66°North Impact Report 2023

You don’t need another ski jacket

66°North Impact Report 2023

Mission statement

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66°North

Our mission is to inspire the global community by championing Icelandic values that foster: a culture of protection - of people and environment; gender equality in business and society; a reevaluation of the role of clothes through the concept of úlpa, living with fewer garments that work harder for longer.

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Impact Report

Looking back to go forward Advocating for systematic change Made for life Partnerships with purpose Consumption & community Supply chain & people Operations reporting

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66°North

06 16 20 42 62 70 76

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Looking back to go forward

Looking back to go forward

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66°North

As we put pen to paper to share progress made at 66°North during 2023; the highs, the lows and everything in between - we acknowledge that the act of creating our impact report is, in itself, a powerful tool in the ongoing journey towards becoming the best possible version of ourselves.

The process of reviewing the year naturally leads to moments of quiet reflection giving us a useful pause in the frenetic pace of running a business with a growing community of stakeholders, and the ambition to become the first Icelandic brand known throughout the world. All of which comes with huge responsibility, to our employees, our customers and our business partners.

2023 saw the publication of our first ever Impact report which in turn documented our milestone certification as Iceland’s first B Corp in 2022. Now as we reflect on the last 12 months we are simultaneously looking towards our recertification in 2025 with our centenary in 2026 in touching distance a year later.

in Europe, enabling us to have close control on quality and ethics. Through the preservation of handicraft and the cultivation of know-how we are able to make garments that meet the first principle of circularity through their durability and multifunctionality, while our repair service, that has existed for as long as the brand has, means we can keep our clothing in circulation for longer. These fundamental foundations are as much a part of our story as the glaciers, volcanoes and oceans that form our typography and create the need for our products. Knowing how long our clothing stays in circulation and seeing it passed down through generations is one of the benefits of our longevity

This fixation with time is perhaps an inevitable occupational hazard when you are the guardians of an almost 100 year old brand.

Perhaps the greatest responsibility we have of all is to the brand itself, and the role it will play in society for the next 100 years.

We are fortunate that the brand has had the building blocks for future fitness from the very beginning; we are privileged to own a big part of our value chain with our own factories located

Helgi Óskarsson, CEO Bjarney Harðardóttir, CBO

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Looking back to go forward

Our guiding framework In 2022 we were proud to become the first

“B Corp certification has been

Icelandic company to certify as a B-Corporation.

a transformative journey for

Since then Iceland’s iconic Blue Lagoon became

us, embedding sustainability

the second to certify in 2023. The B Corporation

and social responsibility into

membership framework, along with consideration

our DNA. It’s not just a badge;

for the United Nations Sustainable Development

it’s our commitment to doing

Goals guide decisions we make around how we

business differently, for the

grow responsibly.

betterment of our community,

With the recertification process timetabled every 3 years we have one year remaining within our current term before we are re-evaluated by B Corp in 2025. This means that 2024 is an important year for evaluating our progress, reassessing our areas of focus and carrying out specific actions that will ensure we are on course.

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environment, and future generations.”

– Bjarney, CBO

66°North

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Looking back to go forward

B Corp score

93.5 overall B impact Score

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qualifies for B Corp

50.9

is the median score for ordinary businesses

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66°North

Workers 27.6

Environment 33.1

Workers evaluates a company’s contributions to

Environment evaluates a company’s overall

its employees’ financial security, health & safety,

environmental management practices as well

wellness, career development, and engagement &

as its impact on the air, climate, water, land, and

satisfaction, as well as business models designed

biodiversity. This includes the direct impact of a

to benefit workers non-executive ownership and

company’s operations, product, supply chain and

workforce development programs.

distribution channels.

Financial Security 4.8

Environmental Management 5.0

Health, Wellness, & Safety 8.6

Air & Climate 9.2

Career Development 3.0

Water 3.1

Engagement & Satisfaction 7.2

Land & Life 7.2 + Land/wildlife Conservation 0.4

Community 18.8 Community evaluates a company’s engagement with and impact on the communities in which it

+ Toxin Reduction / Remediation 6.5

Customers 4.0

operates, hires from, and sources from. Topics

Customers evaluates a company’s stewardship of

include diversity, equity & inclusion, economic

its customers through the quality of its products

impact, civic engagement, charitable giving, and

and services, ethical marketing, data privacy and

supply chain management.

security, and feedback channels.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion 5.6

Customer Stewardship 4.0

Economic Impact 1.3 Civic Engagement & Giving 4.1 Supply Chain Management 6.2

Governance 9.8 Governance evaluates a company’s overall mission, engagement around its social/ environmental impact, ethics, and transparency.

