Friend,

When you go hiking, camping or even just walking in the rain, you shouldn't have to worry that the outdoor gear you're using was made in a way that harms the environment or poses a public health threat.

But toxic PFAS, the pervasive and persistent "forever chemicals," are all too commonly used in items like jackets, tents and sleeping bags -- posing serious risks to the environment when they leach out of the places where those products are manufactured (and out of the products themselves).1

To tackle the PFAS problem, we need to stop the use of these chemicals as soon as possible -- and one of the best ways we can do that is by getting a major brand like Columbia Sportswear to lead the way. Tell Columbia to eliminate toxic PFAS from its products.

PFAS chemicals (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) pose a threat to our environment and our health at just about every step from their production to their use in clothing and outdoor gear to the disposal of those products.

The sites where the chemicals themselves are manufactured often leach PFAS into nearby bodies of water. So do the factories where PFAS are put to use as coating for rain jackets, tents and the like. And PFAS-coated products can release these toxic chemicals when they're dumped in a landfill, or even just put through the wash.

Then, once PFAS make their way into our environment, they never break down or go away -- hence the nickname "forever chemicals." That means the health risks they've been linked to, from cancer to suppressed immune function, only become more dangerous as the chemicals build up around us.2

But Friend, we can minimize the threat of PFAS contamination by turning off the tap on their use. Take action today by urging Columbia Sportswear to get toxic PFAS out of its products.

In a recent survey of various clothing and outdoor gear brands, Columbia Sportswear received an "F" for its efforts (or rather, lack thereof) to phase out the use of all PFAS in its operations and supply chain. REI, Under Armour and a host of other retailers received similarly dismal grades.3

That's disappointing, to say the least, for a company that hangs its hat on helping its customers enjoy the outdoors and all that our environment has to offer. But Columbia's poor performance on PFAS also represents a huge opportunity to spark an industry-wide shift away from these toxic chemicals.

As one of the biggest and most popular outdoor apparel stores in the country, a strong commitment from Columbia Sportswear to stop using PFAS would set the stage for other brands to follow suit.

When we're working to protect our health and environment from toxic "forever chemicals," every voice counts. Will you send a message right now telling Columbia Sportswear CEO Timothy Boyle to get toxic PFAS out of Columbia products?

Thank you,

Rex Wilmouth
Senior Program Director

1. "Going Out of Fashion," U.S. PIRG Education Fund, April 6, 2022.
2. "Going Out of Fashion," U.S. PIRG Education Fund, April 6, 2022.
3. "Going Out of Fashion," U.S. PIRG Education Fund, April 6, 2022.