Flylow Tough Guy Sustainability Report

A go-to glove for ski patrollers and lifties, the Tough Guy is built with pigskin leather and reinforced canvas for a hardwearing finish. The leather is pre-treated and holds up well with proper care. With regular maintenance (we recommend reapplying a leather wax often), this glove can survive multiple seasons of heavy use.

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 Flylow Tough Guy features a PFAS-free durable water-repellent (DWR) treatment. In fall 2023, Flylow completed its phase-out of PFAS across its product lines, and now 100% of Flylow’s products with a DWR coating are 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.

This product doesn't have a waterproof membrane, so we don’t factor it into its sustainability rating.

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.

We could not confirm whether the leather used in the Flylow Tough Guy meets our criteria for responsible leather. Flylow encourages its suppliers to source leather that meets the Leather Working Group standards, but does not require it.

Companies typically source responsible leather from suppliers that meet the Leather Working Group Standards (LWG). LWG is a third-party non-profit organization that assesses the environmental impact of leather manufacturers and ensures compliance with its standards. This includes assessing water and energy use, waste and chemical management, air and noise emissions, traceability, health and safety, and the use of restricted substances. The LWG also gives tanneries ratings (bronze, silver, and gold), which we take into account when making our ratings.

The Tough Guy contains 100% recycled polyester Greenloft insulation. As of 2024, 80% of Flylow’s fabrics are made from recycled materials. The recycled fabrics are sourced from plastic water bottles and discarded fishing lines.

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 Flylow Tough Guy does not contain any Bluesign-approved materials. While Flylow is not a Bluesign System Partner, 80% of its fabrics are Bluesign approved.

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.

Flylow has a code of conduct for its suppliers based on the International Labor Organization and the UN Declaration of Human Rights. However, that alone does not meet our standards for the responsible manufacturing criterion. To make the grade, we require brands to be part of a third-party program that provides certification and regular audits of factories to ensure safe working conditions, fair wages, and a decreased environmental impact.

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.

All of Flylow’s paper-based packaging is Forest Stewardship Council-certified. The Forest Stewardship Council ensures that paper products are sourced from responsibly managed forests that protect forest ecosystems, reduce climate impact, and minimize chemical use while protecting worker welfare and indigenous rights. Flylow also redesigned its packaging to minimize single-use plastics and reduce the total amount of packaging material needed.

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.

Leftover Land is Flylow’s resale platform, which allows customers to return used Flylow gear for store credit in partnership with Geartrade. Flylow offers a credit for 30% of retail value for gear in excellent condition, while unusable gear can be returned for 15% of its value.

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.

Since 2021, Flylow has tracked its Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Its emissions baseline was set in 2021, but the brand has yet to establish a science-based target for emissions reduction. Because the brand has yet to publish year-over-year data describing its total emissions, we are unable to confirm whether it has made progress toward reducing its footprint.

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.

Flylow does not produce an annual impact report outlining its sustainability progress. Still, we appreciate that it publishes an overview of its sustainability practices on its website.

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.