Bluesign is Redefining Sustainability in Outdoor Gear
This blue tag assures you that your gear meets strict chemical safety standards and has a lower environmental impact. Here's why.
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It’s easy to miss, so keep an eye out: More and more outdoor gear now comes with a small blue tag—a sign of progress in the industry. The tag might reference Bluesign-approved materials or a Bluesign Product, but with the myriad of tags marketing a product’s features, it can be hard to know what’s important. This one deserves your attention: The Bluesign label indicates that a company is making a serious sustainability commitment. Here’s how Bluesign is changing the outdoor gear industry for the better.
What is Bluesign?
Bluesign Technologies is a company that operates an independent system focused on sustainable chemistry and environmental impact in textile manufacturing. The system evaluates impacts across areas such as resource use, chemical management, air and water emissions, consumer safety, and worker health. Founded in 2000 by a Swiss textile company, Bluesign has become a recognized leader in third-party sustainability standards.
Bluesign Technologies was ahead of the curve from its inception, recognizing the need for transparency and improved environmental and chemical management in textile manufacturing. Working with top chemical suppliers, Bluesign developed the world’s first Manufacturing Restricted Substances List, which identifies and restricts chemicals that pose environmental and health risks. The Bluesign system evaluates three key players in the supply chain: chemical suppliers, material manufacturers, and brands. Rather than focusing only on finished products, Bluesign evaluates whether suppliers and manufacturers use safe processes and approved inputs—including how chemicals are produced and managed. A key strength of the system is its access to verified manufacturing-level (Tier 2) data, allowing it to track environmental impacts like water use, energy consumption, and emissions directly at the facility level.
The first trademarked Bluesign Product—which we discuss in detail below—launched in 2001, and since then, the company has continued to grow. Bluesign now works with many industry partners to implement sustainable practices and proper waste and chemical management within the production process. The 2025 Bluesign System Partner list includes over 800 partners, including brands, retailers, chemical suppliers, and manufacturers. As a result, brands that become Bluesign System Partners gain access to approved materials and guidelines that allow them to build products within the Bluesign framework, ensuring greater consistency and accountability throughout the supply chain.
What Does Bluesign Approved Mean?
Bluesign-approved refers to specific inputs in a product—such as fabrics, trims, and chemicals—not the entire product (more on Bluesign Products in the next section). For a material to be approved, Bluesign conducts on-site assessments of chemical suppliers and manufacturers, screening production processes for hazardous substances and environmental risks. Materials are approved only after inputs, processes, and outputs meet Bluesign’s criteria, with Bluesign working alongside companies to resolve any issues identified. Much of a textile’s environmental impact comes from wet processing stages like dyeing and finishing, which require large amounts of water and energy—making upstream chemical management especially important. Unlike certifications like Oeko-Tex, which test finished products, Bluesign manages chemical inputs at the start and throughout the manufacturing process. This approach—known as input stream management—helps reduce risks for both workers and the environment, rather than focusing solely on consumer safety at the end of production.
You can find Bluesign-approved materials across a wide range of outdoor gear, from apparel to footwear to technical products. These inputs include chemical aftercare products, textiles such as fabrics or yarns, and accessories such as buttons or zippers. Major brands like Patagonia, REI, Norrona, Outdoor Research, and Arc’teryx incorporate these materials into their products. For example, Outdoor Research’s Transcendent Down Hoodie is made with a Bluesign-approved recycled nylon shell and lining. Similarly, REI Co-op’s 650 Down Jacket uses a Bluesign-approved recycled nylon shell, lining, and down insulation. (However, just because these items use Bluesign-approved elements does not mean they are Bluesign Products. More on that below.)
As you shop, you may encounter three types of Bluesign labels. For example, a backpack might use a Bluesign-approved component—like the plastic in a zipper—in which case the hang tag will indicate which materials are approved. If most components are Bluesign approved, the whole backpack can be labeled as a Bluesign Product. This is often indicated with a blue “Bluesign Product” hang tag. Finally, the brand itself may be a Bluesign System Partner, which is not always listed on product tags but is often noted on the brand’s website. Only Bluesign System Partners can use the Bluesign Product label, but non-partners can still incorporate approved materials. In those cases, brands must clearly indicate which components are Bluesign-approved.
As you shop for outdoor gear, you might encounter a Bluesign label in three variations. Let’s say you’re looking to buy a backpacking pack; one of the materials used to make the pack—the plastic of a zipper, for example—could be approved by Bluesign. In this case, the hang tag might feature a “Bluesign approved” tag indicating which materials are approved. Or, if most of the components of the backpack are Bluesign approved, then the whole backpack can be labeled as a Bluesign Product. This is often indicated with a blue “Bluesign Product” hang tag. Finally, the brand that sold you the backpack could be a Bluesign System Partner—which is not always labeled on product hang tags but may be indicated somewhere on a brand’s website.
It’s easy to get confused with all the terminology—and brands are not always clear with labeling—so let’s break down what each of these Bluesign categories means. Importantly, only Bluesign System Partners can use the Bluesign Product label, but non-system partners can still use Bluesign-approved material in their products. Still, the label must clearly communicate which components are Bluesign approved.
What is a Bluesign Product?
