Our Secret Sauce
3 Key Ingredients
Giving Back
Our Partnership With Environmental Experts
CapTen isn’t just about making sustainable gear – we’re also heavily invested in cleaning our oceans. That’s why we’ve partnered with Mission 1000 Tonnes, a non-profit based in Quebec that is committed to cleaning our waterways. For every item we sell, we pitch in to help remove waste from our waters.
And how do we calculate our contribution? It’s simple: we take the retail price, subtract the cost of labor and raw materials, and voila – 10% of our gross profits go towards supporting this fantastic organization. You get durable gear and they clean our waterways. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Production
Local Designs with a Global Reach
Creativity flows in our veins, which is why our products are designed and prototyped right here in Quebec, Canada! This hands-on approach allows us to make sure our ideas check all of the boxes in terms of durability and sustainability before being launched into production.
When it comes to the nitty-gritty of production, we’ve adopted a hybrid approach that allows us to navigate the choppy waters of manufacturing. While our high volume products that require specialized skills are ethically produced in certified facilities overseas, our more niche products are handmade in small batches right here in Canada. It’s a balancing act that helps us stay cost-effective while remaining true to our values and supporting the local economy. All in all, we’re committed to staying afloat and delivering sustainable gear to outdoor enthusiasts across the globe.
Materials
Making the Sustainable Choice
When it comes to designing our gear, we prioritize natural materials over synthetic ones. They’re often more sustainable because they can break down in the environment and don’t contribute to pollution like synthetic materials do. Think of it this way: natural fibers like cotton and wool can quickly biodegrade, while synthetic materials like polyester and acrylic tend to stay around much longer.
But we also recognize that synthetic materials have their benefits – they can be more durable, water-resistant, and wrinkle-resistant than natural materials. That’s why, when we do have to use synthetic fabrics, we make sure to choose the ones with the lowest environmental impact. For example, we’ll prioritized recycled polyester before using a virgin variant. In some cases, we’ll even use deadstock and broken gear to make other products (see ReCap Collection). It’s just one small way we can do our part to keep the ocean tides turning in the right direction.