Ortovox Switchback Sustainability Report

The Ortovox Switchback uses a mix of tough 420-denier Cordura nylon and lighter-weight 100-denier polyester, which saves ounces but sacrifices some abrasion resistance. As such, it’s a little more prone to small snags and scuffs when repeatedly in contact with skis or sharp gear. The overall build quality is solid and should last with reasonable care, but the pack is not a rough-and-tumble workhorse.

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 Switchback is PFAS free. All Ortovox products have been PFAS free since 2023.

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 Ortovox Switchback is made entirely of recycled polyamide. Ortovox uses recycled materials throughout its products, prioritizing post-consumer content sourced from textile waste. It plans to introduce its first product made from 100% textile-to-textile content (which will also be fully recyclable) in summer 2026.

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.

This pack doesn't contain any Bluesign-approved materials. Ortovox has been a Bluesign System Partner since 2023. It is increasing the amount of Bluesign-approved materials across its goods and plans to release its first Bluesign Products in its spring/summer 2026 collection.

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.

Ortovox is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, a nonprofit organization that partners with brands to improve labor conditions in the apparel industry. The organization helps companies implement fair wages, safe working conditions, and workers’ rights through regular factory audits and guidance for continuous improvement. Ortovox earns Fair Wear “Leader” status (the highest recognition) and thus 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.

Ortovox has identified optimizing and reducing packaging as a primary driver for emissions reduction. However, the company doesn’t share what actions it’s taking to reduce the impact of its 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.

Ortovox offers in-house repair services for its products. In 2021 (the most recent year for which data is available), the brand repaired 482 products damaged by normal wear and tear.

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.

Ortovox offers the “Second Life Store” to consumers in Norway and Germany. This program repairs and resells used Ortovox items to keep them in circulation longer. While the brand doesn’t operate a recycling service, it is exploring textile-to-textile recycling and uses recycled materials sourced from textile waste in its products.

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.

Ortovox tracks its greenhouse gas emissions across all scopes and aims to reduce them 42% by 2030 and 95% by 2050 compared to its 2022 baseline. The company has made progress on these goals, decreasing its 2024/25 emissions 19% compared to 2023. It also works with ClimatePartner to offset its entire 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.

Ortovox publishes an annual impact report that covers its climate strategy, chemical management, manufacturing, and more. The report is thorough, featuring data on the company’s greenhouse gas emissions and other initiatives.

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.