Verified sustainability: Black Diamond Equipment sets a new bar for recycled aluminium content in adventure gear

The global outdoor industry leader—known for engineering and manufacturing the world's best climbing, skiing and trekking gear, Black Diamond Equipment^® has set groundbreaking benchmarks for recycled aluminium content in climbing hardware and trekking poles.

Verified by UL Solutions, this initiative ensures that Black Diamond's sustainability claims meet the highest industry standards with independent validation, underscoring the company's commitment to environmental responsibility.

UL Solutions is a recognised leader in developing sustainable standards, creating over 100 widely acknowledged and referenced sustainability benchmarks. It enables manufacturers and retailers to communicate their environmental achievements effectively to consumers, suppliers, and investors by providing them with the tools to qualify and certify their products' sustainability.

President of Black Diamond Equipment, Neil Fiske, said, “We’ve been pursuing a palpable reduction in our carbon footprint as a part of our overarching sustainability initiative.”

“Replacing raw material with recycled material wherever possible plays a large role in shrinking that footprint. The verification from UL Solutions substantiates our efforts.”

Black Diamond incorporates recycled aluminium in all its carabiners. Additionally, UL Solutions has certified the recycled aluminium content in the company's trekking poles, representing one of its largest hard goods categories. The Trail, Trail Cork, and Trail Back Trekking Poles are certified to contain 30 per cent pre-consumer recycled aluminium, with a minimum of 14 per cent recycled content by total finished weight. The Pursuit FLZ, Distance FLZ, and Distance Z Trekking Poles also meet UL Solutions' certification, containing 30 per cent pre-consumer recycled aluminium, with a minimum of 16 per cent recycled content by finished weight.

Black Diamond's commitment to sustainability is exemplified by its ongoing efforts toward achieving circularity in its products. While recognising the challenges inherent in creating fully circular hard goods, the company is taking meaningful steps forward. Beginning in Q1 2025, products bearing the UL Solutions Environmental Claim Validation Mark will be available to consumers.

The President added, "This is just the beginning. Our work with UL Solutions is critical in reducing our reliance on virgin materials and lowering our carbon footprint. We're committed to pushing the outdoor industry's sustainability boundaries, and we hope our efforts inspire others to do the same."

In addition, Black Diamond is extending the lifespan of its products by designing trekking poles that are easier to repair. A new spare parts program will also launch in early 2025, enabling customers to maintain their gear and minimise waste. As part of its ambitious sustainability goals, the company will introduce an end-of-life recycling program for trekking poles and metallic climbing equipment. This initiative aims to transform recycled materials into new aluminium products, marking another industry-first achievement.

Image credit: Black Diamond Equipment website