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Aclima never fails to blow us away with their outstanding ability to create top quality Merino Wool base layers and clothing. As some of you may know, all the gear that we sell here at Nordic Outdoor is carefully selected by our Managing Director to ensure that everything is of the highest quality. So when it comes to Aclima, the reasons we love the Norwegian brand are endless. For example, Aclima products are ideal for outdoor activities – they keep you comfortable in almost any weather condition and are brilliantly designed. However, in this blog, we are going to focus on a more important aspect of Aclima's work: committed to preserving the environment for future generations, as Aclima understand the importance of environmental sustainability and work hard to implement their own policies.

Aclima has taken all sorts of measures to make sure they reduce their Carbon footprint, such as giving their dust residues to a company that then uses them in the creation of boxing equipment. Aclima have also switched to FSC-paper on all their product packaging. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) contributes to more sustainable forestry, and more environmentally friendly papermaking.

It’s not surprising that Aclima, a company that cares so much about sustainability and recycling, would choose produce items made almost entirely of Merino Wool. We all know that wool is a great material to use for outdoor activities due to its ability to regulate body temperature, dry quickly, and efficiently repel odours.

However, did you know that wool is a highly sustainable and planet friendly material?

Wool products have a remarkably long-life span, meaning they will last longer than other textile fibres. Additionally, wool products tend to be washed less frequently and at lower temperatures than other products, which then has a lower impact on the environment. Furthermore, once wool has reached the end of its extremely long lifespan, you won’t have to worry about it damaging the environment as it is biodegradable and recyclable. The most popular Aclima Merino Wool line is the traditional, Total Easy Care (TEC) treated, woollen underwear WarmWool, and is 100% recyclable.

Overall, wool is fantastic for outdoors clothing and not as damaging for the environment as other synthetic materials. Where exactly does this amazing fibre comes from? In Aclima’s case, all their Merino wool comes from carefully selected farms in New Zealand and Tasmania (Australia), where mulesing—the shearing of the area around the sheep's tail to protect it from blowflies, which can damage the sheep's skin—has never been common practice. Even so, mulesing wouldn't be necessary, as these areas are not host to the blowfly. Aclima is a company that cares about animals and their wellbeing, and for this reason they visit the farms themselves to ensure the wool is at its best, that the animals are not being mistreated, and that the sheering process is performed in a humane way. They establish long-term relationships with the all the suppliers through the processes, right from the farms all the way to the finished product.

Aclima is backed by the ZQ accreditation programme which ensures that the highest standards of animal welfare are being upheld. The ZQ accreditation programme requires growers to take account of the following five basic freedoms of their animals:

- Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
- Provision of appropriate comfort and shelter
- Prevention, or rapid diagnosis and treatment of injury, disease or infestation with parasite
- Freedom from distress
- Ability to display normal patterns of behaviour

In addition to all the above, Aclima ensure that all the chemicals used for the dying of their fabrics are controlled and approved by Oeko-Tex 100. This means all Aclima products are not only environmentally friendly, comfortable and durable, they are completely free from harmful substances. 

So next time you are looking for an excellent base layer, remember Aclima. Not only are they dedicated to keeping you warm in all kinds of weather conditions, they are constantly trying to improve in ways that are better for our environment and our future.

Do you own any Aclima products? If so let us know which Aclima wool type is your favourite on Twitter, Facebook  and Instagram!

You can have a look at our full range of Aclima products online and in-store.