Marmot Minimalist Pertex Sustainability Report

The Marmot Minimalist 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. Marmot doesn’t list the jacket’s denier, but we estimate it to be around 40 denier, which is slightly thicker than average for a rain jacket. Combined, the Minimalist scores just above average 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 durable water-repellent (DWR) treatment on the Marmot Minimalist Pertex is PFAS free. Marmot has eliminated PFAS from the development of all its products. While some existing products may still contain PFAS, all the brand’s durable water repellents will be PFAS free moving forward.

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 Minimalist contains a PFAS-free waterproof membrane. Marmot has eliminated PFAS from the development of all its products. Some existing products may still contain PFAS, but all the brand’s waterproof membrane materials will be PFAS free moving forward.

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.

The Marmot Minimalist Pertex uses 100% post-consumer recycled polyester Pertex Shield fabric as its primary material. Nearly half of Marmot’s materials are recycled, and the recycled materials it uses are certified to the Global Recycled Standard for traceability. That said, Marmot hasn’t published updated data on its use of recycled materials since 2020.

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.

There aren’t any Bluesign-approved materials in the Minimalist. Marmot is a Bluesign System Partner, and in 2020, a little less than half of the materials used across its products were Bluesign approved. The brand hasn’t published updated data since then.

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.

Marmot states that it encourages its manufacturing partners to obtain Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) certification. The WRAP program certifies that manufacturing facilities adhere to safe, lawful, humane, and ethical standards. However, since we couldn’t confirm whether most of its facilities hold this certification, Marmot doesn’t meet 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.

Marmot’s parent company (Newell Brands) uses 97% recycled, certified, or verified paper and 13% recycled plastic packaging. Marmot also sources Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper for its product tags, though they make up only a small portion of its overall packaging.

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.

Marmot repairs gear under its limited lifetime warranty against materials and manufacturing defects. However, it doesn’t offer non-warranty related repairs, which we require to fulfill this criterion.

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.

Marmot doesn’t operate a resale or recycling program.

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.

Newell Brands tracks its subsidiaries’ greenhouse gas emissions using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. It aimed to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 30% by 2025 compared with its 2016 baseline and reported a 37% reduction in 2024. However, the company hasn’t measured or set a target to address its Scope 3 emissions, which constitute the vast majority of most brands’ footprints. Marmot was also in the process of tracking its emissions across all scopes in 2024, but it hasn’t reported data on its carbon 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.

Newell Brands publishes an annual impact report detailing its packaging, manufacturing, and greenhouse gas emissions. However, it doesn’t include information specific to Marmot and instead covers all of Newell’s subsidiaries as a whole.

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.