How Sustainable is Black Diamond?
Average Sustainability Score
Good
Black Diamond trails behind industry leaders when it comes to sustainability, but in recent years, it has made substantial efforts to close the gap. While the brand still lags in emissions tracking and circularity initiatives, Black Diamond has made significant progress in repair services and increased transparency, and 2025 has seen it launch its Reroute repair service and publish its inaugural annual impact report. Read on to learn about Black Diamond’s journey to decrease its impact—and where it’s going next.
This sustainability analysis evaluates both product- and brand-level initiatives to capture the full scope of Black Diamond’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact. Our research draws from Black Diamond’s published sustainability data, other reputable sources, third-party certifications (a cornerstone of our process), and correspondence with brand representatives. We have independently researched over 25 Black Diamond products to date and counting, giving us a broad understanding of the brand’s use of low-impact materials, chemistry, and manufacturing practices.
You can also explore our analyses of other outdoor brands, or use our advanced search to find products that align with your sustainability values.
Black Diamond receives a “Good” transparency rating for its reporting on sustainability initiatives. The brand published its first annual impact report in 2025, vastly improving transparency surrounding its sustainability programs. Unfortunately, Black Diamond does not report greenhouse gas emissions data in the report (beyond what we believe is an absolute statistic for its Scope 3 emissions), though we did find its 2024 data in its Outdoor Industry Association Climate Action Corps progress report. Black Diamond also has room for improvement when it comes to labeling Bluesign-approved and recycled materials, as sustainability labeling is spotty on the brand’s website. Overall, however, it has been responsive to our inquiries when we’ve reached out with questions about its sustainability practices.
Recycled materials typically come with a smaller carbon footprint than their virgin counterparts, making them a key component of many brands’ strategy to reduce emissions. Black Diamond incorporates recycled materials into many of its products, but falls short of industry leaders like Patagonia and The North Face, which both use almost entirely recycled synthetic fibers (like nylon and polyester). In its inaugural impact report, Black Diamond reported that just over half of its polyester products and a third of its nylon products contain recycled content, though it did not specify its total use of recycled fibers by weight (which is a more accurate measurement). Uniquely, Black Diamond uses a substantial amount of pre-consumer recycled aluminum: The brand reports that around a quarter of the aluminum in its carabiners is made with recycled content, while around half of its trekking poles feature around 30% recycled aluminum. Of the Black Diamond products we have researched, around a quarter incorporate recycled content.
Black Diamond is not a Bluesign System Partner, but it uses Bluesign-approved materials in some of its apparel and climbing soft goods. Bluesign-approved materials are subject to high standards for environmental and chemical impacts throughout the supply chain, and formal partnership in the Bluesign system signifies a brand’s commitment to reducing its impact. Unlike The North Face, Nemo, and Patagonia, Black Diamond is not part of the Bluesign system. Additionally, the brand does not report a statistic detailing its total use of Bluesign-approved materials, but we have found them in a handful of the Black Diamond products we have researched.
Until recently, PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, were standard ingredients in waterproof gear. Unfortunately, these chemicals are also associated with cancer and developmental delays in children, in addition to numerous other adverse health effects. They’re often referred to as “forever chemicals” as a result of their environmental persistence. In 2025, Black Diamond finished its phase-out of PFAS in apparel, backpacks, gloves, and footwear. Now, all of its durable water-repellent treatments and waterproof membrane materials are free from PFAS. Black Diamond’s shift aligned with new regulations in California and New York, effective in 2025, prohibiting the use of PFAS in textiles sold in the two states. Still, many Black Diamond hard goods (including carbon fiber products) still contain forever chemicals. The brand is actively working to remove PFAS from these other product categories.
Black Diamond has made mixed progress toward incorporating responsibly sourced animal products into its gear. We love that the brand exclusively uses down that is certified to the Responsible Down Standard, which ensures that ducks and geese are cared for in accordance with high animal welfare standards. However, while Black Diamond claims that all of its wool is “ethically sourced,” it does not provide a certification like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) or ZQrx to back up that statement. It does disclose that all of its wool is from non-mulesed sheep, which is a good practice for animal welfare. Still, certifications like the RWS or ZQrx ensure that suppliers don’t mules sheep, in addition to many other standards for animal welfare and sustainability.
Finally, unlike leading brands, Black Diamond does not require that its leather be sourced from suppliers that are certified to Leather Working Group standards or similar certification programs. Suppliers that are certified to these standards are assessed for their water and energy usage, chemical and waste management, and traceability. We hope to see Black Diamond improve its leather sourcing in the future.
Black Diamond does not partner with any third-party factory accreditation programs to ensure fair labor practices and reduced environmental impact. However, the brand manufactures around 10% of its products in a Fair Trade Certified factory, but, unlike Arc’teryx, Patagonia, and REI Co-op, Black Diamond is not licensed by Fair Trade USA to sell Fair Trade products (which are manufactured in accordance to high standards for fair working conditions and reduced environmental impact). Like many outdoor brands, Black Diamond has a vendor code of conduct, though that alone is not enough to meet our criteria for this category. To meet our responsible manufacturing criteria, we require brands to be part of a third-party program that provides certification and/or annual audits of factories to ensure safe working conditions, fair wages, and a decreased environmental impact.
