Our Eco Policy
RIDGEGEAR - Environmental Policy - Eco Webbing
To further our commitment to sustainability, and thanks to our research and development team we are now happy to announce that as of 2020 we are the first company worldwide to offer ECO webbing harnesses.
Our ECO webbing is produced using ocean plastics, by making a recycled polyester. Recycled polyester doesn’t just help reduce the plastics in our oceans, it also uses less energy when compared to virgin polyester.
33 – 55% less energy is used in the production of recycled polyester when compared with virgin yarn, reducing carbon footprint.
The dye used is OEKO-Tex ® which is certified free from harmful chemicals.
To further reduce the environmental impact of the harness manufacturing process, the webbing is coated with Durable Water Repellent (DWR) that is PFC- Free – hazardous fluorinated compounds that are bio-accumulative.
The difference between the two final products isn’t noticeable. Safety wise ECO harnesses are just as strong, and have to go through the same strenuous tests as our standard harnesses. Our ECO harnesses also have the same 10 year lifespan as our standard range.
Our ECO webbing is available across our full harness range.
ECO webbing reduces plastics from going to landfill and the oceans, and reduces the use of virgin raw materials derived from petroleum.
- Plastic Free Packaging
Here at RIDGEGEAR we’re making strides towards plastic free packaging for our product range. Our aim was (and still is) to make better choices in our packing process whilst moving away from plastic packaging where possible. Ensuring that we do our part in reducing plastic sent to landfill.
- Welcome to the ECO Revolution
At RIDGEGEAR we are increasingly taking into account the environmental impact of our products and packaging, and looking to reduce this impact however we can.
Additional ways RIDGEGEAR are working to reduce our environmental impact include.
Before effluent waters leave the site, they are put through a flocculation process to remove any solids. The solids are then taken from the site and disposed of ecologically, where
possible, once a year.
All dyes used on our safety harnesses meet OEKO-Tex 100 standards, ensuring they are free from harmful chemicals of more than 100 different substances.
Gas boilers on site are maintained regularly to ensure efficiency and all lighting is being changed to energy saving LED bulbs.
Working in partnership with FSC accredited paper suppliers, to ensure all our paper and card come from sustainably managed forests.
Producing paper marketing only printed on paper from sustainable sources.
Made In Britain
We are proud to be part of the Made in Britain campaign, since April 2016. Our safety harnesses, lanyards are produced on site at our factory in Leek, Staffordshire. We only use the best when it comes to webbing which as mentioned before is also produced on site. Meaning whenever you purchase a RIDGEGEAR harness or lanyard you can be assured that you’re getting the very best and safest British made product.
10 Year Lifespan
Following extensive testing of our webbing and manufacturing processes, the recommended 10 year lifespan is effective on all textile based products manufactured on or after January 2010 across the entire RIDGEGEAR harness and lanyard range.
Testing samples of 10 year old products, they all passed EN testing as well as additional tests where they were exposed to UV for a lengthy amount of time.
The results showed that the breaking loads on all of our webbing were between 85-98% of their original value, against the minimum requirement of 70%.
