Taiga’s newest hard-sided cooler, the Terra, uses sustainable hemp-based polymer in its construction.
Looking for an American-made cooler that uses some unique ingredients? It might be worth checking out the Taiga Terra. The Terra uses plant-based polymers in what the brand calls a “first-of-its-kind” collection of hard-sided coolers.
In building the first plant-based, hard-sided cooler, the Texas brand focused on how to utilize a replacement for fossil fuel plastics while ensuring performance and toughness in its coolers. It worked with a Boulder, Colorado-based vendor to find a hemp propylene product that works through the injection molding process.
Taiga claims it provides similar durability to conventional plastics.
“As a brand founded on innovation, finding sustainable solutions is a natural next step for us,” said Taiga founder John Hohenshelt. “We are breaking down the boundaries of how to engineer a rugged, high-performance cooler that doesn’t negatively impact the environment we often place our coolers in, from surf to turf and everywhere in between.”
Taiga Terra Hemp Cooler
Taiga builds the Terra with three-sixteenths-inch-thick hemp-filled polypropylene walls. Inside, insulation comes from 2-inch-thick foam. A 3-inch-thick lid provides R5 insulation on top. UV stabilizers and antimicrobial additives ensure ice retention, strength, and longevity of each cooler.
Beyond using plant-based polymer, Taiga minimizes the carbon footprint of its supply chain in the Terra. From injection molding to foam insulation to assembly, Taiga Original coolers travel approximately 200 miles, all within Texas, to be made.
The Taiga Terra coolers closely follow the same route with the exception of sourcing green materials from Colorado. The reduction of petroleum plastic usage in the Taiga Terra coolers reduces carbon emissions in Taiga’s manufacturing.
The 27-quart Taiga Terra Cooler ($199 MSRP) is available for preorder on taigacoolers.com. Consumers can choose between four colors: granite white, fireside red, deep ocean blue, and sunset orange. Shipping will begin on November 27.