The Bluesign Product represents the highest standard within the Bluesign system. Gear with this label is designed to minimize impacts on people and the environment while adhering to responsible resource use throughout the production process. To qualify as a Bluesign Product, items like apparel and sleeping bags must be made by a Bluesign System Partner (we’ll explain that shortly) and contain at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and at least 30% Bluesign-approved accessories. For equipment like backpacks and tents, a Bluesign Product requires at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics but only 20% Bluesign-approved accessories.
Far fewer outdoor brands make Bluesign Products compared to those that use Bluesign-approved materials, and of the hundreds of products reviewed by Better Trail, only a select number are certified as Bluesign Products. Some brands do stand out, though: Helly Hansen makes several notable Bluesign Products that we’ve reviewed, including the Alpha 4.0 Jacket, Legendary Insulated Ski Pants, Sogn Shell Jacket (included in our Best Ski Jackets of 2025), and Lifa Stripe Base Layer (included in our Best Base Layers of 2025).
What is a Bluesign System Partner?
Companies throughout the outdoor gear supply chain can become Bluesign System Partners. The Bluesign System Partner network includes chemical suppliers, textile and accessory manufacturers, brands, and retailers. To become a System Partner, Bluesign conducts an on-site assessment of the company and reassesses partners every two to three years to maintain status. Because participation comes with costs, the Bluesign system can be more accessible to larger brands with greater resources.
The Bluesign System Partner criteria for brands require a commitment to improving sustainable practices across the supply chain and organization. This includes setting goals for sustainable products, increasing the use of recycled or renewable materials over time, and committing to responsible product design—from raw material selection to overall material efficiency. Bluesign also requires partners to maintain supply chain transparency, improve resource efficiency, and implement responsible chemical management practices. Brands must monitor environmental emissions (air, water, and waste), comply with applicable regulations, and uphold standards for social responsibility and worker and consumer safety.
Once these criteria are met, companies can identify themselves as Bluesign System Partners and gain access to tools like a comprehensive “safe chemical list,” on-site risk assessments, and custom plans for improving production processes. The Bluesign System Partner network includes many of the most recognizable names in the outdoor gear industry. Patagonia, Arc’teryx, Norrona, REI, and The North Face are among the brands that meet these standards. Some of these partners—such as Helly Hansen, Osprey, Mammut, Thule, Burton, and Nemo Equipment—also offer Bluesign Products.
How to Understand Bluesign Tags
Now that you’re familiar with Bluesign terminology, the next step is applying it to product tags. According to Bluesign trademark guidelines, brands must clearly specify which components are Bluesign-approved and distinguish between Bluesign-approved materials and a Bluesign Product. Some brands do this well. For example, Outdoor Research’s Hemispheres Team jacket lists the specific Bluesign-approved fabric under the “Specs” tab, and Patagonia’s Hi-Loft Nano Puff Hoody notes that shell and lining fabrics are Bluesign approved.
That said, labeling isn’t always clear. In our research, we’ve found that Bluesign references can be vague or not in adherence with Bluesign’s trademark guidelines. For instance, Prana’s Encinitas Jacket mentions “Bluesign-approved fabric” without identifying the materials, and Arc’teryx notes that its Beta Jacket “contains materials that meet Bluesign criteria” without further detail. In these instances, we do our best to seek clarification from the brand to ensure accuracy, but when we can’t, we clearly note the discrepancy in our reports. Bluesign also works to address mislabeling and maintain the integrity of its system, particularly when brands overstate or incorrectly apply its terminology.
How to Find Bluesign-Approved Materials and Products
If you’re looking for Bluesign Products or gear that uses Bluesign-approved materials, there are several useful tools. The Bluesign website includes a page linking to products from various System Partners, and its Bluesign Guide is a public database where you can explore approved materials, including textiles and accessories.
Some retailers also offer filters to help narrow your search. For example, REI includes a “Sustainability” filter that allows you to select Bluesign as a criterion, while Backcountry.com offers a similar “Responsibility” filter with a Bluesign approved option. (That said, Backcountry’s labeling isn’t always consistent with Bluesign’s trademark guidelines and may not specify which components are approved.)
The Better Trail sustainability hub is another helpful resource. You can filter products to show only those that use Bluesign-approved materials, as well as narrow results by activity or brand. Each product review also clearly indicates if a piece of gear uses Bluesign-approved materials and whether it qualifies as a Bluesign Product.
The Impact of Buying Third-Party Certified Gear
Third-party sustainability certifications play an important role in the outdoor industry’s effort to reduce its impact. Programs like Bluesign create accountability and transparency by holding brands and their suppliers to defined standards. They also help distinguish between brands relying on vague marketing language—terms like “natural” or “eco-friendly”—and those backed by measurable practices.
These programs can also provide access to objective sustainability data. For example, Bluesign tracks Environmental Key Performance Indicators (eKPIs) across its System Partners, offering quantitative insight into environmental performance. They also help drive consistent, collective progress. In 2024, Bluesign System Partners reduced water consumption by 22% compared to a 2019 baseline, cut carbon emissions by 35%, and increased renewable energy usage by 574%. According to Bluesign, these efforts saved over 6.2 billion liters of water (around 1.66 billion gallons), 773 million kilowatt hours of electricity, and more than 3.2 billion kilograms of carbon emissions.
If you’re looking to buy gear with a smaller environmental footprint, products backed by third-party sustainability programs like Bluesign are a good place to start. That said, it still pays to stay alert: pay attention to how brands present these claims and make sure the product clearly meets Bluesign criteria.
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