2024 is the beginning of a journey to build on product-focused sustainability initiatives as we transition to a holistic company ESG approach.
At PrimaLoft, you will find a team of people passionate about enhancing outdoor experiences and minimizing our carbon footprint. Through innovation and a continuous improvement mentality, we enable outdoor enthusiasts to perform at their best during life’s greatest moments, whether on the mountain, trail, or in everyday outdoor pursuits. We strive to deliver the best product in the market. For us, that means developing the highest performing insulation with the most sustainable solutions we can provide. We are committed to making a difference by helping brand partners and outdoor enthusiasts make a positive impact while living their best life outdoors. In late 2023, I was thrilled to join
When your is as big as the Planet,
Why
PrimaLoft at an exciting time for the brand. We’re in a transformative period – as a brand, as an industry, as a planet. The company had long established itself as an industry leader in delivering high performance, sustainable products, from industry-leading recycled content to biodegradable synthetics and carbon-reducing manufacturing processes. Delivering
provide value to our brand partners, our employees, and our community of outdoor enthusiasts.
But there is also tremendous opportunity for PrimaLoft to expand beyond product sustainability and embrace a more holistic approach
you never stop solving for
to company ESG practices. 2024 has marked the beginning of a new phase for our brand. It’s the kickoff of a multi-year vision and growth plan focused on achieving big goals across innovation, sustainability, service, and engagement with our communities.
Big goals are, by nature, difficult to achieve. But that’s what makes
them exciting! As we move forward, PrimaLoft is committed to being radically transparent with our progress. Radical transparency is built on the pillars of truth, visibility, and action. It’s not just about meeting industry standards; it’s about setting new ones, and sharing both challenges and triumphs along the way. I’m excited for PrimaLoft to share the big
goals that will shape our brand for the future.
Is an Innovation Company
OUR WHY
When your why? is as big as the planet, you never stop solving for how?
OUR PURPOSE
Is to unleash the full potential of people, product and planet, together in harmony.
OUR MISSION
We are committed to being Relentlessly Responsible™, using innovation to drive performance and sustainability. Each elevated, neither sacrificed. WE MAKE High performance, sustainable insulation.
AUDACIOUS GOALS. OUR
AUDACIOUS GOALS.
Culture of Innovation
Lead a Culture of Innovation. Deliver the most disruptive technologies, advanced products and service breakthroughs for our users and the communities we serve.
LEGACY OF PERFORMANCE ^
From our origins pioneering insulation for the U.S. Army and patenting the first synthetic microfiber for apparel, PrimaLoft has long been at the forefront of performance technology. Today, PrimaLoft continues that legacy by offering many of the highest performing synthetic insulations on the market.
THE MEANING OF INNOVATION
Lately, it seems like every company, brand, and local neighborhood coffee shop claims that they are driven by “Innovation” and “Authenticity,” with both terms being overused. As someone in the innovation game, it’s incredibly important that PrimaLoft embodies true Authentic Innovation. PrimaLoft’s brand DNA is born of invention. There’s an understanding that it requires failure, and therefore resilience, to evolve.
Innovation, and specifically product innovation, is all about failure. Adages like “FAIL= First Attempt In Learning”
and “fail fast and fail often” have long been quoted but, they ring true. We become more adept and more nimble when we embrace our trials and errors. The weight of our failures eventually provide enhanced stability and control.
In order to lead and shape the future, you must equally understand where you came from and how you arrived. This is especially true when navigating the environmental impacts and sustainability of our products. At PrimaLoft, sustainability is the backbone of our product line. In order to ensure our future, we need to build upon and improve the sustainability of our incumbent and upcoming products by reducing carbon emissions, limiting virgin materials, exploring biodegradability, and utilizing renewable energy.
Often misunderstood, applied innovation is a procedural approach to solving problems. It’s not black magic; it’s a functional department with processes and counterbalances. While procedure and process are integral, a frequently overlooked component is culture. A team must feel safe to openly share, explore, and miss. Establishing and promoting an environment that supports and amplifies those behaviors is essential. Many ineffective innovation divisions try to rush or skip creating this critical atmosphere. You cannot manage creativity. You don’t coach invention. But you can curate the environment in which they thrive
- Andrea Paulson SVP Innovation and Technology
WHAT PRODUCT MEANS TO ME
Delivering leading product requires a combination of innovation, performance, quality and design. At PrimaLoft, we develop product that enables our passionate outdoor users to perform at their best. From elite mountaineers to someone who’s simply making an effort to be more active outdoors, we’re putting our resources behind platform technologies that provide benefits for a wide range of athletes.
