Keela are committed to improving their sustainability and reducing their impact on the environment in all areas – they think it’s import to look to real commitment and changes and avoid just ‘greenwashing’ – as part of this they’re also committed to helping you reduce your impacts, without you even needing to think about it!
Keela are not here to preach to you – they believe this is a journey we take together.
As a technical outdoor manufacturer, Keela have always been invested in ensuring they look after the planet’s resources wisely.
It’s been the cornerstone of their DNA to ensure that they manufacture durable technical clothing responsibly and without breaking your bank balance.
That’s why for over 40 years Keela have had a repair centre in Glenrothes. Making products last longer and offering a repair service to prolong garments is a key factor of what Keela do.
But can Keela do better? Of course! We can all do better.
It’s by working together that we can make a difference – even a small change made by many people can add up to a big impact.
So this can include things like washing items less or at a lower temperature (which we are encouraging through changes in our care guidance) – as well as items Keela look at as a company, such as ensuring all of our designs are robust and can last a lifetime of adventures!
As we take this journey together, they welcome your involvement, stories and participation.
So how do they go about this? Trying to do the right thing is not always easy.
Keela like others take a measured approach using the 5 R’s as their guidelines to their team and suppliers work towards a greener and more sustainable future without ‘greenwashing’.
Part of this is covered by Keela's Legacy Project.
To help Keela keep track of what they’re doing, they keep an eye on the leaves, the branches, and the trees.
The 5 R's
Respect
As an outdoors company we rely on the environment being clean and beautiful, and somewhere people want to be!
So we think it’s important that we respect the environment and look to do all we can to help protect and restore the nature around us.
Path Restoration – We funded various green projects including mend the mountain – Balmoral Path, Jungle hides etc, and more locally we encourage all of our local employees to bike/walk to work or car share where possible, and have introduced facilities to help with this
Reduce
It’s easier to improve your eco-credentials if you reduce the impact you have in the first place, rather than trying to balance this out once it has happened.
We have invested heavily in a £1M refurbishment program to ensure our premises are more energy efficient and less wasteful. From energy efficient machinery and technology to insulation and green energy. This is one of our biggest investments to date!
We are also working on guidance and support for working together to reduce our impacts – which is everything from using robust high-quality fabrics which can last many years (so you can buy once and wear lots!), to ensuring you can wash our items at 30 degrees.
Rebuild
Sometimes you can’t avoid something being damaged, but when this happens we recommend fixing where possible – a good jacket really can last a lifetime with the right care!
Robust Design – We undertake a variety of lab and real-world testing on our designs, to ensure they are robust – hopefully reducing the potential need for a repair!
Another aspect is the Legacy Project, where not only can we repair your garments, but we are also going to be launching tutorials on how you can repair, care and do DIY on your own kit.
Recycle
Recycle! It is one of the biggest challenges, but we are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is achievable.
We have recycled garments for over 5 years and have a zero landfill policy -but we can do better with your help.
The Legacy Project is the next step in this journey.
Legacy Project – our new legacy project outlines our efforts to turn unique samples and preloved samples into garments used on the hills and beyond.
React
The world of outdoor-wear is constantly changing, and we want to make sure we can be reactive to this.
As more innovative fabrics and components come out, our team explore whether these could be an appropriate and more sustainable alternative for our products.
Whether we are moving away from harmful chemicals, or moving towards ethical alternatives in materials, we’re always looking to improve.
We continue to increase our R & D – which isn’t just the latest fabric technology, but also innovative techniques for application and use guidance.
As more innovative fabrics and components come out, our team explore whether these could be an appropriate and more sustainable alternative for our products.
