Thule Force 3 Sustainability Report

The Force 3 is built with a thick plastic shell that feels sturdy and well-suited to years of regular use. Its textured AeroSkin finish helps conceal the small scratches and scuffs that accumulate over time, allowing the box to maintain a clean appearance even after repeated loading and highway travel. Structural reinforcements—including a front stiffener bar and metal rails along the sides—add rigidity and help limit flex at speed. The pinch-and-slide latch system operates smoothly and avoids putting excess stress on the key mechanism, which should help its reliability over time. The removable mounting clamps are the only potential weak point, as their plastic retaining tabs are not especially thick, but with the hardware left installed, the overall construction points to a box designed for long-term durability.

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 Thule Force 3 XL doesn’t contain recycled materials. Thule incorporates recycled materials in its packs, bags, and luggage. In 2024, 38% of the textiles Thule used were recycled, up from 10% in 2023. The brand aimed to use 100% Global Recycled Standard-certified nylon and polyester by the end of 2024, but has yet to share whether it met this goal.

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.

Replacement decals, keys, sealing strips, lid lifters, hardware, and other parts are available for the Force. Thule offers spare parts for its roof boxes and racks, as well as its backpacks, strollers, and more. In 2024, it provided 42,092 warranty-related parts and sold 9,189 non-warranty-related parts.

Providing replacement parts extends a product's lifespan and eliminates the need to purchase a new one. For example, some brands offer replacement lenses for ski goggles, should they become damaged, or provide an extra clip for a trekking pole if it breaks. We scale the points received for this category based on how robust the replacement part offerings are for the product category.

Thule manufactures its products in nine ISO 14001-certified facilities across the United States, Brazil, and Europe. ISO 14001 is an international standard for environmental management systems developed by the International Organization for Standardization, an independent non-governmental organization. Working with ISO 14001 enables companies to comply with legal requirements, meet sustainability goals, and reduce their environmental impact. The organization performs annual audits to ensure compliance. Additionally, products made in the United States and Europe are subject to strict labor and environmental regulations, and typically have a lower carbon footprint due to reduced transportation between global factories.

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.

In 2024, 54% of Thule’s paper packaging was recycled. However, the brand doesn’t report how much of its total packaging is recycled or whether it has reduced 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.

Thule has tracked its Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions since 2019, sharing year-over-year data describing its progress toward its Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)-verified goals in its annual impact report. Thule aims to lower its absolute Scope 1 emissions by 46.2% and its absolute Scope 3 emissions by 28% by 2030 compared to its 2019 baseline. To address its Scope 2 emissions, it plans to continue powering its facilities with 100% renewable energy (which it achieved in 2024). Additionally, the brand is working towards net-zero emissions by 2050, in accordance with the SBTi. Thule has made progress towards its goals, reducing its absolute emissions by about 23% compared to its 2019 baseline.

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.

Thule’s parent company, Thule Group, publishes an annual impact report detailing its material and chemical use, manufacturing and packaging practices, circularity efforts, greenhouse gas emissions, waste management, and more. Unlike other reports produced by parent companies, Thule Group’s report includes many specific statistics and data about Thule, since the brand is its primary subsidiary. The report is comprehensive and discusses all of our sustainability criteria.

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.