Ethics: The F-One x Manera approach to Sustainability

Sustainability is a word we're starting to hear from more brands lately, and at MACkite, we couldn't be happier about it! We work and play in the environment, so taking good care of it is a priority. We've made our own baby steps at the shop, from our solar panels on the roof to staff members who drive electric vehicles, and one who even moved closer just to be able to walk in.

F-One and Manera are the latest guests to the sustainability party. What have they done to make a positive impact on the environment? They turned their focus on four key areas: commitment, introspection, transparency, and reduction.

They began by deciding that they were going to take this new commitment very seriously. It's not about planting a few trees to offset carbon emissions; it's about making real changes that have a direct impact. The first step was to figure out where improvements could be made, so they hired a firm specializing in auditing companies to determine where their carbon emissions were.

Once they had the results of their audit in hand, they could make a plan of action. A whopping 91 percent of their carbon footprint came from their products, from the raw materials, to manufacturing, to transport and finally the end-of-life of those products. Raw materials and manufacturing accounts for the vast majority of this, so development now is focused on using more eco-friendly options and greener manufacturing methods.

End-of-life only accounts for 7 percent, but the improvements made there also benefit their customers. F-One and Manera have already found ways to extend the lifespan of their products and make them easier to repair. They're also looking for ways to make their products easier to recycle and even find options for upcycling once they're no longer useful on the water.

Freight and distribution account for 14 percent, and F-One and Manera are trying to source raw materials closer to the factory and reduce the need for air transport by anticipating needs further in advance. Manufacturing is already being relocated to be closer to their main markets, and they're trying to limit the number of suppliers so they can group shipments together. Soon, each shipping carrier will be studied for its environmental impact so the most eco-friendly ones can be used.

The headquarters only represents 7 percent of F-One and Manera's overall carbon footprint, but every bit helps! Employees and team riders are being encouraged to use more environmentally friendly travel options, and photoshoots have been relocated to reduce the need to travel. Solar panels are going to supply energy to the headquarters. Even simple things like recycling cardboard are being made a priority.

To stay accountable and focused on these actions, they're being completely transparent about what they're doing. They created a new site just to keep us all posted on how they're going to become more sustainable and what they've already done towards that goal. It's really quite interesting to look at, and perhaps others will get some ideas on ways to become more sustainable from it. We love seeing such an open approach!

If you'd rather have a listen to see what F-One and Manera are up to, they've got a great podcast introducing this new intitiative.

As a consumer, you can buy more eco-friendly options from F-One and Manera. They've got a new wetsuit line called ALT, or ALTernative. Neoprene is made from petroleum products, but these use Yulex, a sustainable plant-based rubber product. It's renewable, uses less water and energy to produce, and boasts quality, flexibility, and resistance equal or superior to traditional neoprene.

Got an old neoprene wetsuit you aren't using anymore? Manera has partnered with some shops in France to collect old wetsuits for recycling and hopes to expand the program to more shops soon. While recycled neoprene loses its stretch and can't be made into new wetsuits, it can be made into products like car seat covers.

If you want something really cool and unique, check out the upcycled products from La Virgule. F-One has partnered with them to give old products and prototypes a new life as backpacks, bike bags, fanny packs and much more.

Whew! That is a really comprehensive list of ways to become more sustainable. We're pretty impressed and hope that more brands keep jumping on this very worthwhile bandwagon. Cheers to you, F-One and Manera!

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