replacement, rather than repair, these programs usually do not meet this criterion.

You can trade in your old Arc’teryx gear or buy used products from the company’s ReBird Resale program. Additionally, if your used gear is beyond repair or too battered to sell, the company’s repair technicians will repurpose the old material to make or repair other products. Arc’teryx also partners with Debrand to find responsible disposal methods for unusable products, such as recycling and waste-to-energy incineration. In 2024, the brand launched a new partnership with Ambercycle, which specializes in textile-to-textile recycling.

Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation for longer and out of landfills. The most common form is a trade-in program, where consumers can exchange items for store credit, which is then resold. Some brands accept products back for recycling at the end of their life, thereby reducing waste. Occasionally, some do both.

Arc’teryx has been tracking its environmental impact using Higg Index tools since 2014—and we love its thorough and transparent reporting. The brand is targeting net-zero emissions by 2050 (which it defines as a 90% reduction in emissions compared to its 2022 baseline). In the short term, Arc’teryx plans to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 90% and its Scope 3 emissions by 42% by 2030. These targets are verified by the Science Based Targets initiative, which ensures that reduction goals are aligned with Paris Agreement warming thresholds. Thus far, the brand reported a 7% increase in absolute emissions between 2023 and 2024, but a 29% reduction in emissions intensity (emissions per unit of revenue) in two years. This means that while the brand’s total emissions have increased, the emissions associated with each product have decreased.

This criterion evaluates whether this brand measures its greenhouse gas emissions, along with its commitment to reduction and transparency in reporting. Typically, we require brands to follow established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. Most companies use the widely recognized scope categorization system for measuring brand emissions. Those who earn the most points in this category have emissions reduction goals verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a global organization that helps companies set greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C. To verify their goals through SBTi, companies undergo a rigorous assessment process and continual follow-up to ensure consistent progress towards achieving their targets.

Arc’teryx has published a comprehensive annual impact report each year since 2019, covering nearly all of Better Trail’s sustainability criteria. These reports provide year-over-year data on key initiatives, including responsible material sourcing, greenhouse gas reduction, and circularity initiatives. Unlike many brands owned by parent companies, Arc’teryx publishes its own independent impact report in addition to the annual report released by its parent company, Amer Sports. This ensures that we have highly detailed data about the brand’s emissions reduction progress, among other topics.

An impact report is an important step toward transparency and accountability on the sustainability front. These reports vary in form but generally cover topics such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions tracking, waste and water usage, supply chain analysis, and packaging efforts. For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate this criterion based on the depth and quality of the information provided in the report, and how often it is produced. Some brands produce their own impact report, while others are published by their parent company. In practice, we’ve found that reports produced by individual brands include more detailed information about their sustainability efforts.