A love for nature brings us together and inspires us to do things right. Life is simple when you love the outdoors, and protecting it is a shared responsibility.
It’s our shared love of the outdoors and belief in nature that binds us. Life is simpler when you love the outdoors. You have no choice but to do things the right way.
From the day Alpkit was founded in 2004, we set about doing business the way we wanted. Playing to our rules was something we did for ourselves and it’s great that now it is important to our customers too.
We’re not perfect and don’t pretend to have the answers but I’ve always felt that if we apply the same principles at work as so many of us do at home then we'll learn, become better and use business as a force for good. Together, small steps make a huge difference.
Everything is connected. Sustainability isn’t just one topic like carbon footprint. It’s making sure the supply chain is good. It’s building a goodteam and paying people fairly. It’s making sure everyone has the time to volunteer. It’s treating animals humanely and looking after our environment. It’s giving back.
Most importantly it's designing great, well-made product and to be there for our customers, no matter what the situation is.
Many businesses see sustainability as coming with a price tag. We see things differently as we know that well thought through designs made with quality materials by the best factories are inherently the best performing, longest lasting and most sustainable. Sustainability is not a tick-box and this is evident through everything we do.
Our CEO and Co-owner Dave Hanney on why less is more
Call out - 6 Sustainability Principles
In 2018 we worked with Ethical Consumer Magazine who helped us develop our thinking into 6 sustainability principles and we’ve recently put these principles through rigorous testing and become a certified B Corp.
Alpkit’s 6 Sustainability Principles
- Reduce reuse repair recycle
- Respect the environment
- Treat animals humanely
- Work with people we believe in
- Build a better business
- Give Back
Sustainability is nothing new - Blue Peter Green Book 1990
It was astonishing to re-read Blue Peter Green Book after 30 years. I came across this book when at my mum’s house clearing out some old cupboards and re-discovered my younger brother’s copy from 1990. It brought home just how we’ve known about sustainability issues all our lives. Now we’re grown up, and as co-owners of an outdoor brand, we know it’s our time; we’re building our business to be the change we want to see.
A few things from 1990’s Blue Peter Green Book that are as true today as they were then:
- Buy less, reuse and recycle as much as you can
- Reject over-wrapped and needlessly packaged items. Avoid plastic.
- Ride a bike or walk. Cut down on pointless car journeys
- Make your home more energy efficient
- Plant trees
- Use renewable energy
- Always go for a ‘greener’ product if there is a choice
- Beware of being fooled into thinking that a ‘greener’ product is always the best thing for the planet
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