Exped Ultra 5R Sustainability Report

The Ultra 5R’s 20-denier fabric on the top and bottom is on the fragile side. Combined with a two-valve system that adds complexity, the Ultra 5R is best reserved for careful users on smoother terrain.

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 Exped Ultra 5R is made from a recycled polyester fabric. While Exped doesn’t report the total amount of recycled materials it uses, many of its products feature recycled content. It sources recycled materials from plastic bottles and textile production waste. The brand also incorporates material scraps that would otherwise be discarded into its products.

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 Ultra 5R includes two Bluesign-approved fabrics— recycled polyester and microfiber insulation. Exped isn’t a Bluesign System Partner, but it uses Bluesign-approved and Oeko-Tex-certified materials across most of its products (including all of its sleeping bags and pads). The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certifies that textiles are free from over 1,000 substances harmful to human and environmental health.

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.

The Exped Ultra 5R includes a repair kit. Exped’s sleeping pads come with repair kits, and the company also offers a field repair kit for purchase separately.

Certain products can be used for longer if they come with a repair kit. Repair kits are designed for quick fixes, such as adhesive patches for sleeping pad punctures and replacement seals for inflation valves. These repair kits allow users to fix the item on the spot, continuing to use it instead of buying a new one.

Exped manufactures about 80% of its products in Fair Wear-audited factories. Fair Wear Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works with brands to improve labor conditions in the apparel industry, promoting fair wages, safe working conditions, and workers’ rights. However, Exped isn’t a Fair Wear Foundation member, so it doesn’t receive an annual social responsibility report from the organization and falls short of our responsible manufacturing criteria.

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.

Exped reduces its packaging to a minimum and uses 100% Forest Stewardship Council-certified recyclable paper and cardboard. It also packages select accessories in reusable zippered pouches.

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.

Exped operates several repair centers and strives to repair products (rather than replace them), even when it’s not economically viable. Maintenance covered by the brand’s five-year warranty against material and manufacturing defects is free, while out-of-warranty repairs are available for nominal fees.

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.

Exped tracks its greenhouse gas emissions across all scopes and aims to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions 42% by 2030 (compared to its 2022 baseline) and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The Science Based Targets Initiative has verified these goals, but Exped doesn’t publicly share its emissions data. While insights into its progress are limited, the brand works with Myclimate to offset the impact of its operations and fund climate protection 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.

Exped doesn’t publish an annual impact report. In 2023, it worked with Greenroom Voice, an environmental communications agency, to produce a comprehensive report on its initiatives. However, the report is no longer available, and the brand hasn’t shared another one since.

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.