Yeti Panga Waterproof Sustainability Report

The Panga’s ThickSkin nylon shell with TPU lamination, welded seams, and a molded bottom feels borderline indestructible, and it has handled rocky shorelines, rafts, and general trip abuse with barely a scuff. The reason it earns an above-average longevity score is that nothing in its build feels flimsy—materials, stitching, and hardware all come across as overbuilt in the best way, especially for a fully submersible duffel that’s meant to be tossed, dragged, and soaked. It isn’t the easiest bag to live with day to day, but if you want a waterproof hauler that should stay in the rotation for years of hard use, this is one of the safest bets we’ve tested.

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 Yeti Panga does not contain recycled materials. In 2023, Yeti reported using 1% certified recycled materials by weight across its products. These materials were incorporated into products such as drinkware lids, hard cooler baskets, T-shirts, and hat brims. Compared to other outdoor brands, Yeti incorporates a very low percentage of recycled material 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.

Yeti is not a Bluesign System Partner. We have not seen Bluesign-approved materials in Yeti products that Better Trail has reviewed, including the Panga.

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.

We’re unsure if the Yeti Panga is PFAS free. We contacted Yeti about the presence of forever chemicals in the Panga, but haven’t received a response. Yeti reported that it was on track to phase out PFAS by the end of 2024, but has not published an update on its progress.

Waterproof and water-resistant materials often contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) to help protect against moisture and stains. These synthetic compounds, also 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, 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.

Yeti uses Fair Labor Association-approved third-party firms to ensure that its labor, health and safety, and environmental targets are consistently monitored. That said, Yeti is not a Fair Labor Association-accredited brand, so it does not receive a public accreditation or score. For this reason, it does not meet our criteria for responsible manufacturing.

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 2023, 55% of Yeti’s packaging was made with post-consumer recycled content, and 14% of its paper packaging was Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified. The brand still uses virgin plastic poly bags but is working to reduce the thickness of these bags to decrease its plastic use. Yeti is also beginning to use paper envelopes for shipping when possible to lower total shipping materials.

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.

Yeti offers a five-year warranty program, but does not provide out-of-warranty repair services. Warranty programs like this only count toward our criteria if we see substantial evidence that the brand typically repairs products rather than replacing them.

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.

Yeti launched a re-commerce program called Rescues in 2023, where you can buy used Yeti products at a discount. The program sells gear, bags, and hard and soft coolers. Since its launch, Yeti reports that it has avoided emitting 2.4 megatons of carbon dioxide by extending the life of its products. Yeti also offers a Rambler Buy Back Program, through which you can return your damaged Yeti drinkware at the end of its life in exchange for $5 off a new Yeti product. As of the brand’s 2024 impact report, it has diverted 120 tons of material from landfills.

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.

Yeti began tracking its greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 using the Change Climate Project’s Brand Emissions Estimator and Higg Facility Environmental Module data. It set the goal of reducing its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% and its Scope 3 emissions by 27% by 2030 (in comparison to a 2020 baseline year). Thus far, the brand has reported reducing its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 62%, but its Scope 3 emissions (which comprise 92% of total emissions) have increased substantially each year since 2020. Over 60% of these emissions can be attributed to manufacturing Yeti products, with under 10% related to transportation. The Science Based Targets Initiative has not verified the brand’s emissions reduction targets; however, its emissions tracking data has been independently verified by a third party.

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.

Yeti began publishing a detailed annual impact report in 2021. The report covers nearly all of our sustainability criteria. It has very thorough information about Yeti’s greenhouse gas emissions tracking, preferred material use, and circularity programs like Rescues and the Rambler Buy Back program.

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.