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Eco Friendly Stories

Many of our suppliers have wonderful "Eco-Friendly" stories to tell. When we select new brands to carry we often look for an earth-friendly side to our partners. Being as involved in the outdoors as Algonquin Outfitters is, we see even in Algonquin Park how just a little garbage by careless people can effect Mother Nature in some drastic ways.

Algonquin Outfitters supports several organizations directly:

 

Arc'teryx

Arc'teryx strives to continually become more aware of and sensitive to the environmental impact of our business practices. We evaluate our processes and continually implement new strategies to improve efficiencies and minimize our ecological footprint.

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Atlas Snowshoes

Winter Wildlands Alliance
Atlas Snow-Shoe Company supports the preservation of healthy winter ecosystems and pristine snowshoeing opportunities by supporting the Winter Wild lands Alliance, a national organization working to promote and preserve winter recreation areas and quality human-powered snowsports experiences. More info at www.winterwildlands.org.

California Wild Heritage Campaign
The mission of the California Wild Heritage Campaign is to ensure the permanent protection of California's remaining wild public lands and scenic rivers. More info at www.californiawild.org.

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Black Diamond

Quite simply, Black Diamond loves to give back. Since beginning as Chouinard Equipment in 1958, the company has been supporting organizations and communities that are critical to the survival of mountain sports. "This kind of support is an integral part of Black Diamond’s culture and a driving force behind our business. We feel it’s our responsibility to play a key role in our local community and the climbing and backcountry skiing communities at large—it is as important to us as the gear we create. Bottom line: We hope that by acting as a responsible corporate citizen, Black Diamond can help non-profit and industry partners further their causes. As a vibrant supporter of our local and extended communities, we hope to act as a role model for others, and collectively make a difference—now and in the future."

Black Diamond offers these organizations more than just financial support including consulting services, employee volunteers, product and publicity in an effort to ensure their presence far into the future.

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Canada Goose

Canada Goose is deeply committed to the preservation of our global environment and the
humane treatment of animals. As an authentically Canadian company, the environment
and ethical treatment of animals are central to our values. We consistently make
commitments based on these values that guide the ways in which we do business. We
recognize that because we use animal products in our garments, questions may arise
regarding these commitments and our practices. It is important to us that our position on
these matters, as well as the reasons for and nature of our company’s use of animal
products are made widely available.

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Cascade Designs

(MSR®Therm-a-Rest®SealLine®)
This company works in close partnership with organizations that strive to protect wild areas and advocate & educate for environmentally responsible use of them, such as:

Therm-a-Rest and MSR proudly sponsor the American Hiking Society National Trails Fund – offering grants to grassroots organizations working toward protecting and maintaining foot trails in America.

Therm-a-Rest, MSR and Platypus support Leave No Trace’s regional and national work to inspire outdoor recreation participation through education, research and partnerships. Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our wild lands.

Cascade Designs, Inc. proudly contributes to The Conservation Alliance, awarding dozens of substantial yearly grants to grassroots organizations working to protect and conserve threatened wild places for their habitat and recreation values

Cascade Designs, Inc. helps empower the Outdoor Industry Foundation to encourage active outdoor recreation for all Americans – working especially towards introducing youth to the outdoors.

Therm-a-Rest and MSR partner with The Access Fund to keep climbing areas open and conserve the climbing environment in America.

SealLine, Therm-a-Rest and MSR provide support to the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, established in 2006, linking the Northeastern U.S. and Canadian waterways for recreational use.

Cascade Designs, Ltd, the European subsidiary of Cascade Designs, Inc., is an initial member of the EOG Association for Conservation , established in 2006. The Association aims to fund projects in Europe that protect threatened wild areas for their habitat and recreational value.

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Chaco Footwear

\we live in a world that makes faddish, non-recyclable and non-repairable products. In short, we make garbage. Since 1989, Chaco products have been the gold standard for durability and simplicity. Chaco started by creating a product that outlasted the competition—one that could be repaired rather than pitched into a landfill.

In 2006, Chaco was awarded the Community Award by the Western Slope Environmental Resource Council and was recognized by the North Fork River Improvement Association for work in removing the Chipeta Dam.

"Our Rocky Mountain region is ground zero for unbridled and irresponsible oil and gas development. We see first-hand the importance of finding a path away from fossil fuels. This year, Chaco purchased 400-megawatt hours of wind powered Green Certificates to match 100 percent of our yearly electrical usage. By doing this, we reduced carbon dioxide emissions—the primary cause of global climate change—by more than 572,000 pounds."