PrimaLoft® insulation is a key part of the environment created within a garment. Our products enable environments that are conducive to athlete performance and comfort. Ultimately, it’s all about the athletekeeping them feeling and performing their best.
Product philosophy also extends to sustainability and ethical considerations, reflecting our commitment to environmental responsibility and social impact. We’re always striving to provide the highest possible performance while reducing our impact on the planet.
- Chris Gallo SVP Product Strategy
INNOVATION HIGHLIGHT: WEAR TEST PROGRAM
TESTING TESTING
Our innovation strategy is built on enabling user experience. Through our wear testing program, we gather both quantitative and qualitative feedback from real-world users. This ensures that our insulation products not only excel in the lab but also meet the rigorous demands of outdoor adventurers.
“The whole reason we conduct lab-testing and field-testing of our insulation products is to capture any perceivable and significant differences for the user,” said Andrea Paulson, SVP innovation and technology. “We statistically validate our performance with standard and repeatable quantitative testing. And we use the complementary qualitative aspects of humanintervention testing to tell their stories.”
Rigorous testing, carried out in our ISO 17025 certified lab in Latham, NY and our facility in Xiamen, China, has been a calling card for PrimaLoft – proving out our industry-leading performance and sustainability standards. We are expanding lab testing to include in-garment performance, bridging the gap between technical excellence and real-world functionality.
SPENT LAB TESTING THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF PRIMALOFT® PRODUCTS.
PrimaLoft has established itself as the experts in synthetic insulation. Now, we’re working to further establish our expertise in how insulation impacts garment development and performance in the field. In 2024, we carried out an employee-led program testing key PrimaLoft® products that yielded valuable feedback for future advancements. It’s a first step in building a rigorous wear test program, tapping into athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, in addition to our employees, to help inform the development of the latest insulation technologies.
TESTING
”
THE MOST SUSTAINABLE JACKET IS ONE YOU WEAR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE… TO NOT KEEP BUYING NEW ONES, BUT TO HAVE ONE THING.
Most Sustainable Igniter
Be the Most Sustainable Igniter Brand. Leading sustainable products and practices that inspire tangible environmental + business impact for our planet, partners and PrimaLoft.
Decarbonization
PrimaLoft is at the beginning of a disciplined journey towards an ultimate goal of carbon neutrality.
We can only move at the pace of truth, and we are currently focused on establishing our baselines and setting specific science-based targets towards achieving drastic reduction in our overall footprint.
We are coalescing around the specific decarbonization efforts of:
• Recycled Polyesters
• Biodegradability
• Circularity
• Non-Fossil Fuel products
• Reduced Emissions
In 2024 and into 2025, our sustainability journey involves measuring & publishing current state and mapping aggressive plans to achieve our goals. Once this work is complete, we look forward to publishing our Net Zero timeline. In the meantime, we have identified like-minded R&D partners and, together, we are working hard on making a difference.
MANUFACTURING
A critical priority is to reduce emissions produced throughout our value chain. We will do this by continuing to innovate in the production of insulation.
PrimaLoft® P.U.R.E.™ is a manufacturing method that drastically reduces emissions during the production of synthetic insulation. Traditional manufacturing methods used for decades have relied on fossil fuels to power inefficient equipment during the production process. We’ve worked extensively with our factory partners to utilize renewable energy, like solar, and more efficient, electric-powered equipment, reducing the need for fossil fuels. This results in emission reduction of 50% or more. PrimaLoft® P.U.R.E.™ is currently used to produce more than a half dozen PrimaLoft products and we will aggressively expand in the next 2-3 years.
P.U.R.E. Stats 2023
P.U.R.E. Manufacturing (Actual)
227,202 kgs CO2e 41,715 kgs CO2e
* This represents a reduction of 82% for the year.
