Six Moon Designs Haven Sustainability Report

The Haven pairs a 20D silnylon canopy with a thicker 30D silnylon bathtub floor, giving it a material foundation that’s sturdier than many ultralight backpacking tents on paper. In use, the floor in particular feels noticeably robust and more resistant to abrasion than the lighter fabrics found on many competitors. That said, the overall construction quality lands a step below the most refined designs. Hardware like the #3 YKK zippers is solid, yet the stitching and small details feel more mid-grade than premium. As a result, the Haven’s durability sits comfortably in the middle of the pack: good materials overall, but paired with so-so build quality.

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.

Six Moon Designs set the goal of eliminating all PFAS from its product line by 2025. It has not published an update on whether it has achieved this goal. The brand uses a PFAS-free, silicone-based durable water repellent for its shelters, including the Haven.

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 Six Moon Designs Haven doesn’t integrate recycled materials. Six Moon Designs states that it uses recycled materials where possible, but does not disclose the percentage of its total products made from these materials.

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.

None of the Haven’s materials are Bluesign approved. Six Moon Designs states that it uses materials that meet Bluesign criteria in its products, but does not specify the share of its fabrics and components that are Bluesign approved. The brand is not a Bluesign System Partner.

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.

The Six Moon Designs Haven doesn’t contain solution-dyed fabrics, and Six Moon Designs does not publish information about using solution-dyed materials.

Solution dyeing is a process in which pigment is added to a synthetic fiber’s raw materials during production instead of after. Compared to traditional methods, solution dyeing reduces water consumption, energy use, and carbon dioxide emissions, and releases fewer chemicals overall. In addition to these environmental benefits, solution-dyed fabrics resist fading because the fiber’s pigment becomes intrinsic to it, rather than being dyed on the surface.

We were unable to confirm whether Six Moon Designs partners with a third-party responsible manufacturing certification program, as the brand does not publish any information about it on its website.

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.

Six Moon Designs reports reducing the amount of plastic used in its packaging, with the goal of phasing out single-use plastic by 2030. We did not find any other details about its packaging reduction strategy.

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.

Six Moon Designs offers repair services for many of its products. The brand states that these repairs are performed at a reasonable rate, plus shipping—for example, it prices a zipper pull replacement at $5. The brand cannot repair tents with major panels that have been shredded or backpacks with large holes in the exterior mesh panels but can refer you to other services that can typically help with these more complex repairs.

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.

Like many small brands, Six Moon Designs does not offer resale or recycling services. It does house a “Scratch and Dent” section on its website, however, where you can find blemished products at a discount.

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.

To our knowledge, Six Moon Designs does not track its greenhouse gas emissions. It states that its headquarters is powered by 100% renewable energy and uses electric vehicles for business.

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.

Six Moon Designs does not publish an annual impact report detailing its progress toward sustainability initiatives. This is common among small brands with limited resources.

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.