Cotopaxi Cielo Sustainability Report

The Cotopaxi Cielo features a 2.5-layer construction, which is prone to delaminating and breaking down through use and has a shorter lifespan than 2- and 3-layer designs. Cotopaxi doesn’t list the jacket’s denier, but the shell is a heavy polyester that should effectively resist tears over time. Largely due to its 2.5-layer build, the Cielo is an average choice for longevity and will require careful treatment to have a long life.

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 DWR coating on the Cotopaxi Cielo is PFAS free. Since the end of 2024, all Cotopaxi products have used PFAS-free durable water-repellent (DWR) treatments.

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 waterproof membrane in the Cielo is PFAS free. Since late 2024, Cotopaxi has used PFAS-free waterproof membranes in all products that require one.

The membranes of certain waterproof products, including rain jackets, ski jackets, ski bibs, hardshells, and hiking footwear, commonly contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These synthetic compounds, known as "forever chemicals,” 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.

Cotopaxi produces several products made of entirely recycled fabrics, including the Cielo, which is made from 100% recycled polyester. Most Cotopaxi products we’ve researched incorporate recycled materials. In 2023, the company achieved its goal of ensuring its entire product line featured materials that meet one of the “3 Rs” of sustainable design: repurposed, recycled, or responsible. Unlike many outdoor brands, Cotopaxi prioritizes deadstock, or repurposed fabrics, over recycled materials, stating that recycled materials alone will not reduce emissions enough to meet the brand’s climate targets.

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.

The Cotopaxi Cielo is made from Bluesign-approved polyester. Cotopaxi is not a Bluesign System Partner, but some of its products use Bluesign-approved materials. More broadly, the company states that all products made in 2025 feature fabrics that meet a responsible chemistry standard, including Bluesign-approved materials, Oeko-Tex-certified materials, or fabrics produced in accordance with Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) standards.

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 Cielo jacket is not currently made in an FTC factory. Fair Trade Certified-licensed brands receive a point in this category for all their products, as participation in the Fair Trade system positively influences a brand’s entire supply chain—even if not every product is made in Fair Trade Certified factories. Cotopaxi has partnered with Fair Trade USA since 2018, and works with seven Fair Trade Certified factories, where nearly 35% of its products are made. Fair Trade Certified factories adhere to rigorous social and environmental standards, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and sustainable resource management. Brands also pay into Fair Trade Premiums, a fund owned by workers who collectively choose how to use the money to improve their communities. Cotopaxi also works with Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production to certify factories.

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.

Cotopaxi has made a strong effort to reduce packaging volume and prioritizes Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified materials, recycled materials, and biodegradable packaging for its products. The brand is phasing out virgin plastic and paper, but has yet to publish an update on progress in this area.

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.

Cotopaxi offers basic in-house repair services for minor damage. Repairs covered under warranty are free, while non-warranty repairs incur a small fee. For more extensive repairs, the company partners with Rugged Thread.

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.

Cotopaxi launched a resale program in 2024 that allows customers to buy used gear and apparel or trade in eligible items for store credit. By the end of its first year, the brand credited the program with diverting almost 9,000 pounds of waste from landfills. In 2025, Cotopaxi partnered with ThredUp to expand the program, rebranding as Cotopaxi Resale.

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.

Cotopaxi set a Science Based Targets Initiative-verified target to reduce its absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2030 and Scope 3 emissions by 90% by 2045. In 2025, the company reported emissions of 32,653 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). While emissions have remained relatively stable in recent years, Cotopaxi notes that year-to-year changes have largely been driven by updates to accounting methodologies rather than emissions reduction projects.

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.

Cotopaxi publishes a thorough annual impact report. It is one of the most comprehensive impact reports in the outdoor industry, detailing Cotopaxi’s material sourcing, progress toward responsible chemistry, circularity initiatives, greenhouse gas tracking efforts, and supply chain responsibility.

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.