When it comes to sustainable packaging, Black Diamond’s progress lands in the middle tier when compared to industry peers. We appreciate that around a third of Black Diamond’s cardboard packaging and all of its apparel hang tags feature recycled content, and the brand has made substantial packaging reductions in some categories. For example, between 2019 and 2021, it decreased its ski and trekking pole packaging volume by about 50%. Still, in comparison to brands like REI, which uses nearly 100% recycled or Forest Stewardship Council-certified packaging, Black Diamond has room for improvement.
Compared to leading brands, Black Diamond was slow to launch an apparel repair program, but in 2025, it launched Reroute, which offers repair services and replacement parts for Black Diamond products. The brand’s technicians can perform basic repairs, such as patching apparel (including climbing pants and ski jackets), replacing buckles and straps on packs, and restringing and replacing tent poles. These repair services are free if covered under warranty and offered at a reasonable cost (determined on a case-by-case basis) if not. You can also request replacement parts for products like trekking poles and headlamps. These replacement parts are free if a product is covered under warranty, and available for a fee if not. Notably, for many years, Black Diamond has offered cam repair services, including re-slinging and re-triggering.
In 2025, Black Diamond piloted the industry’s first carabiner-to-trekking pole recycling program. Through this program, you can drop off old carabiners at Black Diamond’s brick-and-mortar stores in exchange for a 10% off coupon. The brand also plans to offer upcycled products, including dog leashes and toiletry bags that are made from retired webbing and scrap material that customers have returned (though we have yet to see these products in the flesh). While apparel recycling programs have become more common in the outdoor industry, Black Diamond does not offer these services.
Black Diamond first measured its greenhouse gas emissions in 2021 using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, which categorizes emissions into three scopes: Scope 1 (direct emissions from a company), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased electricity), and Scope 3 (all other indirect emissions across the supply chain). As is true for many outdoor brands, Black Diamond reports that around 90% of its emissions fall into the Scope 3 category. It set the goal of reducing its carbon intensity (measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide per dollar of revenue) by 50% by 2030. It is important to note, however, that carbon intensity can decrease while total emissions increase if a company does not also have an absolute emissions reduction goal (i.e., reduce Scope 3 emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to a 2021 baseline year). The brand is in the process of establishing absolute reduction goals, but has yet to release them.
Unfortunately, Black Diamond’s reduction goal is not verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative, an organization that assures reduction goals are aligned with Paris Agreement warming thresholds (though the brand says that it is in the process of establishing them). Unlike leading brands, Black Diamond does not report on its absolute emissions over time, but we did find its most recent data in its Outdoor Industry Association Climate Action Corps progress report. In this report, it disclosed emitting 172,479.96 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent last year (for reference, in the same year, Patagonia emitted a total of 178,436 MT CO2e). Still, due to limited reporting, we don’t know if Black Diamond has made any emissions reductions thus far.
In 2025, Black Diamond published its inaugural annual impact report detailing its 2024 sustainability progress and 2030 targets. While the brand is much later to the game than other major gear manufacturers we report on, we applaud Black Diamond for its first report, which covers preferred material goals, waste reduction, energy efficiency practices, circularity efforts, and more. The report is heavy on goals and somewhat limited on data compared to the best reports we have seen, but nonetheless covers most of our sustainability criteria. Unfortunately, however, the report does not include a breakdown of Black Diamond’s absolute Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, or evidence of emissions reduction. We hope to see more detailed emissions data in future reports.
Black Diamond is a founding member of the Outdoor Industry Association’s Climate Action Corps, a group of brands that collaborate to measure and reduce their carbon footprints through industry collaboration. It is also a member of the Conservation Alliance and has donated over a million dollars to the Access Fund since 1991 to help protect climbing areas. In addition, Black Diamond supports a variety of local advocacy programs and organizations like Climbing 4 Change, which help expand climbing access for underserved communities. The brand aims to become a certified B Corp by 2030, but has not disclosed whether it has made progress toward this goal.
Top Rated
Find Sustainable Gear by Brand
Deep Dive
Explore Black Diamond Gear
Our Sustainability Ratings Explained
These products are among the most sustainable on the market and earn our Better Trail Certified distinction. They often meet 80% or more of our sustainability criteria for their category.
These products are solid, middle-of-the-pack options for sustainability. In general, they meet at least half of our sustainability criteria for their category.
These products are among the least sustainable in their product category and have significant room for improvement. Most meet about 25% or less of our sustainability criteria.
Better Trail Certified Process
The world of sustainability can be murky, but Better Trail is here to help bring clarity. We’ve exhaustively researched thousands of outdoor gear products, communicated with brands, and created a detailed and rigorous ratings system to bring it all together for you. At the pinnacle is Better Trail Certified.
Better Trail Certified products score 4 out of 5 or higher in our sustainability ratings and generally meet around 80% or more of our criteria. While it’s true that no product is 100% sustainable—all take resources to create and arrive at your doorstep—these products are industry leaders and among the most sustainable on the market.
Read More Brand Analyses
Brand Article
How Sustainable is Arc’teryx?
Brand Article
How Sustainable is The North Face?
Brand Article
How Sustainable is REI?
Brand Article
How Sustainable is Stio?
Brand Article
How Sustainable is Patagonia?
Brand Article
How Sustainable is Columbia?
Brand Article
How Sustainable is Fjallraven?
Brand Article
How Sustainable is Nemo Equipment?