EPA Green Power Partner

Chaco donates three percent of after-tax profits to organizations dedicated to caring for people and the planet including:

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Columbia Sports Wear

Columbia supports a number of environmental preservation and conservation initiatives

American Hiking Society
American Hiking Society is the only national organization dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s hiking trails, the natural areas that surround them, and the hiking experience itself.
www.americanhiking.org

Coastal Conservation Association
The Coastal Conservation Association advises and educates the public on conservation of marine resources. The objective of CCA is to conserve, promote and enhance the present and future availability of these coastal resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public.
www.joincca.org

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Dagger Kayaks

Paddlers and outdoor athletes have an obligation to protect our environment. Dagger's commitment includes sponsorships of dozens of river conservation groups but it doesn't stop there. They have joined forces with other outdoor companies to ask for a moratorium on Chip Mills in the Southeast, where aggressive clear-cuts are choking creeks and rivers with sediment and runoff. Dagger's supports the non-profit group Conservation Fisheries Inc. in their mission to preserve and restore rare fish species. CFI has long-term goals and a talented core group of individuals on their staff. If you would like to learn more, please visit the CFI website at:
http://www.conservationfisheries.org

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Exofficio

Many people in developing countries and here at home are up against immense hardships every day. Since 1987, ExOfficio has partnered with strong humanitarian groups to help make a difference to people with the greatest need. ExOfficio also strongly believes in the importance of protecting the natural environments where the ExOfficio team and their customers recreate. Below are just a few of the core programs ExOfficio supports annually with financial, in-kind, and human resource support.

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Fischer Skis

Fischer has been dealing with the topic of environmental protection on a more sustainable basis for many years; instead of merely focusing on single ecological measures to reduce costs, they have developed a comprehensive environmental concept spanning a package of ecological activities integrated into all company procedures.

Co2 Reduction: Investing in renewable energy (Biomass CHP Plant)
Production: Active environmental protection from filter systems to CHP Plants
Recycling: From old to new.

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Guyot Designs

Closing the Loop
Guyot Designs accept responsibility for keeping our products out of the waste stream. If you have a Guyot Designs product that you're finished with, - don't send it to the dump, send it to us. We're working hard to find recycling markets for every component of all of our products.

Environmental Statement
Our core belief is that economic power can and should be used to fund the best and cleanest technologies, the fairest and most sustainable labor practices and the design of products which enhance peoples' experience and understanding of the natural world. We will reclaim any of our products at the end of their useful life and incorporate them into the manufacturing of new products.

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Helly Hansen

Ekolab is our first humble approach towards making more environmentally friendly gear. We have to acknowledge that nature is as fragile as it can be powerful.
Check out adventurers Colin and Julie Angus’ approach to the Ekolab mindset and learn all about the project and the products at:
www.hellyhansen.com

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Head Skis

Cool Earth's mission is to fight climate change head-on by protecting endangered rain forest, which play a vital role in the global climate by absorbing carbon. More than 100 tonnes of carbon are locked up in each acre of rain forest - when the forest is destroyed, the carbon that is released warms the earth's temperature.

HEAD is committed to saving over 7,000 acres/28 km2 per year of mature rain forest from destruction - which equals the size of more than 100,000 tennis courts or 7,000 American football fields, or 3,650 FIFA Soccer Fields.

http://www.head.com/corporate/cool_earth/

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Horny Toad

At Horny Toad, he choices we make are as important as the clothes we create. We try each day to lighten our environmental footprint, be good partners in all of our relationships, pay attention and stay active in our communities and support organizations that improve our world - the source of our daily adventures.
Check out some of the things we're involved with:

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Icebreaker

Icebreaker offers, hand picked quality Merino wool, ethical manufacturing, and environmentally sound practices, all go together to make a piece of Icebreaker clothing and socks. They even employ a serial number tracking system that allows you to track your Icebreaker all the way back to the Merino sheep that produced it.

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Katadyn Water Treatment

Economic success is important but there will always be other values beyond business. This is why Katadyn is serious about supporting social and ecological projects that encourage children and youth to help protect the environment. In these efforts, the people and projects are the most important, not Katadyn. Katadyn helps out of conviction and not for image.

The projects Katadyn supports are not limited to one category. Katadyn supports based on the quality of the project and how well it fulfils certain criteria. These criteria are, among other things, positive public impact, reliability of the sponsoring partners and the sustainability of the projects. Katadyn has in-house funds set apart to support such projects.

Below are some of the projects or institutions Katadyn supports financially or by other means:

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Keen Footwear

Keen stands for a new kind of business model: as responsible as we are profitable, and committed to doing good with the resources we have. We believe that supporting good causes is an obligation of financial success and that respecting the environment is simply a matter of conscience.

The KEEN Foundation was created with this in mind. We partner with environmental, conservation and social organizations, particularly those interested in connecting people with the outdoors. Our partners believe in tackling problems at the roots, because that's how long term changes are made.