Mission & Engagement 2.2 Ethics & Transparency 5.1 + Mission Locked 2.5

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Looking back to go forward

The SDG’s

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66°North

When 66°North decided to galvanise which Sustainable Development Goals the company is most aligned with in its sustainability efforts, we decided to involve the entire office staff in the decision-making process, to ensure our shared values represented the collective voice.

This dialogue culminated in a company-wide vote, allowing every team member to have a say in selecting the SDGs that 66°North would prioritize. This vote not only identified SDGs 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 5 (Gender Equality), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 13 (Climate Action) as the company’s focus areas but also strengthened the team’s bond and commitment to these goals.

This process highlighted the collective spirit of 66°North, where sustainability and social responsibility are deeply ingrained in the culture, chosen by the people who embody the brand daily.

The selected SDGs now represent both the brand’s ethos and the personal convictions of its staff, making their pursuit a shared mission.

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Looking back to go forward

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

SDG 5: Gender Equality

66°North actively contributes to this goal not

66°North’s commitment to gender equality is

just through the production of warm, protective,

demonstrated through commitment to equal

and durable clothing that enables people to

gender pay, employing more women than men

experience life outdoors in nature in all types

to address workforce imbalances, and ensuring

of weather, but also by promoting a culture

a high proportion of leadership roles are fulfilled

of health and movement both within the

by women, especially significant in locations like

community and amongst its employees. The

Latvia where gender equality in the workplace is

company influences outdoor behavior through

a critical issue. The company’s hiring policies are

the sponsorship of athletes, mountaineering

gender-neutral, focusing on skills and potential

expeditions, and hosting events like running

rather than gender, and aim to offer growth

campaigns, which are paired with marketing

opportunities for all employees, showcasing

initiatives to encourage more people to engage

a robust model for promoting gender equality

in physical activities. Internally, 66°North

in the corporate sector.

supports its staff well-being with initiatives such as an athletic academy, yoga and gym classes, and social events like annual golf tournaments, further advocating for a healthy, active lifestyle.

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66°North

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 13: Climate Action

Through the use of recycled materials,

66°North’s engagement with climate action

minimising production waste by utilising

is comprehensive, extending from producing

leftover materials, offering repair services for its

high-quality, durable products designed to last

durable products, and selecting suppliers with

(“Made for Life”) to operating a repair shop that

environmental and social certifications, 66°North

extends the products’ lifespan. The company

strives to operate responsibly in accordance to

advocates for sustainable growth through policy

SDG 12. The company maintains a tight control

influence, supports glacier conservation through

on production levels to avoid excessive inventory.

awareness events and donations, and commits

This is most effective in terms of styles produced

to carbon neutrality by offsetting its carbon

on within our own factories in Latvia where we are

emissions through tree planting initiatives.

able to adjust production levels to meet customer

These efforts showcase a profound commitment

demand rather than overstock through longer

to environmental stewardship and combating

range forecasting.

climate change.

In essence, 66°North’s activities and policies provide a multifaceted approach to addressing the SDGs, demonstrating how businesses can play a critical role in advancing global goals through internal policies, product design, community engagement, and advocacy.

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Impact Report

Advocating for systematic change

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66°North

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Advocating for systematic change

Advocating for creation of Public Benefit Corporation Status in Iceland

Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) is a corporation created to generate social and public good, and to operate in a responsible and sustainable manner. They are legally bound to operate transparently, report environmental and social impacts, and adhere to sustainable for real sustainability progress. This status encourages social and eco-friendly 18

business models, attracting like-minded investors and consumers. 66°North views PBC as a superior standard to current EU disclosure regulations for large corporations, advocating for broader and more impactful corporate responsibility.

