Deuter Speed Lite 21 Sustainability Report

The Deuter Speed Lite 21 is constructed with a simple 100-denier nylon body and a frameless design, which helps reduce weight but doesn’t inspire long-term confidence. That said, the material is tough enough for general hiking and travel, and its streamlined profile means fewer failure points. Treat it kindly and it should hold up for multiple seasons.

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 Deuter Speed Lite 21 features a PFAS-free DWR treatment. Since 2019, all Deuter products, including those with DWR treatments, have been PFAS free. The company uses a DWR impregnation that is both environmentally friendly and harmless to human health.

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 Speed Lite is made from fabric consisting of 100% recycled pre-consumer waste. Around two-thirds of Deuter’s 2024/25 products feature partially or fully recycled main body fabrics. The brand set a goal to produce at least half of its products with recycled core materials by 2025.

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 body fabric of the Deuter Speed Lite 21 is Bluesign approved, and the entire pack is certified as a Bluesign Product. Furthermore, Deuter is a Bluesign System Partner, and many of its products incorporate Bluesign-approved materials. Of the 50% recycled main body fabrics Deuter is transitioning to in 2025, 70% will be Bluesign certified.

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 20% Bluesign-approved accessories.

Deuter has been a member of the Fair Wear Foundation since 2011. The Fair Wear Foundation is a nonprofit organization that partners with brands to improve labor conditions in the apparel industry. It helps brands implement fair wages, safe working conditions, and workers’ rights through regular factory audits and guidance for continuous improvement. It also issues annual social responsibility reports for its members and has consistently ranked Deuter in the “Leader” category.

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.

Deuter packages its products using Recycled Claim Standard-certified 100% recycled plastic poly bags. The company has also shifted away from using cardboard boxes for accessories and small products, instead using bags made from 100% recycled paper.

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.

Deuter offers free repair services for any of its products. In Germany, where the company is headquartered, its repair team fixes around 3,500 products yearly.

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.

Deuter has a brick-and-mortar resale store in Germany, where it sells outlet items and “Second Life” products. Additionally, the company recycles usable material from products that can’t be repaired for use in future repairs.

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.

Deuter has used the Higg Index to track its greenhouse gas emissions since 2021. The company has announced an emissions reduction target, but the Science Based Target Initiative has not verified its goals.

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.

Deuter produces a thorough annual impact report. The report details Deuter’s efforts to source lower-impact materials and its use of Bluesign Products. It also highlights initiatives to decrease Deuter’s carbon footprint, such as certifying 30% of its products as carbon neutral in 2023.

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.