Polartec and Houdini Sportswear team up for sustainability

19 December 2023

Houdini Sportswear promotes sustainable innovation and presents at ISPO 2023 the new planetary boundaries assessment report along with a new shell concept in collaboration with Polartec

Houdini Sportswear unveils several initiatives in the journey reflecting the company’s vision of “Maximum Experience, Zero Impact, and Beyond“. A preview of the new Planetary Boundaries Assessment was unveiled at ISPO Munich. Meanwhile, the brand continues to expand the Ride Clean initiative, the project that synthesizes all efforts aimed at enabling skiers and snowboarders to practice their passion while contributing to a life in harmony with nature. Finally, a newly designed shell using the brand new innovative Polartec fabric was also presented during the fair.

First – knowing our impact: the basic behind the new Planetary Boundaries Assessment

The first step to minimizing one’s environmental impact is to know what it is. In 2015, Houdini initiated the innovative Planetary Boundaries Assessment, a holistic business assessment based on the Planetary Boundaries framework. Together with scientists from the Stockholm Resilience Center/Alba Eco, the institution that published the scientific report, Houdini examined nine different aspects of its environmental impact: from climate impact to chemical use to biodiversity. In January 2024, Houdini will release a new assessment, based on the 2023 Planetary Boundaries update and the brand’s research and progress since the last report published in 2018. A preview of the report was presented at ISPO 2023.
“We use cutting-edge scientific studies to assess all aspects of the impact our business has on our planet’s ecosystems. It is a very tangible way for us to improve and demonstrate our love and respect for nature”-said Eva Karlsson, CEO Houdini Sportswear.

A battery of solutions: the Ride Clean initiative

The Ride Clean initiative is Houdini’s way of enabling skiers and snowboarders to enjoy their favorite sports while helping to shape a snowsports-related community that lives in harmony with nature’s systems. Winter sports have a less than “virtuous” side, including the use of toxic chemicals in ski clothing and poor product design, all of which contribute to waste streams and climate change. Houdini offers a complete layering system, from the first layer to the outer layer, and insulated garments made from circular fabrics that are completely free of PFAS or other toxic chemicals.

Notable new items for Fall/Winter 2024 are the Ride Jacket, a minimalist, allround freeride shell, and the Moonwalk Houdi, a hybrid midlayer that features a perfect balance of warmth, weather protection and breathability, made of Polartec Power Air Light. Part of the Ride Clean initiative also offers consumers various services such as rental, subscriptions, service, repair and sale of second-hand garments that challenge today’s linear economy-“take-make-waste”-model. Finally, Houdini actively promotes making the most of its experiences by combining them with a low-impact lifestyle by organizing various events for customers and through communication campaigns.

“When we look at design, we are looking at the entire production system, real use and studying solutions for a future product life. Looking only at how to design a specific garment misses not only the vision of much of the total impact, but also much of the potential. By studying the right solutions, a product can, for example, meet the needs of more than one customer.”- says Jesper Danielsson, Houdini Chief Product Officer.

Innovation in progress: an overview of next-generation shells

We are excited to unveil a preview of several next-generation freeride and mountaineering shells that are currently under development. The collection is made using the innovative Polartec Power Shield, a next-generation 3-layer outer fabric developed by Polartec. The fabric is made from Biolon, a renewable, non-GMO plant-based nylon with a 50 percent lower carbon footprint than virgin Nylon-6.6 and reduced reliance on fossil resources. With a density of 20,000 mm H2O and 20,000 g/m²/24 hours, weather protection and breathability place these shells at the same level as other high-performance shells on the market. What really makes the difference, however, is the feel of wearing them. The lightweight, smooth and incredibly durable garments follow your every move and take comfort to a new level. Prototypes of the new shell jacket collection are currently undergoing field testing, with launch scheduled for fall 2024.

“We at Polartec believe that leaving the world better than we found it is everyone’s responsibility. The launch of Biolon™ nylon-based fabrics marks an important step in this journey. For so long, many have thought that choosing more sustainable options came at the expense of performance, such as durability: Polartec has proven that this is not the case.“- says Ramesh Kesh, Senior VP & Business Manager Polartec.

For more information, please visit: www.polartec.com