Kathmandu

Values

Our Story

For more than 30 years, Kathmandu has been producing outdoor gear that is tough enough to take on any adventure. They are Australasia’s largest retailer to become a Certified B Corporation and always act with people and the planet in mind.

Sustainability lies at the heart of everything Kathmandu creates, from the materials they use in their products to the wellbeing people who make them. Their Best for the World 2025 programme helps them to lead as a business for good.

“At Kathmandu, sustainability isn’t a department, it’s a way of doing things.”

One of Kathmandu’s top goals is to ensure their workers' wellbeing. With suppliers across the globe, Kathmandu has had to create standards that speak to the needs of all of their international partners.  In many countries, the laws that protect and empower workers are not adequate or are simply not enforced.

That’s why they have outlined a detailed Workplace Code of Conduct that is based on the International Labour Organisation’s standards and on internationally-accepted good labour practices.

The code outlines what Kathmandu expects from their suppliers, including working hours, safe working conditions, sufficient compensation and environmental standards.

It has been carefully designed to respond to the uniqueness of each culture, country and supplier. All of Kathmandu’s manufacturing partners must sign up to their Code of Conduct before Kathmandu will do business with them.

As a company that seeks to encourage its customers into the great outdoors, Kathmandu didn’t have to think twice about creating products that are kind to the environment.

In 2019, 9.7 million plastic bottles were recycled into their gear, and 99% of the cotton they used was sustainable. They were also able to save 12.1 million bottles worth of freshwater by using more solution-dyed materials and recycled cotton.

Their current goal is to be carbon-neutral and zero-waste by 2025.

To do this, they are focused on designing 100% sustainable packaging, filling recycling gaps in their stores and setting science-based targets to combat climate change.

They’ve also started charging customers a small bag fee in their stores, with the net proceeds going to plant trees in New Zealand and Australia.

Their Products with Purpose Initiative allows consumers to contribute significant contributions to environmental and social causes when they purchase certain products. For example, for every 10 LuminAID lanterns sold they donate one to a remote Himalayan family living without access to reliable electricity.

Kathmandu also partners with and supports several incredible charities including:

• Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund

• Australian Himalayan Foundation