Standard Manufacturing (Equivalent)
Decarbonization
MANUFACTURING CONTINUED
CLIMATE ACTION CORPS
PrimaLoft is also a founding member of OIA’s Climate Action Corps. Currently measuring Scope 1 and Scope 2 Emissions
• Scope 1 Emissions in tCO2e – 0
• Scope 2 Emissions in tCO2e – 35,004
Emission reduction expansion:
• Measuring our scope 3 emissions
• Setting scope 1, 2 and 3 reduction targets aligned with science-based initiative criteria (SBTi)
To date, PrimaLoft has taken the following actions to reduce GHG emissions - Implementing P.U.R.E. manufacturing processes has enabled us to:
• Improve energy efficiency at our owned/controlled facilities
• Produce or procured renewable electricity (and/or renewable energy credits) for our owned/controlled facilities
• Reduce onsite use of fuels through electrification or other energy sources for our owned/controlled facilities
• Engage with our suppliers about energy efficiency
• Engage with our suppliers about renewable energy
• Engage with our suppliers about cleaner thermal processes
• Collaborated with other companies to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy
• Changed our company's products and materials to alternatives with lower-GHG footprint
We have also:
• Engaged our suppliers about measuring their GHG emissions through Higg FEM implementation at production sites with our largest volume
• Reduced materials waste in the design and/or manufacturing of our products by working with production sites to use leftover product waste from production and feed it back into the production process to be reprocessed to eliminate waste.
• Implemented company policies to reduce impacts of business travel
• Reduced impacts of inbound and outbound distribution (transportation modes, logistics, packing density) by increasing redundancy across our production sites based on largest volume of products, reducing shipping distance
RECYCLED CONTENT
PrimaLoft has been using recycled content in products dating back to 1997, well before the industry was ready to adopt the practice.
Since 2015, the amount of PrimaLoft® products made using recycled content has grown exponentially.
Water Bottles Saved:
TOTAL 2023 152,077,023 2024 YTD 151,925,316 Since 2015 929,000,000
* PrimaLoft's use of recycled material diverts millions of plastic water bottles from landfills and waterways
70% of our product portfolio is made using 100% recycled material.
Despite leading advancements in the sourcing and development of recycled material for high-performance synthetic insulation, it is sometimes necessary to incorporate cleaner feedstocks not made from recycled content in order to meet performance standards.
We always use 100% recycled content wherever we can and we are always striving to find solutions for incorporating more recycled material while maintaining, or even improving, performance.
BIODEGRADABILITY
In 2018, PrimaLoft introduced the first-ever biodegradable*, 100% recycled synthetic fibers for insulation for apparel applications.
Highly durable and built to last, PrimaLoft® Bio™ returns to materials found in nature only when exposed to marine, wastewater, and landfill environments – reducing the longterm impact of microplastics in those environments.
Microplastic pollution is a significant issue, and PrimaLoft® Bio™ represents a holistic solution, combatting microplastic shedding throughout a product’s continued journey – from wear & tear and laundering to end of life scenarios.
This development has been backed by rigorous third-party testing. PrimaLoft has also partnered with UMass Dartmouth to carry out continued testing of biodegradable solutions for future development.
CIRCULARITY
PrimaLoft is ready for the future of circularity. We’re currently in the R+D phase, actively engaging with partners to determine how best we can help on our own, and how we can best support brands.
As a component of finished garments, we’re in a unique position to support, working with almost 1,000 global brands across a variety of industry segments.
NON-FOSSIL FUELS + NATURAL MATERIALS
PrimaLoft is in the incubator phase of development. While we aren’t at a place to discuss specific plans just yet, our innovation engine is actively working towards a long-term goal of achieving technologies that meet our industry-leading performance standards, using natural materials.
COMMITTED TO PFAS-FREE PRODUCTION
PrimaLoft tests our products on an annual basis through Hohenstein to ensure products are free from harmful substances including PFAS.
PrimaLoft has used fluorocarbon-free processes from the very beginning. We recognize the importance of this requirement to our customers and consumers, and we continue to monitor to ensure compliance.
DURABILITY IS SUSTAINABILITY
Durability is a key driver of sustainability. We have increased our testing rigor to ensure our products are made to last a lifetime.