66°North

In early 2023, 66°North’s

director of B Lab Nordics

Sustainability team identified

visited Iceland and added her

a pivotal opportunity for

signature to the proposal in

evolution in company law in

the Sveinstofa meeting room

Iceland that, if adopted, will lead

at Logos, Iceland’s Parliament.

to the creation of a third legal

Symbolically the room contains

category of business in the

a bronze statue of Sveinn

country; that of public benefit

Bjornsson, a former president

corporation (PBC).

of Iceland, alongside Sigríður úr Brattholti, a bold woman who,

Having identified this powerful

with his help, saved Iceland‘s

lever, aimed at driving in­

most beautiful waterfall

creased momentum around

‘Gullfoss’, from being ruined

the responsible business

by plans to build a dam.

[PBC status has existed in the United States since April 2010, while In Europe, so far Italy, who became the first European state and the second country in the world to introduce this new legal status for companies in 2016, and Spain, who, followed in 2022, have introduced this third category and its effects have been deemed positive. If 66°North is successful, this law change paves the way for a more equitable environment within which sustainably motivated Icelandic companies can thrive, while also having potential to create a ripple effect throughout the Nordics and Scandinavia where like minded business figures are eagerly following the motion’s progress.]

movement, both locally within Iceland, and globally, 66°North’s

As a member of the global

team led the drafting of the

B Corp movement and a

proposal to be presented for

passionate ambassador for

consideration by Iceland’s

Iceland and Icelandic business,

Parliament, securing advice

66°North recognises the

from a dynamic team of legal

importance of collaboration

experts to ensure it has the best

and is committed to driving

possible chance of success.

a wider movement of change,

Once the draft proposal was

advocating for this pathway for

ready 66°North then sought

the benefit of all businesses in

to galvanise support for the

the country.

motion among like minded business figures.

At the time of publication of this report, a working committee

On 18th September 2023,

is in process of assessing

Nille Skalts, founder of the B

the proposal’s potential for

Corp movement and executive

implementation.

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Impact Report

Made for life

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66°North

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Made for life

Introduction Nature is our greatest teacher and our

The core of our brand is within technical

harshest product tester. At 66°North,

outdoor wear which means a large

the foundation of our business is creating

proportion of the garments we make are

garments that are fit for purpose, placed

created using mono-material performance

in context of our Icelandic heritage it

fabrics. We also use cotton, wool, down

can be as serious as survival in extreme

and other man-made fabrics depending

conditions out­doors. Our core principal

on the requirements of the garment by its

has, therefore, always been to make

owner.

garments that can be relied upon by our customers in extreme conditions, winter after winter, year after year.

We are actively expanding our use of recycled, upcycled, biodegradable and organic natural fibres, we also do our

While that philosophy applied to today

utmost to avoid keeping deadstock

doesn’t necessarily mean arctic cold for

materials and make use of them as much

everyone - we apply the same standards

as possible between seasons. The majority

of high quality and performance to a

of the 2023 collections were made with

waterproof shell that could be worn on

materials that fall under the above and our

the streets of New York, on a hike in the

goal is that each season we work towards

UK’s Lake District or up a mountain in

a more sustainable material choices.

Europe on a bright but cold, blue sky day.

Preferred materials* account for at least

Durability and repairability are the backbone of our approach to design but as a company committed to lessening our impact on the natural environment we are acutely aware that the choices we make about which materials we use dictate the overall impact of that garment through its lifecycle.

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60% of the collection.

66°North

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Made for life

Cotton Traditionally farmed cotton is grown

effects of working with harsh chemicals

within a monoculture, which means

and the associated pollution.

the same crop is intensively farmed on the same piece of land year after year, depleting the soil of essential nutrients, ultimately reducing it’s capacity to produce strong, healthy crops. Over time land farmed this way becomes less productive. This, combined with the impact of chemicals through the extensive use of fertiliser and pesticides which runs off the fields into the surrounding area and waterways not only affect the soil health but also creates a range of negative environmental impacts including biodiversity loss an affects health of workers.

The impacts on people and communities from this type of cotton agriculture are wide ranging and well-documented, from keeping farmers trapped in poverty and/or economic insecurity if their work is not properly paid for or safeguarded, to diverting water resources that would otherwise be used for human needs or food agriculture, to the negative health

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For this reason 66°North is committed to using 100% certified organic cotton within its collections.

Organic Cotton is farmed without pesticides or chemical fertilizers and is typically grown so is less harmful to the environment. As we look to work increasingly in harmony with nature as part of our commitment to the environment we are looking at further improving the impact of our choices by considering regeneratively farmed cotton, which is even better for nature than organic, and considering introducing hemp, which is often called a ‘wonder crop’ in environmental terms.

