JanSport Launches Backpack Line Made with 100% Surplus Materials

DENVER -- JanSport today introduced Surplus Ski n' Hike, the brand's first backpack collection made with excess factory materials that may have otherwise ended up in landfills. The launch marks another milestone in the brand's mission to become a leader in sustainable backpack design and manufacturing. The new collection will be available beginning Monday, April 12, 2021 on jansport.com/surplus.

The U.S. EPA estimates that 85% of all textile waste ends up in landfills¹. Available in Vintage Pink, Red Tape and Forge Grey, the Surplus Ski n' Hike collection revives an iconic JanSport style made entirely from excess material supplies, underlining JanSport's commitment to mindful usage of raw materials and manufacturing practices. Every component of this limited-edition pack collection, from the fabric and lining to the ladder locks and zipper pulls, is derived from pre-existing factory materials.

Understanding the principles of Generation Z and their conscious consumption habits rooted in activism has generated a strong connection between JanSport and its target consumer. This relationship has also fueled the brand's overall commitment to produce more product offerings that meet their standards of sustainability while remaining fashionable and functional, such as the Recycled SuperBreak launched last year; JanSport's first backpack made in part with 100% recycled fabric.

"As part of our sustainability efforts, JanSport wants to keep fabric off the cutting room floor and ensure that our unused products do not go to waste. We challenged our designers to construct a backpack collection entirely from surplus fabrics and components from our factory, and we could not be more impressed with the result," says Roger Spatz, President at JanSport. "The Surplus Ski n' Hike breathes new life into an archived silhouette and uses the textiles in a smarter, more sustainable way that prevents these elements from potentially going into landfill."

The Surplus Ski n' Hike is just the latest step in JanSport's sustainability journey. JanSport continues to be transparent by tracking its progress in sustainability with recent notable milestones and initiatives, including:

For more information on JanSport's overall sustainability efforts please visit jansport.com/sustainability.

*Based on a 16oz bottle.

About JanSport^®
JanSport, a division of VF Outdoor, LLC., was founded in 1967 in Seattle, WA, by three pioneers in the outdoor industry. Though the brand began by manufacturing and marketing world-class outdoor backpacks, today the product offering includes outdoor gear and daypacks sold on www.jansport.com, department stores, and specialty and boutique retail locations throughout the world. All JanSport packs are backed by a lifetime warranty to guarantee they stand by customers through their life's adventures.

¹ Environmental Protection Agency, Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling, 2020

SOURCE JanSport