Rab Downpour Light Sustainability Report

The Downpour Light features a 2.5-layer construction, which is prone to delaminating and breaking down through use and has a shorter lifespan than 2- and 3-layer designs. The 20-denier shell is thin and will require careful treatment, especially around rocks and other sharp/abrasive objects. Combined, the Downpour is a below-average choice for longevity and will require care and maintenance to have a long life.

Choosing durable outdoor gear is perhaps the most effective way to reduce environmental impact—the longer it lasts, the less it needs to be produced. Our proprietary longevity rating evaluates overall build quality based on factors such as materials, fabric denier, component durability (including zippers and toggles), real-world performance as reported by our field testers, and our experiences with the brand. Overall, we feel strongly that reducing overall consumption is a cornerstone of sustainability.

The Rab Downpour Light uses a DWR that is PFAS free. Rab began experimenting with PFAS-free durable water-repellent treatments in 2013, and by 2022, three-quarters of its fabrics were PFAS free. The brand completed its PFAS phase-out across all products in 2025, and all Rab products are now free of intentionally added PFAS.

The DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish is a product’s direct defense against outside moisture, and commonly contains PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These synthetic compounds, known as "forever chemicals,” are found in a range of gear categories, from jackets to footwear. They resist water, oil, and heat exceptionally well, making them ideal for outdoor use, but their nearly indestructible nature also means that they take an extremely long time to degrade in nature, if at all. PFAS can eventually end up in everything from soil to drinking water and have been linked to a range of health issues.

The Downpour Light features a PFAS-free waterproof membrane. In 2025, Rab phased out PFAS from all of its products, including waterproof membrane materials.

The membranes of certain waterproof products, including rain jackets, ski jackets, ski bibs, hardshells, and hiking footwear, commonly contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These synthetic compounds, known as "forever chemicals,” resist water, oil, and heat exceptionally well, making them ideal for outdoor use, but their nearly indestructible nature also means that they take an extremely long time to degrade in nature, if at all. PFAS can eventually end up in everything from soil to drinking water and have been linked to a range of health issues.

The Rab Downpour Light uses minimal recycled materials, as only 9% of the trims and 2% of the zips are recycled. Rab incorporates a variety of recycled materials across its product lines, including polyester, nylon, and down. In 2024, just under 70% of the brand’s purchased fabric was made from recycled materials. For added transparency, Rab offers a detailed “Material Facts” rundown describing the exact recycled content of each product.

Outdoor gear can be made partly or entirely from recycled materials, the most common being nylon, polyester, wool, and down. Some products include a single recycled component or a partially recycled fabric, while others are 100% recycled (generally excluding accessories like zippers, Velcro, toggles, etc.). For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate the amount of recycled materials in a particular product and assign points accordingly.

The Downpour Light does not incorporate any Bluesign-approved materials. Rab became a Bluesign System Partner brand in early 2026. Although it historically has not used as many Bluesign-approved materials as other brands we’ve researched, approximately a quarter of its fabric suppliers are fellow system partners.

Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile certification system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A Bluesign-approved material indicates that it has undergone a rigorous vetting process based on the criteria above. A Bluesign Product goes the next mile, containing at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and at least 30% Bluesign-approved accessories.

As of 2024, 55% of Rab’s goods are sourced from Fair Wear audited or Amfori BCSI factories rated B or above. Amfori BCSI audits supply chains and distributes ratings to factories for a variety of social responsibility criteria. Amfori’s criteria include safe working conditions, fair wages, environmental protection, and more. Rab has also been recognized as a Fair Wear Leader each year from 2022 to 2024 (its most recent recertification year). Fair Wear Foundation is a nonprofit organization that partners with brands to improve labor conditions in the apparel industry. It helps brands implement fair wages, safe working conditions, and workers’ rights through regular factory audits and guidance for continuous improvement. Due to these efforts, Rab meets our criteria for responsible manufacturing.

This criterion evaluates a brand's commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing its environmental impact throughout the production process. Responsible manufacturing is most commonly demonstrated through certifications and membership in programs such as Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accreditation of Production, and the Fair Labor Association. We also recognize brands that prioritize local production, such as those that manufacture primarily in the United States or Europe, to reduce carbon emissions, maintain better oversight of working conditions, and comply with strict social and environmental regulations.

Rab has made a significant effort to improve its packaging sustainability, including reducing its upstream poly bag volume by 70% and removing almost 8 metric tons of poly bags from its customer shipments. Its poly bags are made primarily from recycled plastic, and the brand collects poly bags from U.S. and U.K. online orders for recycling into new bags.

Packaging can add significant waste to an outdoor gear purchase and often ends up in landfills. Many brands are using recycled packaging and/or making efforts to reduce packaging altogether. For example, they may use a certain percentage of recycled cardboard or make efforts to use less plastic or paper across their packaging operation. In some cases, brands also use Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, which helps to ensure sustainable sourcing of forest materials.

Rab offers comprehensive repair services through its Service Center program. Warranty repairs are free, while non-warranty repairs are fulfilled for a fee. In 2024-2025, Rab fulfilled over 13,500 repairs and washed almost 8,500 products. These statistics have steadily increased since Rab began reporting data on the program in 2020-2021. Rab’s services include patching, zipper replacement, panel replacement, and stitch-and-seam repairs.

Repair services extend the lifespan of outdoor gear and reduce overall consumption. Some brands offer comprehensive repair programs that can fix a wide range of issues, while others have more limited capabilities. If a brand's warranty policy only covers replacement, rather than repair, these programs usually do not meet this criterion.

Rab launched a down recycling program in the United Kingdom in 2021, and as of 2026, the program operates in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. As of 2024 (the most recent available data), it has collected over 1,000 pounds of down products. However, Rab does not have recycling programs for materials other than down, and does not offer a resale program for used gear.

Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation for longer and out of landfills. The most common form is a trade-in program, where consumers can exchange items for store credit, which is then resold. Some brands accept products back for recycling at the end of their life, thereby reducing waste. Occasionally, some do both.

Rab started tracking its emissions in 2019. The brand set a target to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 46% and its Scope 3 emissions intensity by 61% by 2030. No absolute reduction target is specified, but Rab aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, defined as a 90% reduction in total emissions. Between 2019 and 2024, Rab reduced its absolute emissions by approximately 50% (although progress during that timeframe has been far from linear).

This criterion evaluates whether this brand measures its greenhouse gas emissions, along with its commitment to reduction and transparency in reporting. Typically, we require brands to follow established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. Most companies use the widely recognized scope categorization system for measuring brand emissions. Those who earn the most points in this category have emissions reduction goals verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a global organization that helps companies set greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C. To verify their goals through SBTi, companies undergo a rigorous assessment process and continual follow-up to ensure consistent progress towards achieving their targets.

Rab has published a detailed annual impact report describing its sustainability initiatives and progress since 2021. The report details Rab’s greenhouse gas emissions, sustainable material sourcing, packaging initiatives, energy and water use, and chemical management. Compared to other brands, Rab’s report is comprehensive.

An impact report is an important step toward transparency and accountability on the sustainability front. These reports vary in form but generally cover topics such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions tracking, waste and water usage, supply chain analysis, and packaging efforts. For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate this criterion based on the depth and quality of the information provided in the report, and how often it is produced. Some brands produce their own impact report, while others are published by their parent company. In practice, we’ve found that reports produced by individual brands include more detailed information about their sustainability efforts.