Eco-friendly and Sustainable Fleece Jackets
Patagonia recently announced that they will no longer be allowing third-party logos to be decorated on their products, in an effort to preserve the reusability and longevity of each item. Companies across America have been shaken by this decision, as Patagonia’s Better Sweater fleece jacket—made of 100% recycled polyester knitted fleece—has been a corporate gifting favorite for its comfort quality and sustainability.
In preparation for upcoming gifting needs, we’ve put together a list of several eco-conscious brands with comparable jacket options and styles.
P.S. We can supply apparel from the brands with a *.
Since its humble beginning as a small Seattle sports goods shop in 1920, Eddie Bauer has become a titan of the outdoor apparel industry. Primarily focused on promoting an outdoor-friendly lifestyle, the global clothing retail chain has also made efforts to preserve the environment, partnering with American Forests to plant over 8 million trees in threatened forest ecosystems.
Alternative style: Men’s & Women’s Sweater Fleece Full-Zip Jacket
Marmot*
Marmot is an eco-conscious brand that offers performance-driven outdoor gear and apparel. In addition to advocating for humane working conditions, their company practices place emphasis on reducing their carbon footprint and increasing conservation efforts.
Alternative style: Men’s & Women’s Rocklin Fleece Full-Zip Jacket
Outdoor Research*
Following a near-death experience while mountain climbing in 1980, Ron Gregg founded Outdoor Research as a platform to produce quality protective gear for outdoor recreation. Since then, the brand has expanded to include everyday, sustainably made apparel and essentials, which are all manufactured in the US.
Alternative style: Men’s & Women’s Middle Fork Full-zip Fleece
The North Face*
Though its main output is outdoor apparel and accessories, The North Face is uniquely favored for its fashionable streetwear styles inspired by the former. In recent years, the brand has also focused its efforts to become more sustainable, pledging to switch to 100% responsibly-sourced apparel fabrics, and to eliminate all single-use plastic packaging, by 2025.
Alternative style: Men’s & Women’s Rocklin Fleece Full-Zip Jacket
Smartwool*
Originally founded in 1994, by two ski instructors in Colorado, Smartwool is known for their socks and outdoor apparel made from high-quality Merino wool, which are specially treated to be antimicrobial, itch-free, and shrink-resistant. All of their products are backed by their “Go Far. Feel Good” guarantee, which promises to replace any items that don’t meet customer satisfaction within 2 years of purchase.
Alternative style: Men’s Hudson Trail Fleece Half Zip Sweater
Stio*
Based in Wyoming, Stio’s mission is to create sustainably made outdoor wear that promotes the appeal of “mountain life,” and the importance of protecting the environment that makes this lifestyle possible. Their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint have been Climate Neutral certified, which includes packaging made from 100% recycled materials, as well as using renewable energy to power their corporate and retail facilities.
Alternative style: Men’s Wilcox Fleece Jacket & Women’s Sweetwater Fleece Jacket
Fjallraven
The Swedish company Fjallraven is known for their durable, versatile backpacks adorned with their signature Arctic fox logo—the compact Kanken model being a hipster favorite. They also produce a line of upscale outdoor wear, that are largely manufactured with recycled, organic, or sustainable materials and processes.
Alternative style: Men’s & Women’s Övik Fleece Zip Sweater
L.L. Bean
A household name in the outdoor apparel industry, L.L. Bean is known for its accessible line of clothing and recreational equipment. With a recent pivot toward sustainable practices, they have stated that by 2025, they will be using responsibly sourced cotton in 100% of their cotton products, and recycled polyester in 100% of their apparel.
Alternative style: Men’s & Women’s Sweater Fleece Full-Zip Jacket
Filson
With a history of over 120 years, Seattle-based Filson is a well-established brand among outdoor enthusiasts for their high-quality and durable gear. Their commitment to the outdoors is also reflected in their support of several environmental projects, including partnerships with the Natural Forest Foundation and The Conservation Alliance.
Alternative style: Men’s Ridgeway Fleece Jacket