It sets out a clear shift in focus: making a greater impact higher up the value chain, by working more closely with the partners, systems and communities that shape its products.

As a growing technical outdoor brand, Rab are placing increased emphasis on where they can have the greatest influence - from raw material sourcing and manufacturing processes through to product design, user insight and end-of-life considerations.

76% renewable energy used in product manufacturing.

A central theme in this year’s report is moving beyond isolated initiatives to a more value chain-led approach to responsibility.

This includes a stronger focus on supply chain decarbonisation, with Rab working proactively with tier 1 and tier 2 manufacturing partners, while beginning to map and understand the impact further upstream across tier 3 and tier 4 suppliers.

For Rab, this reflects a practical reality: the majority of product impact sits beyond their direct operations - and meaningful progress depends on closer collaboration with suppliers across the full system.

82% of purchased fabric was recycled, a 14% increase vs 2024.

The report also highlights how material and design choices can create impact beyond the product itself.

This includes the use of NetPlus® fabric - made from recycled fishing nets - in Rab’s best-selling Microlight range, supporting initiatives that help reduce ocean waste while creating value for coastal communities. 22,315kg of fishing nets have been repurposed into AW26 Pertex® NetPlus® fabrics for Rab.

At the same time, Rab report that alongside 82% purchased fabric, 71% of purchased down was also recycled down, reflecting a continued shift towards lower-impact material choices at scale.

Together, these decisions demonstrate how product development can connect environmental impact with wider social outcomes, extending the influence of the brand beyond its immediate footprint.

978 women contributed to SS27 research and development.

Rab are also expanding how they bring user insight into product development.

As part of their SS27 research and development process, the brand engaged nearly 1,000 women who use its gear, from 29 countries, feeding real-world insight directly into future design decisions.

For a performance-led brand, this represents a more inclusive and responsive approach to product creation, ensuring that performance, fit and function are informed by a broader group of mountain users.

From circularity to a connected ecosystem

Underpinning these initiatives is a shift in how Rab thinks about circularity. Rather than viewing product systems as a closed loop, the business is increasingly framing them as a connected ecosystem - linking design, production, use, repair and end-of-life through continuous feedback and collaboration.

This ecosystem is defined as:

• Connected — aligning decisions across the full value chain
• Responsive — adapting to supply chain, environmental and user insight
• Regenerative — strengthening each stage of the product lifecycle
• Collaborative — built through partnerships with suppliers, communities and consumers

This approach reflects a more realistic view of global production systems — and a more scalable way to build resilience into both products and processes.

Standards and systems supporting scale

Alongside this value chain focus, Rab continue to build on key frameworks that support progress at scale: B Corp™ certification, bluesign® partnership, and Fair Wear Leader status.

Together, these frameworks support a more integrated approach - aligning product decisions with broader social and environmental standards.

Commenting on the report, Richard Leedham, Chief Executive Officer at Rab, states:

“If we’re serious about reducing impact, we have to look beyond the product and into the system behind it. The biggest opportunity sits across the value chain - in how we work with suppliers, how we choose materials, and how we design products from the outset.

We’re connecting those pieces more deliberately than ever. Our ecosystem is not a closed loop, but a system that learns, adapts and improves over time. For Rab, performance and responsibility aren’t competing priorities. They are evolving together, thanks to our continued investment and integration throughout the whole business.”

Looking ahead

Rab’s focus is building greater transparency, traceability and data capability across its value chain - strengthening the foundations already in place and preparing the business for the next generation of regulatory and industry expectations.