We hear what we are doing to the planet, and we are dedicated to playing our part in this symphony to make a better future world through sustainability initiatives, social impact and taking care of our people.
The roots of Gator come from our mission to make meaningful products that allow our customers to pursue their passions. We recognize part of a “meaningful” mission is how these products affect the environment and how we actively work to ensure there is a healthy future where passions can be pursued.
We are committed to a journey of constant improvement to have the least impact possible on the earth and to positively influence our community.
• Sustainability is part of our product development process from day one. For every new Gator product, we evaluate material choices, reduce size and weight where possible to lower shipping impact, and design for long product life — because the most sustainable product is one that doesn’t need to be replaced.
• PFOS and PFOA — “forever chemicals” now subject to strict EPA restrictions on production and importation — have never been intentionally used in our products, and we intend to keep it that way.
• REACH and RoHS — leading European frameworks governing chemical safety and hazardous substance restrictions — apply as standard across our product line. We treat these not as a ceiling, but as a baseline for protecting people and the environment wherever our products are sold.
• We are expanding our use of preferred sustainable materials — including recycled nylon and polyester in our bags and OEKO-TEX certified fabrics across our line. We track our progress annually and hold ourselves accountable to continuous improvement.
• We are phasing out plastic films and foam padding from our packaging materials. Because packing foam is rarely recyclable through local programs, we are committed to replacing it with materials that are easier for customers to dispose of responsibly.
• We are actively increasing post-consumer recycled (PCR) content in our packaging. Today, more than 20% of our cardboard boxes carry FSC certification — and we’re committed to growing that number year over year.
• Our primary Tier 1 suppliers are audited and certified under SEDEX SMETA — the world’s most widely used social audit standard. SMETA certification covers labor standards, health and safety, environmental performance, and business ethics, giving us confidence that our supply chain reflects our values.
