We act

What we’ve done. What’s in progress.

Our actions today

Designing timeless collections

In order to extend the life of the product, we have decided to disconnect our collections from the seasons by choosing an effective and timeless style. We like the idea of creating “timeless products” to fight against fast fashion and over-consumption. Refined lines, clear colours: thanks to this timeless urban style SNAP succeeds in creating the new codes of climbing.

Only use eco-designed fabrics

In 2017, SNAP took a new turn by bringing the arkose&co group into its capital. This merger breathes new life into SNAP which releases its first WEAR collection in 2018 and succeeds in replacing all its fabrics and materials by eco-designed or bio-sourced materials in less than one year.
In addition, to avoid wasting material, some small luggage products are made of crash pads or bag fabrics, such as the “Wallet” or the “Pouch”.

Raising our ecological awareness

We have set up a partnership with the CSR consulting firm Aircoop to train not only our product managers but also all stakeholders involved in the development of SNAP products in order to respect our environment as much as possible. Following the reflection sessions on the improvement of our impact, we have listed our short and medium term objectives. A 2019 carbon balance sheet carried out for all the brands of the arkose&co group will allow us to define the priority objectives for 2020.

Our future actions

Moving towards a production that makes sense

Would relocating to Portugal be the right idea? Maybe for some fabrics being locally available, like organic cotton for example. So in 2021 we are testing on limited series “capsule collections”, in order to get to know the garment workshop, and to check whether the time and efficiency savings compensate for the higher cost of making the garment.

Our workshops accompany us, but we also wish to support a ccompany them in the development of their CSR policy. Advice, friendly audits, and incentive: our levers are multiple and everyone understands the importance of nurturing these partnerships that make us grow together. In 2021, we aim to make progress on the following dimensions…

Investing in research for new materials

Elastane is an essential element in the technicality of our products, hard to do without it if we want to keep the bi-stretch, the novelty that makes our pants so versatile! However, we are studying candidates for replacement: in recycled form or with different weaves by mixing soft and natural materials such as tencel.

Our SNAP climbing holds are traditionally made of PU (polyurethane) and resin. Today there is absolutely no alternative for the same use, as wood remains a heavy, expensive and therefore rarely used material, and moreover never pure. We have launched several R&D projects to change this. Recycling of PU, new alloys, some still secret materials… we are moving step by step to make our industry and our sport cleaner.

Implementing sustainable logistics

Polybags… those individual plastic bags that protect clothes… we don’t want them anymore! We’ve already decided to make them out of recycled polyester, that’s done. Next step: get rid of them for good, find a solution that allows you to protect your clothes when they are delivered to the shops, while saving as much packaging as possible.

The management of unsold items is one of the major issues in the textile industry… refusing sales and betting on the longevity of collections is one of the solutions we have chosen to implement to limit unsold items. But when it happens to us, we prefer to donate it to associations. For our first operation this year on 2018 products, we will work with Climbaid. At least these stocks will be useful to someone!

A sustainable product is a product that can be repaired. It is on the basis of this observation that we think about the reparability of our products from the design stage, making sure for example that we have stocks of fabrics, accessories… and also and above all a network of professionals able to refurbish worn products! This is already possible in the Annecy area (French Alps), and our goal for 2021 is to develop this capacity outside France.

To be continued…