Pearl Izumi Pledges Total Sustainability

Earlier this month, Pearl Izumi released a Social Purpose statement that included some ambitious goals for sustainability going forward. Believing that how we live today will shape how future generations ride, the company’s new motto is “Ride More and Do More.”

Starting with the Spring 2019 product line, Pearl Izumi will begin to introduce sustainable technical fabrics. Beyond that, the brand pledged that by 2020, 30 percent of the line will be made from recycled materials and by 2022, they hope to have 90 percent of the total product line made from recycled, renewable, or organic materials.

In addition to using sustainable materials in products, Pearl Izumi will ditch the bulk of their hangtags starting in January 2019. In their place will be just a small, recyclable card to capture critical codes/pricing information. The company said the new hangtags use 19,400 pounds less paper, saving 165 trees, 68,082 gallons of water and 4,503 gallons of oil annually.

In addition, all new polybag packaging will shift to 100 percent recycled plastic, which can be recycled again, further reducing petroleum use. Pearl Izumi will also ditch printed catalogs in favor of a fully-featured digital platform (editor’s note: I wish all brands would do away with printed catalogs and mail order catalogs). Pearl Izumi said that move will save 41 trees, 16,800 gallons of water, and 1,111 gallons of oil each season through the elimination of paper alone.

To repair and resell warranty returns, the company partnered with Renewal Workshop. This will give gently used products a second life instead of heading to the nearest landfill.

“We recently went through a deep and heartfelt process to uncover our core company values,” said Chris Sword, Pearl Izumi President. “Opinions were solicited from all corners of the business and we heard consistently that a sustainable future is an absolutely critical part of our DNA. This new Social Purpose statement will galvanize us and accelerate the great work that is already underway. I think the cycling industry underestimates the positive impact it can have on people and the environment, and we intend to think big and take bold steps with sustainable business practices, products, and advocacy.”

Contact Us

Email: