What is the key environmental impact of GORE-TEX® garments?
Due to the durability of GORE-TEX® garments, their life cycle footprint compares quite favorably to less durable products that incur the repeated environmental impact of having to produce more. While some manufacturers of functional materials focus on only part of the story regarding the environmental profile of their products, we employ a Life Cycle Assessment approach that considers all aspects of our products. This starts with the production of raw materials by our suppliers and includes all elements of manufacturing and transportation. We even consider the impact of the washing and drying performed by the consumer over the lifetime of the garment. Comparing the relative impact of each phase of a GORE-TEX® jacket’s life—”from cradle to grave”—, the largest environmental impact occurs during the production and finishing of the component materials that make up a garment. In contrast washing, drying and retreating during the useful life and disposal incurs a smaller environmental impac