1% for the Planet
As a member, we fund Avalanche Canada and Protect Our Winters Canada. Backcountry recreation only exists where forecasting and access do.
Sustainability
Keeping our
cold places cold
We have one planet to call home, and we agree that it is worth taking care of.
At STRATUS, we don’t just believe in sustainability; we are on a mission to contribute to the conversation around outdoor industry standards by showing what’s possible when the environment is not an afterthought but the driving force.
Why merino
The outdoor industry sells sustainability as a story, then builds gear that outlives the mountains it’s made for.
Synthetic shells shed microplastics into the snowpack, with a landfill afterlife measured in centuries. We design the other way around: the material comes first.
Merino wool, engineered until it outperforms the synthetics it replaces. Not performance with an asterisk. Not sustainability with a performance excuse. Gear that performs at the highest level, then breaks down when its work is done.
End of life
Breaking down our products. Literally.
STRATUS apparel is designed to withstand even the harshest of alpine environments – but when you’re done with it, you won’t need to worry about it lingering for centuries in a landfill. That’s because all of our products and packaging are conscientiously crafted to break down and biodegrade, closing the loop on a sustainable lifecycle from start to finish.
SuperCell™ SoftShell Merino
Water-repellent and wind-resistant, and still 100% merino, so it decomposes organically instead of shedding microplastics.
StormCell™ Merino Knit
Moisture-wicking and antimicrobial, warm without bulk, and naturally biodegradable.
Giving back
We fund the people protecting winter
Woolmark certified
Our merino meets or exceeds high standards for traceability, durability, performance and quality.
The impact of e-commerce
Minimizing our shipping footprint
We know there’s always room to reduce our shipping footprint. We constantly evaluate our shipping and logistics practices to discover new ways to protect the planet.
Many packaging materials marketed as sustainable come with significant drawbacks. While bio-based polyethylene bags and mailers are often presented as biodegradable or compostable, they remain plastics nonetheless. They biodegrade breaking down into microplastics that neither enrich the soil nor truly disappear. They also require industrial composting facilities—which are scarce in North America—to decompose properly.
We’ve transitioned to packaging solutions made from FSC-certified paper sources, containing up to 100% recycled content and they are fully recyclable at curbside. To maximize recyclability, we avoid mixing materials that could hinder the process. Our cardboard mailers come with paper labels and recycle-friendly adhesive to ensure that the entire package you receive is recyclable.
Sustainable by nature
Sustainable by nature
EcoX mailers
A plastic-free and naturally biodegradable alternative to traditional poly mailers. Durable and water-resistant, EcoX mailers are an ideal shipping solution for apparel and textiles.
100% recycled white sheet labels
The world's most eco-friendly Shipping Labels. Constructed from 100% post-consumer waste paper and feature a release liner that is made of 100% recycled content and is curbside recyclable with a recycle-friendly, high-performance adhesive.
Vela glassine bags
Vela™ Glassine Bags are an innovative plastic-free wholesale solution for internal packaging and a curbside recyclable alternative to a clear poly bag.
Even the shop display
Our point-of-sale stands are printed in biodegradable PLA wood filament.
Slow fashion
Wear wool not waste
With consumers buying 60% more clothing than 15 years ago but keeping items for half as long, the environmental impact is staggering—around 92 million tons of clothing are discarded annually, with less than 1% recycled into new garments.
In contrast, wool is the most reused and recyclable fiber, making it a sustainable choice. Many slow fashion designers favor wool for its natural, renewable, and biodegradable qualities, emphasizing quality and longevity over fast fashion's fleeting trends. When not recycled, wool biodegrades, supporting a more sustainable approach.
- 100% merino wool
- SuperCell SoftShell Merino
- StormCell Merino Knit
- 190 gsm · 240 gsm
An ongoing commitment
A journey, not a destination
Embracing sustainability isn’t just a checkbox for us; it’s an ongoing commitment that evolves over time. As a small brand, we often face limitations in our options, but we firmly believe that some decisions must prioritize the planet—even if they come at a higher cost. Our dedication to sustainability is driven by a deep love for the snowy winters we cherish, and we remain committed to making choices that help protect these beautiful landscapes for generations to come.
Iterative process
True sustainability is a journey, not a destination—especially for a small brand like ours with limited resources. Grounded in the principle of ‘sustainably minded design,’ we recognize that there’s always room for improvement in our practices. As we evolve, our commitment to minimizing our environmental impact remains at the forefront of our mission.
Suggestion box
We are always eager to hear from our community. If you have any feedback, suggestions for new sustainable practices we could implement, or other ideas, please feel free to message us at info@strts.ca.