What matters most is the lasting difference we make. We have an opportunity to do things differently. That means doing business more responsibly, investing in our community, taking care of the environment and lessening our collective footprint on the planet - small changes, yes, but ones that can make a big difference.

Keen also offers a recycled program where they recycle aluminum and rubber from their manufacturing process for use in their Hybrid Transport line of Bags, purses and packs.

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Klean Kanteen

One Planet One You. Reusable quality stainless steel water bottles. Drink clean water from a reusable Klean Kanteen and help curb the flow of plastic bottles into your landfill.

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Leatherman Knives

Leatherman has been in Oregon for nearly 25 years, manufacturing and shipping a variety of products from their Portland headquarters. In an effort to give back to the organizations that support the community Leatherman calls home, they have decided to partner with Mercy Corps, Habitat for Humanity (Mt. Hood chapter), Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Big Brother Big Sister program and Portland Fire and Rescue.

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Life is good

The Life is good Kids Foundation Mission
The Life is good Kids Foundation supports extraordinary charities that create a lasting positive impact on children facing unfair challenges, including the trauma of violence, poverty, and loss.
The Life is good Kids Foundation receives financial support from the public in several ways. Life is good donates 100% of its profits from the sale of fundraising tees and other products to the Kids Foundation. The public also provides funds via the charitable community fundraising festivals conducted by The Life is good Company in cities and states across North America. The Foundation distributes 100% of the funds received from these festivals to 501 (C) (3) non-profit organizations supporting children in need.

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Mad River Canoe

Mad River Canoe produces a product with over centuries of history that has been present in some of the most majestic landscapes that exist on earth. The legacy of the canoe begins long before our Mad River came along, and will last long after we’re gone. We feel much the same way about being stewards of environment and passing on something that generations ahead of us can enjoy as much as the generations before us did. This means a concerted effort on all of our parts to leave things better than we found them.

That’s why Mad River Canoe is launching some exciting programs in 2009 and beyond in sustainability, green construction techniques, and partnerships with other environmental organizations to make sure we’re being the best stewards of our resources possible.

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Marmot

Marmot believes in "small, yet meaningful steps toward greater sustainability practices, social responsibility and global awareness."

Some examples:

  • Protecting the World’s Old Growth Redwood Forests of Northern California
  • Two Global Warming Experts Bicycling Across U.S. To Inspire Action.
  • Marmot has been a long-time supporter of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, comprised of 32 of the most committed specialty outdoor retailers in America.
  • more

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Necky Kayaks

Necky now offers kayaks made with 100% post industrial plastic. Necky Kayaks uses their own cutouts and plastic waste to produce these unique kayaks. But don't let the word 'waste' fool you. Their 100% recycled material actually contains stronger materials than their standard line.

Necky also donates 1% of all gross sales to the Waterkeeper Alliance.

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Patagonia

In 2005 Patagonia launched the Common Threads Garment Recycling Program, through which customers could return their worn out Capilene® Performance Baselayers to us for recycling. They've now added Patagonia fleece, Polartec® fleece from other manufacturers and Patagonia organic cotton T-shirts to the list of recyclables.

Since 1985, Patagonia has pledged 1% of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. 1% for the Planet.

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Perception Kayaks

Only one thing is more essential to kayaking than a kayak, and that's water. Healthy waterways are important to us as people, as paddlers and as inhabitants of the planet. So when you purchase a Perception product, know that you're helping to support numerous major conservation efforts www.perceptionkayaks.com

Paddle-It-Forward

" Paddle It Forward” is a simple concept in which everyone gives a little, and receives a lot. Donate your used hard-shell kayak or canoe to any 501(c)(3), outdoor or environmental educational organization and bring the proof of donation to a participating Perception dealer. With this proof of donation, you will receive nearly 20-percent off the cost of a new kayak or canoe. Get the details.

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Petzl

One of the Petzl Foundation's commitments is to contribute to the preservation of the environment by supporting projects led by environmental groups.
Notably, it supports projects for the protection of many birds of prey in Europe, such as the Bonelli Eagle, the Bearded Lammergeyer, and a variety of vultures. Each year, the Petzl Foundation supports associations within the framework of a call for projects involving environmental protection.

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prAna

prAna uses sustainable materials and manufacturing practices that reduce impact on soil, water supplies and other natural resources. prAna's use of wind power prevents 22,112 metric tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere a year. prAna is also Green-E Certified and a 3Degrees member. They are active with keeping climbing areas open, protecting wild and natural areas, and they continue to increase their use of organic renewable materials in their products.

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Project BLUE

Participating brands: BillabongDakineO'NeillNixon

These major surfwear suppliers all participate in a program called call "Project Blue". This initiative allows manufactures to donate proceeds to help fund coastline protection initiatives nationwide. www.betruetoblue.com

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Quiksilver

Humanitarian aid organization SurfAid International has opened the first stage of the Quiksilver SurfAid Community Health Training Centre at Katiet, in the Mentawai Islands, off Indonesia’s West Sumatran coast. The centre, which has been funded by the Quiksilver Foundation, has been designed by leading organic agriculturalist, Brendan Hoare.