• AATCC 150 + Modified AATCC 135 - Dimensional Changes of Fabrics after Home Laundering
• Thermal testing before and after wash
• Pilling and abrasion testing
• Compression & recovery testing
Unparalleled Service
Deliver Unparalleled Service
Deliver best-in-class service for internal team members and external partners.
POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS
We’re proud of the long-standing relationships we’ve built with our manufacturing partners and the brands we serve.
73% of our manufacturing partners have manufactured with us for over 5 years, and we've enjoyed decade-plus relationships with many influential brands.
PRIDE IN PARTNER SATISFACTION
Our global operations and customer service teams pride themselves on ensuring partner satisfaction.
• Over the past 5 years, less than 3% of orders have been associated with a claim
• In the last two years, only 1% of claims are related to order delays.
• Our Quality Control team is available for on-site support in Asia to quickly address any issues that may arise in the region.
• Our Latham and Xiamen labs offer testing support for any order-related concerns.
UNPARALLELED SERVICE HIGHLIGHT: CERTIFICATIONS
A key component of partnering with manufacturing facilities is establishing and maintaining comprehensive social and sustainability compliance certifications. PrimaLoft and our partners work together to protect the health, safety and fundamental rights of our partner employees, protecting and enhancing the community and environment in which they operate. We are committed to compliance and certification audits executed by industry-recognized certifying bodies.
BLUESIGN
bluesign® aims to unite the complete textile supply chain to reduce the industry’s impact on the environment. The system is based on five principles – resource, productivity, consumer safety, water emissions, air emissions, and occupational heath & safety.
PrimaLoft currently holds bluesign® certification at 8 contract manufacturer locations.
Our contract manufacturers go through an in-depth assessment audit every 1-3 years. If concerning non-conformances are found, the site is required to resolve them with a corrective action before certification can be granted.
ISO 17025
This accreditation process includes comprehensive system audits that cover all aspects of an effective quality management system and testing. Meeting ISO 17025 certification standards demonstrates that a lab operates competently and generates valid results, promoting confidence in its test work, globally.
OEKO TEX® STANDARD 100
Over 90% of our products go through OEKO-TEX Standard 100 testing, under Class I certification. This is the highest level of testing offered with the strictest limit values to ensure products are safe enough for infants.
GLOBAL RECYCLED STANDARD
The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) applies to the full supply chain and addresses traceability, environmental principles, social requirements, chemical content and labeling.
The standard supports companies looking to verify the recycled content of their products as well as responsible social, environmental and chemical practices in the production of these products.
Our contract manufacturers go through GRS certification on an annual basis. We currently have 11 locations that are GRS certified, as well as our Latham and Xiamen PrimaLoft offices.
RESPONSIBLE DOWN STANDARD
A third-party certifying body executes audits at the factory level to ensure down is being sourced in an ethical manner. RDS requires no live plucking or force feeding, ethical treatment of duck and geese, as well as full transparency and traceability behind all down being sourced.
All down used in PrimaLoft® down blend products is RDS certified, with contract manufacturer locations in Europe and Asia covered under RDS certification.
OCEANCYCLE
OceanCycle provides a 100% independent, thirdparty certification of ocean-bound plastics recycling supply chains to ensure that they meet international quality, ethical, environmental, and labor standards.
Ocean-bound plastic is defined as plastic waste recovered from within 50 km (30 miles) of an ocean coastline or major waterway that feeds into the ocean in a geographic region that lacks formal waste management. Except in the case of a sea, material collected from major waterways may be no further than 200 km from the mouth or end point of that waterway.
PrimaLoft currently holds OceanCycle certification at two contract manufacturer locations and offers multiple products utilizing OceanCycle certified recycled material.
HIGG INDEX
Facility Environmental Module
The Higg FEM provides verified, actionable, quantifiable environmental performance insights into our supply chain, across the following: environmental management system, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, wastewater, emissions to air (if applicable), waste management, chemical use and management.
Once verification is complete, the modules can be viewed and shared with brands and customers on the Higg portal to understand environmental performance across our facilities.
Facility Social Labor Module
The Higg FSLM measures the social labor practices facilities have in place in the manufacturing process and helps improve the conditions for workers in the supply chain.
