Osprey Aether / Ariel Sustainability Report

Heavy-duty 420-denier nylon and a reinforced frame give the Osprey Aether excellent long-term durability. Components are burly and built for load hauling, and repairability is above average. This is a workhorse pack that shrugs off tough trips and should last for season after season of hard 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.

Since spring 2022, all water-resistant Osprey products have been treated with a PFAS-free DWR treatment, including the Aether.

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.

Although Osprey is an industry leader when it comes to recycled materials, the Aether does not incorporate any recycled fabrics. As of fall 2025, 97% of Osprey packs use 100% recycled content in their main compartment and bottom fabric, and 99% of the brand’s models use entirely recycled content in their lining fabric.

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 Osprey Aether is made from Bluesign-approved nylon. Osprey has been a Bluesign System Partner since 2021, and it integrates a variety of Bluesign materials into its product line. It launched its first Bluesign Product in spring 2024 and, in fall 2025, over 80% of its products were certified as Bluesign Products (meaning they contain at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics).

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.

Osprey follows a supplier code of conduct that emphasizes freely chosen labor, fair wages, and environmental responsibility. However, the code of conduct alone does not meet Better Trail’s standards for responsible manufacturing criteria. To do so, we require brands to be part of a third-party program that provides certification and/or annual 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.

Osprey uses 100% recycled plastic poly bags for product packaging. Additionally, it incorporates recycled or Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper and card-based materials for boxes and hangtags. The Forest Stewardship Council ensures that wood and 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. Osprey also includes “How2Recycle” labels to help customers dispose of packaging appropriately.

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.

Osprey provides comprehensive repair services through its All Mighty Guarantee, repairing any damage or defect on its products free of charge, regardless of when your pack was purchased. If a product cannot be repaired, Osprey will replace it. A small handful of products (such as avalanche packs and baby carriers) come with shorter warranty periods.

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.

Osprey does not offer a resale platform or recycling services for used 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.

Osprey’s parent company, Helen of Troy, tracks emissions using Greenhouse Gas Protocol guidance. Helen of Troy Limited committed to reducing its absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 46.2% by 2030 from a 2020 base year, and to reducing its absolute Scope 3 emissions by 42% by 2030 from a 2021 base year. Its targets are verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative, which ensures alignment with Paris Agreement warming thresholds.

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.

Helen of Troy publishes an annual impact report covering sustainability across its brands, including HydroFlask, Revlon, and Vicks. While the report includes information about Helen of Troy’s emissions and several other sustainability topics, Osprey’s sustainability programs are not its primary focus. It includes extremely limited information about material use, packaging, and responsible chemistry.

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.