Eco-design

Our vision and our actions

Rooted in the Chamonix Valley since 1860, Simond is uniquely positioned to witness the effects of the climate crisis. In this mountain range that shaped us, glaciers have shrunk by nearly 40 percent in less than 25 years. For us, protecting these natural spaces, their landscapes, and their communities is not optional, it is a responsibility, and a commitment we take seriously.

Because every action counts in limiting global warming, we work to reduce the environmental impact of our gear at every possible stage. We know our impact will never be zero, but we are making progress, step by step. And in the mountains, we want our boots, ropes, and ice axes to give you double reliability, both technical and environmental.

"Growing production of consumer goods increases pressure on the environment. Our approach to eco-design is to use materials, assemblies, and manufacturing processes that consume fewer resources, without compromising on technical performance."

- Louis Douls, Simond's head of environmental issues

Do better with less: our actions

We work to offer you climbing, mountaineering, and trekking gear that is lighter and more durable, designed and manufactured using less water, energy, and raw materials. Our primary focus is to find and develop the best materials, those that combine high performance with a lower environmental impact.

Organic cotton

Sourced from organic farming, it is grown without chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or GMOs. We use it, for example, in the Vertika t-shirt designed for climbing. This cotton reduces CO2 emissions by 23 percent compared to conventional cotton.

Pros: we choose organic cotton because its cultivation preserves soil integrity and groundwater.
Cons: organic cotton has lower yields than conventional cotton, so producing the same amount requires more land.

Recycled down

We support the recycling of unused products containing down and feathers. Their technical properties and quality are strictly controlled in the lab to ensure effective insulation at high altitudes, where every degree counts. Whenever possible, recycled down is used in our jackets and sleeping bags.

Pros: recycled down gives new life to a valuable material that would otherwise be discarded, and provides an alternative to animal exploitation.

Recycled polyester

Durable, lightweight, and quick-drying, polyester is a highly effective material for the mountains. Using recycled polyester reduces CO2 emissions by 17 percent compared to virgin polyester.

Pros: by choosing recycled polyester, we support plastic waste recovery channels, such as recycled bottles.
Cons: since recycled polyester is chemically identical to conventional polyester, it still releases microplastic fibers into the environment.

Minimal waste

Alongside progress in materials, we also focus on producing with less waste. Today, nearly 20 percent of textile used in the industry is discarded during manufacturing. For us, this waste is not inevitable.
At our historic Mont Blanc production center, we refine an optimization technique called Minimal Waste. In practice, we optimize patterns, sizes, and shapes to reduce fabric offcuts and ultimately lower material consumption. We use this method for products such as rain ponchos.

Fairtrade/Max Havelaar Cotton Label

We have started using Fairtrade cotton, such as in our Simond Fairtrade Cotton range (caps, t-shirts, and hoodies). While we are still in the early stages of this initiative, we want to expand it and extend it to more and more products in the future. This choice indeed guarantees fair trade and working conditions for those in this sector (minimum price, development premium, occupational safety, etc.) as well as traceability and rigorous environmental standards.

Certified down

Simond uses down certified by an independent organization, the Responsible Down Standard, for its jackets and sleeping bags. Products with this certification contain down and feathers sourced from farms that meet strict animal welfare standards (Certification n°CB-CUC-1319850, Control Union Certification).

Merino wool from committed farmers

For our merino clothing, we have selected wool produced on farms dedicated to animal welfare. Animals have outdoor access, shelters, comfortable housing, and regular healthcare. We rely on the Abelusi label for our merino wool.

Another option in color, our lower-impact dyes

We know that eco-design can be a challenging journey. One step in particular presents serious challenges: textile dyeing. It uses up large amounts of water and energy, and generates chemical pollution. To reduce this impact, we are exploring several alternatives to conventional dyeing.

Biton technique

We use the Biton technique (two tones at once), which dyes only every other thread. The dyed threads form the weft (horizontal), while the undyed threads serve as the warp (vertical). Pros: one thread out of two remains undyed, saving water, energy, and CO2 emissions. Biton also creates a subtle heathered effect. CO2 reduction: 39 percent compared to conventional dyeing.

Dope dyed technique

With Dope Dyed (mass-colored), we add pigments directly during the spinning stage. In other words, we dye the thread itself rather than the finished fabric. This method emits less CO2 than conventional dyeing and is suitable for certain materials, though not all. Pros: dope dyed avoids traditional dye baths, which are energy-intensive and consume large amounts of water. CO2 reduction: 17 percent compared to conventional dyeing.

Undyed technique

With undyed, we simply choose not to dye the fabric, preserving its natural color without adding pigments. For technical, aesthetic, or color durability reasons, undyed is not suitable for all product types. Pros: undyed reduces CO2 emissions, chemical use, and water consumption. CO2 reduction: 53 percent compared to conventional dyeing.

Test our product on cocreation.decathlon.fr

Our proof : our numbers

56 %

This is the share of eco-designed products in our revenue in 2024.

1,000,000

This is the total area of fabric saved in square meters by Simond in 2024 through the Minimal Waste approach.

100 %

The share of our cotton products from fair trade that we aim to reach by 2030.

While the actions we have taken are necessary, we are also aware that they are not enough. We remain committed to intensifying our efforts and pushing the limits of eco-design. The mountains, the unique territory that witnessed our birth and where our gear lives by your side, are beautiful but also fragile. Caring for these delicate landscapes and the living beings that inhabit them is part of our story and our future. The challenge is complex, but we know it is worth it.

Want to know more about our commitments?