On an annual basis, we require our sites to complete the FSLM. Once completed, a thirdparty verifier will go in to review all information and verify the accuracy of the data.
PrimaLoft contract manufacturer locations that participate in the Higg Index cover more than 80% of our production volume.
Most Desired Brand
Be the Most Desired Brand (Inside + Out)
Proudly fuel our culture of dedicated, engaged innovators to carry our collective Relentlessly Responsible mission forward.
When it comes to product leadership, sustainability and community, authenticity matters.
We are proud to serve nearly 1,000 brands and to be more engaged than ever with their consumers and our global outdoor community. Each year, we partner with some of the best brands in the world to inspire and enable outdoor enthusiasts. This 2024/2025 winter, you will find us working hard and playing hard with our communities in places like Colorado, the UK, Oregon, Germany, Asia, the Alps, and more!
We can't wait for the 2024 Kendal Mountain Festival, where we'll join outdoor enthusiasts in exploring the latest in gear, activities and film.
The 2025 Ouray Ice Festival will be a great opportunity for the ice climbing community to get first-hand experience with PrimaLoft.
DESIRED BRAND HIGHLIGHT:
AMKA – GREENLAND, THEN & NOW
Likely our most genuine and inspiring ambassador, Lonnie Dupre never ceases to amaze. Lonnie recently premiered AMKA, a short film chronicling the effect of climate change on Inuit communities in northern Greenland.
In 2001, Lonnie and his expedition partner, John Hoelscher, circumnavigated Greenland. It took them five years to complete the project, traveling the northern half by dog-team and the southern half by kayak. A circumnavigation of Greenland had never been completed before and has not been repeated since.
Amka, meaning “one with a friendly spirit” in Inuktun, is the story of this return to Greenland. In 2022, Lonnie returned for the first time since his circumnavigation. His aim - to assemble a dog team, train them and travel with them, alongside Inuit hunters throughout northwest Greenland.
This film looks into the relationship and connection between Polar Explorers, Inuit Hunters and the Greenlandic Sled Dog. The focus of this story is not a final destination or successful completion of a specific objective on a map. Instead, it endeavors to illuminate how traveling in the Arctic by dog team is a deeply connecting force, no matter what culture or country one started from.
PrimaLoft is proud to support Lonnie as he continues to raise awareness and promote action to fight climate change, shining a light on stories of environments and communities profoundly affected by the crisis.
Photo Credit: Eva Capozzola
Radically Transparent
Commit to radical transparency through measurement, establishing baselines and science based targets
Engage with and authentically support the outdoor community. Engage with the entire PrimaLoft® team to build a vibrant culture and sense of community.
Focus on platform technologies that enhance experiences across a variety of active outdoor users
Expand PrimaLoft® P.U.R.E™ product line
Introduce ThermoPlume+ and RISE Loose Fill
70% of product portfolio made using 100% recycled material
TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH
Transparent
As outlined in this report, PrimaLoft is in the midst of a transformative period for the brand. We are building on our track record of innovative performance and sustainability, expanding our focus beyond product to a more holistic approach to social and environmental progress that will reduce our impact.
Despite our accomplished legacy, there is significantly more work to be done. Over the next few years, we are committed to making strides towards ambitious goals that will effect positive change for our environment and our communities. And we are committed to radical transparency:
Establish environmental impact baseline and goals. Outline challenges and hurdles.
Engage with and authentically support the outdoor community. Invigorate our passionate internal team members by linking our core values with employee incentives and rewards.
2026+
Set science-based targets towards decarbonization
Continued focus on improving in-garment environments for athletes through wear testing and product development
Accelerate conversion of manufacturing to PrimaLoft® P.U.R.E.™ PrimaLoft® Gold –our most premiere product
Track progress against established targets using defined measurement standards
Engage with outdoor communities via consumer touchpoints and authentic support
Achieve B Corp certification
Refine science-based targets as progress is measured
Continued focus on improving the experiences of athletes and outdoor enthusiasts
Continue acceleration manufacturing to PrimaLoft® P.U.R.E.™ PrimaLoft® Silver and Black – our highest volume products.
Begin implementation of PrimaLoft® BioTM conversion strategy.
TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH
