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 – ones that balance performance with environmental needs – we believe we’re using the best options available.