Prana Stretch Zion / Halle Sustainability Report

The Prana Stretch Zion strikes a strong balance between stretch, comfort, and longevity. The nylon-elastane fabric maintains its shape over time and resists pilling better than most softshell alternatives. With reinforced cuffs and solid stitching, these pants will hold up well under regular trail and climbing 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.

Prana’s Stretch Zion pants do not feature any recycled materials. In 2022, 56% of Prana’s styles contained recycled materials, 68% of which were recycled polyester. Prana has not published any recent information on its use of recycled materials, but its parent company, Columbia Sportswear Company, reports that 95% of Prana’s styles include at least one preferred material—defined as recycled, Bluesign-approved, or organic materials, as well as certified responsible animal products.

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 are no Bluesign-approved materials in the Stretch Zion pants. In 2022 (which is the most recent available data), Prana used Bluesign-approved materials in 35% of its products, with the goal of sourcing 80% Bluesign-approved materials by 2030. It has not published any updates on its progress. Both Prana and its parent company, Columbia Sportswear Company, were Bluesign System Partners through 2023, but have since ended their formal partnership with the organization.

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.

Prana’s Stretch Zion pants are treated with a PFAS-free DWR. All of Prana’s DWR treatments are PFAS free.

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 Stretch Zion pants are made in a Fair Trade Certified (FTC) Factory. Prana was one of the first outdoor apparel brands to partner with Fair Trade USA, which ensures that factories adhere to rigorous social and environmental standards, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and sustainable resource management. Since 2010, Prana has converted 11 of its factories to FTC production. Prana’s efforts meet our responsible manufacturing criteria.

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.

Prana has made significant efforts to reduce its packaging, eliminating plastic in 2021 and materials from ancient and endangered forests (by using Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper) in 2022. It has primarily achieved this by roll-packing its products for shipment rather than using poly bags. Additionally, Prana founded the Responsible Packaging Movement, a program that provides resources to other brands working to reduce their 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.

Prana does not offer repair services.

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.

Prana does not currently offer resale or recycling services. The brand previously operated a circularity program called Renewed Apparel, which accepted returned and damaged inventory for recycling. The company reported diverting 56,000 pounds of clothing from landfills between 2016 and the program’s close. Unfortunately, we believe the program is no longer operational.

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.

Columbia Sportswear Company, Prana’s parent company, tracks its greenhouse gas emissions but has not yet set reduction goals. The company publishes data on its Scope 1 and 2 emissions but has not finished measuring its Scope 3 emissions (which likely constitute 95% of its total emissions). Prana set a goal to reduce its emissions by 30% by 2030, but has not yet published any data or updates on its progress toward that 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.

Columbia Sportswear Company has published an annual impact report each year since 2018. It includes some specific information about Prana’s sustainability efforts, but the brand’s data is lumped together with Columbia’s other subsidiary companies. While the report covers most of our sustainability criteria, we’ve seen more detailed greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable material reporting from other brands.

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.