Sustainability Practices

We believe that sustainability begins with the smallest detail and decision, and we’ve built this ethos into the very heart of our company’s practices. EXPED products are designed for many years of outstanding performance and our in-house repair shops extend their lifespans even further. In addition, materials recycling, such as our closed-loop RDS down recycling program, minimizes waste. Learn more.


OUR PRODUCTS & MATERIALS

Product design and production should find a balance between sustainable materials and durable, long-lasting construction. It’s not enough simply to choose materials that are recycled/recyclable or responsibly sourced. Products should be designed and built to function as long as possible and be repaired when necessary. Moreover, if/when a product reaches end of life, its components should be able to be reused or recycled.

     

    From 2022 onwards, EXPED’s entire sleeping mat line, as well as all sleeping bags, liners, booties, and pillows, will be certified as climate/CO2 neutral. Moreover, EXPED chooses high-quality materials for maximum lifespan, and the width of the raw material is adapted to the width of the product to minimize waste. 

    100% of the down EXPED uses is certified to help ensure the birds that supply it are not force-fed or live-plucked. Since the early 1980s, EXPED has reclaimed down from its end-of-life products and sent it back to its German down supplier to keep its life cycle going.

    97% of materials EXPED uses in its products is certified to meet stringent standards for water and energy consumption, pollution control, and chemical safety. 100% of products are free of BPA and PFOA(C8), both harmful industrial chemicals.

     

    Used Gear

    Our gear should last for as long as possible. Keeping good, usable gear out of landfills and in the hands of adventure enthusiasts is a key element in our sustainability mission. Gear gets damaged and trends change, but thanks to our high-quality materials and world-class repair shop, EXPED gear can and does continue to function at the highest level despite these challenges.

    In order to keep our gear out on the trail where it belongs, we sell used, repaired, and production sample items online at a discount. Not only do our customers receive a great deal, often finding like-new pieces for a fraction of the cost of buying new, but we are also able to take an additional step towards reducing our environmental footprint by recycling product and reducing waste.

    No one wants to see perfectly good gear discarded, least of all us. Visit our Used Gear page to browse our current selection of products looking for their next adventure. 

     


    OUR FACTORIES AND SUPPLY CHAIN

    EXPED works closely with factories and suppliers that meet stringent certifications for product and materials production.

     

    EXPED maintains longstanding partnerships with factories that provide progressive working conditions and competitive pay to their employees. EXPED regularly visits its factories to ensure best practices are maintained.

    All EXPED packaging is designed to use minimal materials and is made of recyclable, glue-free cardboard, most of which is sourced from certified, responsibly managed forests. 

     


    OUR OFFICES AND WORK PRACTICES

    From its founding, EXPED has worked with a mindset of lived sustainability and a mission to leave as small a footprint on the planet as possible. EXPED’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, runs on green energy and has two employees focused specifically on company sustainability.

    Warranty and repair services are handled at our in-house workshops in Tacoma, WA, and Zurich. This helps ensure EXPED products are used and enjoyed as long as possible rather than ending up in a landfill. 

    Both EXPED and EXPED USA are members of conservation-leading organizations and are socially responsible employers that live up to their equal-rights and environmental responsibilities.