Green packs.

Roughly a year ago the good people at Backpacker magazine sent out challenge to over 60 pack manufacturers; "Create a trail-worthy 3,500-cubic-inch midsize with materials and manufacturing that entail minimal environmental impact." This is not an easy challenge to accomplish and many wouldn’t know where to start. This was reflected in the amount of companies that took up the challenge, FIVE -GoLite, JanSport, L.L. Bean, Mountainsmith, and Osprey.

Before I go on I just want to say that a result of only five participants is embarrassing, that’s not even ten percent. It also reassures that companies have a variety or reasons or excuse as to why they won’t create greener products such as: "its too costly", or "we don’t have the appropriate facilities." Others just don’t care. Whatever the excuse this line of reasoning must stop if we are to make a difference. And companies that deal with the outdoors and the environment like these outfitters should care a great deal of what they are producing -many do but obviously not enough.

The two major challenges found during the process were as follows;
"1) a limited supply of low-impact materials tough enough for the trail, and 2) an even shorter supply of independently vetted information on the various "eco-friendly" options out there."

The ~50 liter packs had to be constructed with materials that would reduce their CO2 footprint. A ‘non-ecofriendly’ pack of this size has a footprint of roughly 190 pounds of CO2. When the new packs were created each one had an estimated CO2 footprint of 130 pounds. The 60lbs saved is a great deal. That is the same amount a tree sequesters each year. And even more impressive; if each pack in the US alone was manufactured to meet the same requirements the environmental savings would be 20,000 to 30,000 tons of CO2 a year, enough to offset 10,000 roundtrip flights from Ottawa to Vancouver.

Pictured above is my favourite of the lot was the Osprey Osprey Atmos 50. I have always liked Osprey packs for their durability and user preferences. They always seem to have the proper zips, pockets, gear loops and so on. Plus it just looks like a great pack. The retail price of the regular Atmos 50 is approximately $200 USD. Not sure what its newer greener form will run you but for a pack that will last and work properly in the field while its production is a little more sustainable, a slight increase in price would be well worth it.

Tracy realized another sign in the fact that the ‘being green’ movement could be a fad that will end quickly. Working toward positive change is just that; work. While looking through a magazine that had been written with the idea that it would be released around the time of Earth day, the majority of the articles and advertisements were directed toward green products and habits.

On the weekend Tracy picked up the latest issue and voila! Not one article, advertisement, editorial or picture stating anything about being green. This magazine would have been created shortly after its green predecessor and possibly a week or more before earth day. But b/c this was released the week after earth day, the editors and organizers felt that consumers would be moved on to other ideas and wants.

Even if these consumers were not completely removed from the idea of being green, or attempting to become green, they wouldn’t take the chance and were sure to inundate readers with the same old crap and forget adding some green info. Nope they know the average person has the commercial attention span of a fruit fly especially with something that might take a little effort or change. Oh well I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised as each page was produced from one old growth tree. The cover was fashioned from seal skin and the spine was an actual spine from an endangered snow leopard.

Being green one day, week, or month a year is not the answer. It is an ongoing lifestyle that is required if positive change is to be accomplished.