Sustainability and “going green” are hot topics these days. More and more people are making use of their buying power and choosing to consume products based on what they know about a company’s product sourcing and manufacturing methods.

Because of the raise in consumer awareness, brands are responding by evaluating their operations and supply chains, and making changes to the way they source and manufacture their products. This all makes perfect sense to us at The Mountain. And honestly, it’s about time that more companies got on board and adopt more ethical practices.

For 25 years The Mountain has been committed to sustainability and to minimizing our impact on our environment. Here are three reasons that The Mountain is a brand you can feel good about wearing.

We use Water Based Inks

Not only are water-based inks environmentally friendly, after just one wash you won’t be able to feel the difference between the print and the dyed fabric. Water-based printing results in a softer feel and a more durable print. Most screen printers opt to use plastic-based inks because they’re cheaper, but over time the plastic cracks and flakes off the shirt. Printing with water-based inks is a more complex process, but it’s worth the extra effort.

We Use Zero Chemicals to Treat Our Wastewater

We operate a dye facility where we hand-dye over a million t-shirts every year. As you can imagine, that means a lot of water and a lot of dye that we need to remove from that water. In 2011, we installed what’s known as a Dye Oxidation System to treat our wastewater. The operation is complicated to explain in a short article, but basically, we’ve figured out how to take the “waste” out of “wastewater” without using chemicals. The end result is that all water returning back to our local supply is cleaner than it arrived and enriched with oxygen.

This system has enabled us to recycle over 5 million gallons of water to date.

We Recycle Everything

In 2006 we converted to a “Direct to Screen” system to print our separations which reduced our need for plastic film by several thousand pounds per year. Additionally, we recycle each screen, enabling us to reduce our plastic use even further. In 2010 we closed the loop on all of our cardboard waste with our box supplier. This means our shipping containers are made of 100% recycled materials. We also make a strong effort to encourage employees to help us eliminate plastic bottle waste by installing filtered water fountains throughout our facility. Even our hang tags are made of recycled materials.

Being “green” to us means being mindful of our choices, which have a direct impact on the environment and on future generations. It’s an evolution. We’re not perfect. No one is. But we can say with confidence that we will continue to do everything within our power to ensure that we remain on the cutting edge of sustainable manufacturing. Because we all need to care. The future of our species depends on it.