With similar functionality to cotton it has several advantages over it; hemp grows faster than cotton, requires far less water, is stronger and more durable, becomes softer and more comfortable than cotton over time and it accepts dye more easily than cotton.

66°North

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Made for life

Down 66°North has been committed to solely purchasing certified down products such as Responsible Down Standard, Downpass and the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, via our longterm partner based in Germany, since 2011.

60% of the down styles within our AW23 collection are made using recycled down which meets the Global Recycling Standard (GRS) - this is up from 43% in 2022.

The standards we adhere to guarantee a transparent chain of custody from farm to final product guarantee, ‘The Five Freedoms’, in animal management, ensuring the welfare of birds and geese from hatching to slaughter are upheld including the prohibition of liveplucking and force-feeding livestock.

Recycled down is a 100% renewable and biodegradable, natural filling material.

By keeping pre-loved down in use through a careful recycling process a circular philosophy is supported, extending the life cycle of resources.

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66°North

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Made for life

Wool All the merino wool that is used within our core collection is sourced from New Zealand and meets the Textile Exchange’s Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).

Along with animal welfare protection standards ‘The Five Freedoms’, RWS also incorporates land health preservation, taking into account soil health, biodiversity, and the protection of native species, alongside social factors such as decent working conditions nd the health and safety of workers.

For some special lines like the Sölvhóll shearling collection, Dyngja wool capsule and Kaldi Gore Jackets, we use wool from the Icelandic sheep breed farmed on traditional Icelandic farms. This hardy wool is particularly suited to outerwear as the fleece has evolved over 1100+ years to be optimal for the unpredictable weather conditions experienced in Iceland. Icelandic sheep farming uses non-intensive, traditional farming methods that prioritise animal welfare, careful land management and heritage grazing techniques.

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66°North

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Made for life

Recycled or man-made materials We aim to use as much of recycled material

the washing process and, ultimately

as possible throughout our collections

ending up in our oceans.

and work closely with our suppliers to introduce new and improved materials in our collections as they bring them to the market.

Our swimwear prioritises recycled materials; women’s one piece and two piece suits which require stretch are made from ECONYL® fabric produced by Carvico.

SEAQUAL® YARN is a high quality 100%

Renowned for its ultra-chlorine resistance,

post-consumer recycled polyester yarn

resistance to sun cream and oil, exceptional

that contains approximately 10% SEAQUAL

muscle support, excellent coverage and the

marine plastic (from plastic marine litter),

material stands as a testament to quality

the remaining 90% is post-consumer PET

and durability. Our men’s swim shorts are

from land sources.

made using recycled polyester.

We use SEAQUAL yarn in products like our Flot heritage line which was introduced in 2023.

Much of the Polartec fleece we offer in our collections is made with recycled plastic bottles. We have also introduced shed-less fleece options which reduce microfibres (microplastics) entering the water supply via 30

66°North

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Material Choices

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66°North

The PFA’s status 66°North is in the process of

The only exception to the

phasing out PFAS within its

above is where 66°North may

product lines. As we outlined

use dead stock materials

in our 2022 impact report no

within a collaborative project

new styles will be made with

that sits outside of our core

materials that contain PFAs.

collections to use up any

In relatable terms this means

remaining resources. From

that no new styles introduced

time to time these may contain

as part of our Spring Summer

PFAS while we still have stock

2024 product selection contain

of such materials. During this

PFAS. We will continue to phase

transition phase any products

materials containing PFAS out

that contain PFAS will be clearly

from all carry over products by

labeled in accordance with

Autumn Winter 2025.

current best practice specific

We would like to implement this even sooner, however, as performance fabrics must be

to each market’s guidelines to allow consumers to make informed choices.

purchased up to two years

For SS24 66°North has

before they are needed we have

introduced Polartec’s PFA free

stock of some fabric containing

Power Shield fabric, which

PFAS. There is no credible

uses an alternative plant-based

solution other than to use these

coating and membrane, into

resources. The alternatives,

some garments.

which are not viable, would be destruction or sending them to landfill, neither of which are a win for the environment, so we have made the decision to use them up until they are gone.

