The ski and outdoor industry create a lot of plastic. In fact, nearly everything we bring skiing has some sort of plastic component: boots, skis, ski wax, backpacks, apparel, you name it. A few years ago, Gore-Tex and a few other materials brands stopped using PFAS-heavy ingredients in their fabrics in an effort to reduce their downstream environmental impacts. Today, Arc’teryx, who uses Gore-Tex fabric in nearly all their technical apparel, takes that a step further and introduces System 0, a “circularity” program that reimagines how products can be designed, manufactured, used, repaired, and ultimately regenerated. In short, this jacket is both recycled and recyclable, meaning the material used won’t end up in a landfill.
“System 0 represents a fundamental shift in how we build and scale our business with circularity front of mind,” said Stuart Haselden, CEO of Arc’teryx in a press release. “For decades, Arc’teryx has built gear that’s meant to be repaired, not replaced. This is the next step forward. System 0 challenges us to consider the entire process of creating products so they can remain in use longer and ultimately be regenerated into something new. Our vision is a future where gear doesn’t end up in landfills but instead continues to have a purpose beyond its first life. Today moves us closer to that vision.”
The first piece to launch under the new System 0 is the all-new Sperro SV hardshell jacket. It’s a heavy duty multi-sport hardshell jacket meant for all things mountain sports in bad weather. It’s made with a PFAS-free Gore-Tex PRO ePe membrane, mated with a new type of recyclable face and backer fabric. The cut and styling is typical Arc’teryx, and some late-summer alpine testing has proven promising with our sample jacket.
The Sperro SV jacket was extensively tested by alpine professionals, including the SAR teams from Vancouver’s North Shore Rescue—a team of mountain pros that knows a thing or two about operating in shitty conditions. The jacket is reinforced at common failure points, including an easily replaceable zipper slider, previously a common failure point. It comes with three years of unlimited, out-of-warranty repairs through ReBIRD™. Once the jacket is no longer repairable, return it to Arc’teryx. There, a chemical recycling process grinds up the fabric, separating nylon materials from the GORE-TEX membrane, and returns the material to their partner Aquafil to be regenerated into new virgin-grade ECONYL® yarn.
Sperro SV is available as both a men’s and women’s jacket now.
