Tuesday Oct 04, 2022

E22: The elephant in the tent

What do you know about the potentially endocrine-disrupting “forever chemicals” in your favourite waterproof gear and garments? Or about your favourite outdoor gear manufacturers’ side gigs selling bullets and combat uniforms?

We’re joined on this episode by friend of the pod Alex Tran to unpack a couple not-so-rosy aspects of the outdoor industry. Alex is a backpacker, bike packer and gear head who’s been going on outdoor adventures for almost 20 years. We’ve had lots of conversations about the ethics of the outdoor gear industry in the months since I started the podcast, and I consider Alex to be a pretty conscientious person.

For this research-heavy episode, Alex and I chat about plastic waste, PFAS and the military-industrial complex. We both acknowledged before recording that some of the core problems at the base of all these issues are white supremacy, capitalism, imperialism and patriarchy, and while we touch on some of these a bit during the episode, we ultimately decided to keep the scope of the conversation pretty narrowly focused on the three topics I mentioned above.

Don’t worry though, there are plenty of hot takes.

Notes: At one point, we say that DWR means “durable water resistant” coating, but it’s actually "durable water repellent." Also, I refer several times to Clarus Company, but it’s actually Clarus Corporation.

Sources:

By the Numbers: The Outdoor Industry’s Plastic Problem

Your laundry and plastic pollution — which fabrics shed the most microplastics

The lawyer who became DuPont's worst nightmare

The Madrid Statement

Gore-Tex, PCFS and pollution: Harmful chemicals in outdoor gear

Gore-Tex manufacturer announces availability of new PFAS-free membrane, but still uses “forever chemicals” to make its outdoor apparel and gear

The Lost Arrow Project by Patagonia – Military Alpine Recce System: Program History

#BoycottBlackDiamond: Everything You Need to Know and How You Can Help

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E22: The elephant in the tent

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