[Among 66°North’s current garments the following are made from PFC-free fabric and fillings Most of these styles should also have PFC free and recycled zippers, however, awaiting confirmation Þórsmörk parka: fluorocarbon free, made from Bluesign approved fabric and 100% recycled (fabric, filling and lining) Vatnajökull insulated: fluorocarbon free, made from Bluesign approved fabric and 100% recycled (fabric, filling and lining) Skálafell jacket and pants: fluorocarbon free, made from Bluesign approved fabric, and partly recycled (fabric, filling and lining) Krafla Down styles: fluorocarbon free, made from Bluesign approved fabric, bio dyed and partly recycled (fabric and lining). Filling is certified GRS down.

Dyngja Down styles: 100% recycled (fabric, down filling and lining) Tindur shearling: PFC free, made from Bluesign approved fabric, and largely recycled raw materials.

Kría fleece: PFC free, made from Bluesign approved fabric, and largely recycled raw materials. This item is not currently online so not linked here.

Hrannar Alpha: PFC free, made from Bluesign approved fabric, and largely recycled raw materials.

Vik: PFC free, made from Bluesign approved fabric and largely recycled raw materials.

In addition 66°North has switched to dope dyed material for this style. Dope dyeing uses less water than traditional dyeing techniques.

Straumur swimsuits and trunks are PFC free and 78% recycled.

Snæfell technostretch hoodies are in Seaqual recycled polyester that is PFC free, made from Bluesign approved fabric Wool garments: at least 90% of the items are certified RWS ( responsible wool standard) and by default PFC free.

There are more PFC free and product made using Bluesign approved fabrics in the line but these are the most significant styles.

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Made for life

Durability When 66°North uses the phrase ‘Made

more relevant than ever with durability

For Life’ we mean it quite literally. A

and goods staying in use for as long as

bi-product of our longevity as a brand

possible among the core principles of a

and our unique circumstances, as a

circular economy.

business existing within a small island nation where nearly every Icelander owns at least one piece of our clothing, mean that we get continual direct feedback about the quality and durability of our garments.

It is gratifying to hear stories about garments that someone has owned for several decades and is still using them or of jackets passed down through the family over generations.

The motivation for 66°North to create durable garments stems from the fundamental truth that from the beginning, our very first customers had to be able to RELY on their quality not just to feel warm and dry, but to survive.

Life is much easier now than it was then but the foundations we were built on are

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As the fashion industry prepares for increased regulation we are digging deep into our core values, continuing to deliver on those things we are already good at, and looking to address areas that we have potential to strengthen.

66°North

Customer Stories Guðmundur Ingvarsson, 88, lives at Þingeyri in the Icelandic Westfjords, where he tends his two horses daily whatever the weather wearing his decades-old 66°North shell jacket, which has been a staple in his family’s wardrobe for all these years.

He said, ‘The jacket has been worn consistently going back decades into the last century. It has weathered countless outdoor adventures, emerging unscathed without a single stitch out of place - it has never even needed repair.

Aðalbjörg Sigurjónsdóttir is seen here wearing a 30-year-old Kría jacket that she found in her parents closet and now wears 10 to 11 months of the year - as a shell in Spring, and with warm layering in winter.

“This jacket is so versatile; it’s kind of like a sweater-jacket hybrid and is therefore thin enough to use during summer but warm enough for the winter too - with a well chosen mid-layer underneath.”

“What makes a good winter jacket is that it’s durable, waterproof, warm, and has good pockets,” says Aðalbjörg Sigurjónsdóttir about the Kría jacket she found in her parents’ closet.

“30 years ago, my parents bought matching winter jackets, as was common in those days.

My dad still wears his.”

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Made for life

Eco design principles How 66°North’s approach fits within the EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles as laid out in its proposed Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), published on 30 March 2022 The EU’s Strategy lays out a forward-looking set of actions.

The European Commission will:

•

•

Set design requirements for textiles to

Extender Producer Responsibility rules for

recycle, as well as requirements on minimum

textiles in all Member States and incentivise

recycled content

producers to design products that are more sustainable

Introduce clearer information and a Digital •

•

destruction of unsold or returned textiles Address the unintentional release of microplastics from synthetic textiles •

Tackle greenwashing to empower consumers and raise awareness about sustainable fashion

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Restrict the export of textile waste and promote sustainable textiles globally

Reverse overproduction and overconsumption, and discourage the

•

Introduce mandatory and harmonised

make them last longer, easier to repair and

Product Passport •

•

Incentivise circular business models, including reuse and repair sectors

•

Encourage companies and Member States to support the objectives of the Strategy

66°North

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Made for life

Here we have summarised the requirements of ESPR and outlined how the work we are doing at 66°North aligns strongly with the proposed regulation and where we need to increase our focus.

