Better Trail has launched the Better Trail Sustainability Index.
The index allows consumers to search and compare sustainability ratings across nearly 1,000 products, 160+ brands, and 50 outdoor gear categories, spanning hiking, backpacking, camping, trail running, skiing, snowboarding, and more. Users can sort ratings by brand and by product category, giving them a side-by-side view of how companies and products compare on environmental responsibility.
The database reflects research by Better Trail’s sustainability team, which evaluates products against a set of product- and brand-level criteria. They include factors like recycled materials, PFAS-free membranes and DWRs, responsible manufacturing, repair and resale programmes, carbon tracking, and annual impact reporting. Every data point and rating comes from human research: combing through product listings and brand websites, analysing annual impact reports, cross-checking third-party certifications, and meeting with brands for clarifications.
“The outdoor industry has a sustainability problem. Not because brands aren’t trying or doing important things, but because consumers have had no reliable way to evaluate the claims being made,” said David Wilkinson, CEO and co-founder of Better Trail.
“The Better Trail Sustainability Index was built to change that. For the first time, anyone can look up a brand or product and get an honest, independent, data-backed answer to the question: How sustainable is this?”
The Index launches alongside Better Trail Certified, the platform’s highest sustainability designation, awarded to products that earn a rating of 4 out of 5 or higher. These products meet the majority of the criteria in their respective product categories and are among the most sustainable on the market. Together, the Index and Better Trail Certified represent the site’s commitment to bringing transparency and accountability to the industry.
“We built this from the ground up because we couldn’t find anything like it,” said Wilkinson.
“We wanted one comprehensive resource that cut straight to the data. The index is unique in the outdoor industry, and we’re proud to finally share it and continue to help move sustainability in the outdoor industry forward.”