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Roxy

Roxy supports the Keep A Breast Foundation a unique non-profit organization whose mission is to produce art events to increase breast cancer awareness among young people and benefit breast cancer education, prevention and treatment programs in communities around the world.

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Royal Robbins

Royal Robbins is another company that makes partnerships with environmental organizations, making environmental action a focus of Royal Robbins.

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Salomon

Salomon is committed to taking responsibility for the impact of our efforts.
As such, our first goal is to understand and limit the negative environmental impact of our business. Our second goal is to create a culture of environmental responsibility as a natural part of the education and daily work for all employees, collaborators, and partners of Salomon.

  • Understanding our environmental impact
  • R educing C02 emissions
  • Reducing reliance on non-renewable resources
  • Eliminating toxicity
  • Developing products and processes which are environmentally friendly throughout their life-cycle

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Sea to Summit

Sea to Summit is one of the founding sponsors of Leave No Trace in Australia and a sponsor of Leave No Trace in the U.S., Sea to Summit is always inspired to create products that make it easier to practice the Leave No Trace ethic. Influenced by their own experience in the fragile Outback, Sea to Summit's designers have come up with innovative, lightweight products which are designed specifically to support the principle of minimal human impact wherever your adventures take you.

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Sierra Designs

"The Sierra Designs Canada / Black Water Designs (BWD) Green Effect mission is to reduce the footprint we leave on the planet earth; to practice and promote a harmonious relationship between the business world and the outdoor world."

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Smart Wool

Smartwool's, SmartPrint Program brings to life SmartWool's philosophy to effect positive change in the world which we live, play and do business. Through smart and sensitive business practices we are excited to continuously do our part to leave this earth better off than when we arrived; economically, environmentally, and socially.

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Specialized Cycles

Specialized Earns Eco-Inspired BRAINy Award
In the midst of green retrofitting company headquarters in Morgan Hill, California, Specialized earned a BRAINy award from Bicycle Retailer and Industry News—an industry publication that, for the first time in their awards history, recognized companies making concerted efforts to "go green". Through its eco-conscious initiatives and promotion of the bicycle as the ultimate vehicle for change, Specialized wants to challenge others to become part of the global solution.

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Teva Shoes

Teva ® partners with Waterkeeper Alliance to promote and facilitate waterway clean-ups in 11 regions throughout the US in 2008.

What the Teva® Tribe is saying:

"Teva® is proud to support Waterkeeper Alliance in the protection of our outdoor playground by fighting against polluters of our waterways. We hope that our efforts encourage and inspire those looking to make a difference. Protect our waterways, protect our future." - The Teva® Tribe.

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The North Face

GlobalGiving is the emerging marketplace for international aid. It directly connects social entrepreneurs in the developing world with individuals, corporations and institutions that have an interest in funding social, environmental and economic development projects. Through GlobalGiving, The North Face is working to identify and fund social and economic development projects in the regions where its expeditions take place.

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Tubbs Snowshoes

Romp to stomp out Breast Cancer Snowshoe events. www.tubbsromptostomp.com

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Volcom

Organic garments from the Volcom V.Co-Logical Series represent Volcom’s socially responsible attempt to sustain and protect our planet’s rapidly shrinking natural resources. By utilizing sustainable alternatives like 100% certified organic cotton, hemp, vegetable dyes, organic stains and other low impact production methods, the Volcom V.Co-Logical series incorporates progressive Volcom styling with an environmentally clear conscience. In addition, the Volcom V.Co-Logical series has teamed up with 1% For The Planet to set up a program where 1% of sales of the series will be donated to environmental causes through their organization.

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Whiskeyjack Paddles

Whiskeyjack Paddles is extremely proud to be enrolled in Minnesota Power's Windsense program. 100% of our energy is supplied by wind generated electricity. Whiskeyjack Paddles is committed to doing everything possible to reduce our overall carbon footprint.

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Woolrich

"We are committed to protecting and enhancing the environment. We feel it is a corporate responsibility, certainly. But for us, it's personal. It runs deep. So we've supported and sponsored various conservation organizations over the years, both in our home state of Pennsylvania and nationwide. You can learn more about several of these groups through the links below. In addition, we maintain over 4,000 acres of wild mountainside adjacent to our headquarters in north-central Pennsylvania. It's a haven for bear and trout and songbirds. Chatham Run springs up out of these mountains and carries its sparkling water down through the village of Woolrich to the West Branch of the Susquehanna. The refuge is open for the public to enjoy."

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Yakima

Yakima has developed support for several important environmental partners.

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