Himali Accelerator Sustainability Report

The Himali Accelerator uses a relatively thin 20-denier Pertex Quantum shell, which offers better durability and resistance to wear than standard nylon fabrics of the same thickness. While build quality is solid, the fabric’s thin nature still means the Accelerator demands careful treatment. Thus, it can provide reasonable durability if handled thoughtfully.

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.

Himali uses down insulation certified to the RDS for all of its down products, including the Accelerator. Additionally, each down product comes with a hangtag that lists the farm where the down was sourced.

The Responsible Down Standard (RDS), set by The Textile Exchange, is the leading certification for sustainably sourced down in the outdoor industry. The RDS ensures that down suppliers use sustainable land management practices, prioritize animal welfare, and provide workers with safe working conditions and fair wages. Third-party audits are conducted at all stages of the supply chain, starting with the farm that supplies the down. Recycled down is another responsible choice that helps reduce demand for newly sourced down while keeping existing materials in circulation.

All Himali products with a durable water-repellent (DWR) are PFAS free, including the Accelerator.

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 Himali Accelerator does not include any recycled materials. The brand is working to incorporate recycled materials into more of its product line.

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 Accelerator utilizes Bluesign-approved materials in both the down insulation and Pertex shell fabric. While Himali is not a Bluesign System Partner, the company works with materials suppliers that are.

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 Accelerator jacket is made in a Fair Trade Certified (FTC) factory. Himali produces all of its gear in an FTC factory, excluding accessories such as hats and buffs. FTC is a designation that ensures factories adhere to rigorous social and environmental standards, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and sustainable resource management. FTC member brands also pay into Fair Trade Premiums, which is a fund owned by workers who collectively choose how to use the money to improve their communities. Since Himali produces most of its gear in Fair Trade Certified factories, it meets our responsible manufacturing standards.

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.

Himali ships its products in mailers made of 100% recycled content. Additionally, its in-store shopping bags are made from 100% recycled and compostable materials.

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.

Himali offers in-house repairs, though its service scope is more limited than that of other brands due to the company’s small size. If Himali can repair the product, it will do it in-house regardless of whether the product is under warranty.

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.

Himali doesn’t operate a resale or recycling program for its products. The brand told us it’s considering implementing a program in the future, though.

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.

While Himali doesn’t track its carbon footprint due to its small size and limited capacity, it plans to do so in the future. The brand participates in other initiatives to reduce its impact, such as operating in a LEED-certified office building (the leading green building certification).

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.

Himali doesn’t publish an annual impact report. The company states it doesn’t have the capacity to produce one due to its small size.

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.