What We Buy
BolderPathTM specializes in soft goods and therefore in waste materials that easily transform into usable textiles that will be sewn into or used on your products. To ensure performance and a long second-life, we have to incorporate materials that are purchased; and in a few cases, from overseas. Our procurement practices still maintain best practices. We evaluate materials and components based on their footprint, the corporate and working environment surrounding them (for social equity, human rights and ecology), we consider any documentation or MSDS and of course alternatives available to us.
Our supplier for 100% recycled PETE fabrics, webbing and binding is a great example. Although overseas, expensive and requiring the main portion of our transportation miles allowance, they provide better quality and variety over U.S. mills. Your products look better and will last a longer time because of it. But this is why they met our standards: they became a bluesign® member in 2007. Their two signature recycled lines received a GreenMark certification from the Taiwan’s EPA in 2008. Large brands can offer PETE products at lower prices because they are buying more than we are and they’re shipping finished products overseas, not the bulk material. Supporting BolderPath products creates more demand for recycled raw materials to be produced in the U.S.A. which is good for our economy and waste diversion, but also means products Made in the USA will be cheaper and more competitive for companies like BolderPath that operate more sustainably than just about anyone.
We hope within a couple of years local companies will produce more recycled content raw material at the specifications required to produce excellent products. One of our suppliers leading the way is Rubberlite. Their foam is the highest recycled content, performance padding that we know of. It’s made with truck tire particulate right here in the U.S.A.
Even though we buy some inputs, doesn’t mean they’re not as eco-friendly as possible. In fact, most of our zippers and plastic buckles and all hang tags are recycled content. If we could make these things ourselves, we probably would.