1. Eco Design principles Durability

Excellent

Repairability

Excellent

Removal of substances of concern and inhibiting circularity

In progress - no new styles being produced with PFAS

Energy & resource efficiency

Good

Recycled content

reducing reliance on virgin raw materials

Remanufacturing ability

Excellent

Repairability

Excellent - no new styles made are unrepairable

Carbon & environmental footprint

See Carbon reporting (p. 79)

2. Implementation of digital product passports

In progress

3. Oversight of unsold goods

Not applicable

4. Ban on unsold stock destruction

We have never destroyed product

*1.6: Remanufacturing ability refers to a manufacturer’s capability to take used products, components, or materials and refurbish them to a “like-new” condition, often with the same warranty and quality as new products. This process typically involves disassembly, cleaning, repair, and reassembly. Remanufacturing helps in reducing waste, conserving resources, and lowering production costs. It’s an important aspect of sustainable manufacturing and circular economy practices.

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*3 & 4: As well has having a robust stance on durability and repairability 66°North has a disciplined approach to inventory to avoid overstocking as much as possible.

Where surplus inventory has occurred due to market conditions in the past twelve months, we have initiated several strategies to reduce it in a responsible way.

Among these steps, we’ve provided our existing wholesale customers with access to excess products at more competitive prices. Additionally, we’ve reduced our stock of samples and surplus items by organising sample sales in key focus countries, available both online and in physical stores. Surplus items by organising sample sales in key focus countries, available both online and in physical stores.

66°North

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Made for life

Repair informs design

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“Each time it was repaired, improvements were made that began to feed into the design of updated versions of the Magni. With a tough natural environment that is not only cold but rugged too, our products are tested harder than pretty much anywhere else in the world and the feedback we get informs improvements.” Our current head of repair Holmfridur explains. “Living in Iceland as we do it’s not your average product testing environment”

66°North

From the very beginning 66°North has

An example of where our dual focus

offered repairs. In the beginning this was

of durability and repair have worked

because of necessity; Iceland was a poor

synergistically to fundamentally improve

country and resources were scarce, so

one of our products is evidenced in the

people needed their clothes to last them

evolution of our Magni overall; a snowsuit

for as long as possible.

that has existed as part of the 66°North

Fast forward to today and wider society

childrenswear line for over 40 years.

is, to varying degrees, waking up to the reality that resources are finite and that keeping garments in use for longer is vital for us to reduce our use of raw virgin materials to a level the planet can support. Overconsumption has brought humanity full circle.

Pálína Árnadóttir, worked at 66°North for 4 decades spending 37 years as Head of Repairs, (from 1986 until her retirement in 2023). During this time she also raised two sons who wore Magni to play throughout their childhoods.

While we are acutely aware that there is

This provided a real life wear-and-tear

more we can, and will, do in key areas, we

case study that was fed directly back

feel confident our foundations stand us

to design to enable them to re-engineer

in good stead to respond to some of the

the suit for optimum durability. The

most pressing aspects of ESPR.

evolution of the garment included thoughtful reinforcements in heavy wear areas but one of the most significant improvements was to switch to an incredibly hard wearing CORDURA fabric in 2015. Since that date the garment has remained unchanged having proven itself fit to meet the even the toughest of demands.

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Impact Report

Partnerships with purpose

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66°North

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Partnerships with purpose

With our Icelandic values of making use of every last scrap ingrained in our company culture our partnerships and collaborations frequently incorporate the repurposing of otherwise unwanted offcuts or recycled materials.

During 2023 we worked on a dynamic mix of projects that encompassed retail, emerging designer and likeminded brands.

