Using ‘net negative carbon impact’ manufacturing, producing this beanie captures more carbon dioxide than it gives off.
The North Face isn’t just reducing its own carbon footprint, it’s attempting to wipe away others’ as well. That’s because of the Cali Wool Beanie, launched this fall, uses regenerative agricultural practices that sequester more CO2 in the soil than they produce.
The North Face dubs it the first “Climate Beneficial” textile, a classification TNF aims to grow next year.
“We developed the Cali Wool Beanie to challenge ourselves—to see if we could create and bring to market a product that reduces our standard carbon footprint, while maintaining our performance and design ideals,” said TNF senior sustainability manager James Rogers. “We did it and look forward to expanding into other product areas in 2018.”
The North Face Cali Wool Beanie
Launched this fall, the beanie was the pilot product for the “net negative” initiative. The impressive claims apply specifically to the ranching and wool production phase of each hat’s construction.
TNF’s partner, Bare Ranch in California, employs regenerative ranching tactics that TNF estimates will sequester 4,000 tons of CO2 emissions a year. According to the brand, that offsets the greenhouse gas emitted by 850 cars each year.
The limited-run Cali Wool Beanie is the debut offering in TNF’s Climate Beneficial line and costs $45. The brand launched it online and will stock it in select retail locations.
According to the brand, it’s looking to expand into other Climate Beneficial offerings in fall 2018.
The hat is made in the USA with Rambouillet wool. It’s an interesting next step in sustainable gear, and we hope to see it evolve alongside other socially and environmentally conscious practices.
