Outdoor Research Vigor Grid Sustainability Report

The Vigor Grid stands out among lightweight fleeces for its excellent durability. Despite its airy feel and low weight, our long-term tester reported no significant wear after two years of regular use. The quality stitching and resilient fabric make this a dependable pick for fast-moving activities where many other light layers fall short.

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 Outdoor Research Vigor Grid does not include recycled materials. Instead, it is made of virgin polyester and elastane. Outdoor Research lags behind leading brands in its use of recycled materials, with only 32% of polyester and 13% of nylon yardage made from recycled materials as of 2022 (the last time its annual impact report was published). The company is working toward certifying its recycled materials under the Global Recycled Standard and Recycled Claims Standard to enhance traceability and transparency. Still, many Outdoor Research products we’ve researched incorporate some recycled content.

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 main fabric used in the Vigor Grid is Bluesign approved. Outdoor Research is a Bluesign System Partner, and 65% of its materials 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.

As an Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) member, Outdoor Research has adopted the OIA’s Fair Labor Code of Conduct for its manufacturing processes. Outdoor Research also utilizes the Social and Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) and the Facility Social & Labor Module (FSLM) to assess working conditions at its factories. While these programs provide valuable insights, they do not issue certifications verifying that a brand has met specific manufacturing standards, unlike Fair Trade Certified (FTC) or Fair Wear. Our criteria for this category require brands to meet third-party responsible manufacturing standards that result in formal certifications or continuous supply chain audits.

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.

Outdoor Research incorporates recycled poly bags into its product 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.

Outdoor Research does not offer repair services for its products. Instead, it replaces damaged products covered 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.

Outdoor Research does not offer resale or recycling services. However, it operates an outlet store at its warehouse, where it resells gear returned for warranty issues.

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.

Outdoor Research tracks its emissions using Higg Index tools. It has committed to the science-aligned (but not Science Based Targets Initiative-verified) goal to reduce its Scope 3 emissions by 48% per unit of value added. The brand has yet to set an absolute emissions reduction goal, which decouples emissions from business growth. Still, we appreciate that Outdoor Research purchases renewable energy certificates equivalent to 100% of its North American energy usage, meeting its net-zero Scope 2 emissions target.

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.

Outdoor Research published its first impact report in 2023, outlining its 2022 progress. This report published concrete data describing the brand’s sustainability initiatives and progress toward goals, with metrics including greenhouse gas emissions data, material use, and progress toward eliminating PFAS. Due to data complications, the brand did not release an impact report for 2023, and unfortunately, it has yet to publish one for 2024. As a result, gaps remain in our understanding of the brand’s progress toward sustainability 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.