Quick Facts

• Distance Traveled:
  10,160 miles (16,351 km) *
• CO2 Emissions:
  35 pounds (16 kg) *
• Waste Generated:
  5.5 ounces (156 g) **
• Energy Consumed:
  157 megajoules (43.6 kWh) *
• *from origin as fiber through garment delivery to our Reno Distribution Center
  **from origin as fiber through final sewing

• The Good:

  Toray Industries installed a solvent recovery system 30 years ago, before anyone else, and has maintained it as a state-of-the-art system. The system drastically lessens the effects of solvents on the environment, with at least 99 percent of solvents being recycled.

• The Bad:

  Polyurethane (PU) technology, used in the Rain Shadow fabric’s coating, is an old technology and requires harmful solvents to turn ingredients from liquid to solid; the shell also uses a water-repellent finish that contains perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a synthetic chemical that is now persistent in the environment; the nylon fabric used in the shell has no recycled content and, because of its PU coating, is not recyclable.

• What We Think:

  The PU coating and water-repellent finish, which lend the Rain Shadow its lightweight durability and breathable water resistance, are the least environmentally harmful options that still meet our high performance standards – and we believe Toray’s solvent recovery system is the best out there. So while we continue to work on finding alternatives that balance performance with environmental needs, we believe we’re using the best options available.