A group of global outdoor brands known as the Material Facts Collective launched a full implementation toolkit for assessing product sustainability. The toolkit is based on Rab’s Material Facts methodology, and includes input from brands and retailers across the U.K., Europe, the U.S. and Canada, including Exped, Go Outdoors, Oberalp Group, Rab, Red Equipment and Tiso.
The Material Facts methodology initially launched via Rab in October 2023 as a “transformative” approach for the outdoor industry that enables clear, standardized product data to be transparently shared with consumers and retailers.
Material Facts is designed to extend transparent product sustainability data at POS. First iterations include recycled content percentage, PFAS status and country of manufacture. Future criteria proposals include material type, certifications, sources, repairability and durability. The Collective launched in September 2024 on Rab’s initiative, and supported by the European Outdoor Group.
The revised methodology has been tested and improved by brands forming The Collective. The toolkit includes:
- Methodology document, detailing steps, calculations and assumptions.
- Calculations template to allow brands to check calculations as they engage with the methodology.
- New criteria detailing proposals for future table developments.
- Communications guidelines that define how brands will communicate Material Facts data.
- Business case to secure internal buy-in and resource.
“A simple data table, in a standard format, with a clear and transparent tested methodology, is becoming vital,” said Tiso Group CSR manager, Joanna O’Flynn. “We can share this data with our consumers and reassure ourselves that we are working with brands that take the challenge of communicating sustainability metrics seriously. Playing an active role in the working group has allowed me to present the needs of a retailer firsthand as we have shaped the communication, methodology, and outputs of the Material Facts Collective.”
“As an equipment brand, finding a way to communicate sustainability data has been a challenge we know we had to address,” said Cat Heraty, lead designer/product developer, Red Equipment. “Working with world-class technical apparel brands and retailers, challenging their thinking, sharing our approach and ideas, and together fine-tuning on the methodology and outputs of the Material Facts Collective has provided the solution we were looking for.”
“When launching Material Facts back in 2023 as a market-first, we knew that we did not want to keep it to ourselves but share it with the industry,” said Equip Outdoor Technologies CEO – and Rab and Lowe Alpine owner – Richard Leedham. “Together, as a network of leading brands, we can efficiently develop sustainability data in a clear and transparent way, that drives efficiencies, meets consumer and retailer needs and prepares us all for the upcoming legislation. The Collective has provided this methodology and the tools to succeed. We now need the industry to take this to the next level and move it forward.”
The first phase of the Material Facts Collective has now concluded. The working group will meet later in 2025 and review how the methodology can be further improved based on brands’ feedback and adoption.
All Material Facts resources and downloadable content can be found on the European Outdoor Group website, here.