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Partnerships with purpose

66°North for Selfridges 66°North was chosen by iconic London

66°North chose Mia Regan, a model and

retailer to participate in its ‘Worn Again’

digital creator who is passionate about

Camping & Outdoor themed initiative

life outdoors and chooses to work only

that took place in May 2023. The

with responsible brands, to feature as

Initiative aligned with their overarching

the face of the campaign, alongside her

mission vision ‘to reinvent retail…and

friends Kevin and Karlon Bonsu, more

create a sustainable future for our

commonly known as The Flag Twins.

customers’.

Tapping Mia Regan for this initiative

Highlighting circular shopping experiences, products, collaborations, events and ideas, the initiative served as a platform for giving customers alternative, more responsible options to consider alongside new season collections.

For the partnership 66°North created a unisex capsule collection designed to appeal to festival goers and individuals who love the outdoors. The collection was produced using primarily deadstock fabric from 66°North’s own factory in Latvia, and sat within Selfridges ‘Worn Again’ initiative.

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was a conscious decision by the brand to educate a younger demographic with messaging about responsible production.

Partnerships with purpose

Icelandic Glacier Research Society In 2019 we made the decision

In 2023 we raised 1,9 million ISK

to opt out of Black Friday, the

- roughly equivalent to £10,927

global discounting frenzy that

or $13,967. For the combined

inevitably fuels overproduction

period 2021 and 2022 we raised

and consumption for

3 million ISK ($22,000

consumptions sake.

or £17,250)

Rather than discounting to

“The support from 66*North

stimulate sales during the

is very valuable for the Glacier

annual Black Friday period

Research Society and has

we have kept our product full

enabled us to undertake

price and instead, donated

scanning of old photographs

25% of our online sales on that

from members collection as

date to organisations whose is

well as to recreate selected

channelled to protecting nature.

images by visiting the same

The recipient of funds raised to

photography sites. Among

date has been Iceland’s Glacier

other goals, the society aims

Research Society, who use the

to promote education about our

money to help support research

glaciers, and the comparison of

and monitoring activities that

photographs clearly illustrates

in turn are used to publicise

the changes that have occurred

and raise awareness about the

in them. The photographs

severity of glacial mass loss.

are accessible to the public and also shed light on glacier expeditions since the society’s founding in the middle of the last century.”

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In 2023, regular collaborators, Reykjavik based artisan perfumery and art collective, Fischersund, crafted a fragrance for 66°North capturing the haunting nature of glaciers, these ancient figures in the Icelandic landscape which are now quickly disappearing. Celebrating the unique smell that can only be experienced when long dormant earth and all the things that have been buried beneath the ice, come into contact with the fresh, cold air the scent, features elements including Geosmin, wet dirt and petrified wood.

66°North

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Partnerships with purpose

Fundraising for cancer assotiations Together with the group of Lífskraftur we

The 16 kilometre hike route took hikers around

raise funds for the charities LÍF and Kraftur.

the northern edges of the Landmannaskja and

LÍF Support Association works to improve the facilities and services for women and their families during pregnancy, childbirth, and

the ascent to Háalda itself, which rises about 1150 m above sea level and is the highest mountain in the Landmannalaugar area.

postpartum, as well as for women who require

The trail was officially named Leggangan

care due to gynecological conditions.

(meaning “The Uterus Trail”) in honour of

Kraftur is an organization that supports

the the occasion before the walk began.

young adults diagnosed with cancer between

The goal of this fundraiser, organised by

the age of 18 and 40 years old and relatives

Lífskraftur, was to raise awareness regarding

from 18 years old.

infertility in connection with cancer treatment

On October 7th and 8th 2023, over 120 women took part in the Life Force Walk in the Highlands of Iceland, in support of women who have to deal with infertility following cancer treatment.

and to raise money so that women receive psychological support and have the opportunity to undergo egg retrieval surgery before treatment begins.

Every year, around 80 women of childbearing age are diagnosed with cancer in Iceland.

66°North partnered with Lífskraft to make

Funds raised from the sale of

special Legganga sweaters, with all proceeds

the sweaters totalled 1.002.394

from the sale going to to Lífskraft.

ISK (£5,777.69 or $7,283.43) 50

Partnerships with purpose

66°North x Ganni During 2023 66°North teamed up with

resulting in a capsule that was limited to just

long-standing collaborator, Danish women’s

100 pieces of each style.

fashion brand, Ganni to co-create two small capsule collections utilising leftover fabrics the first coinciding with Spring Summer 23, the second arriving in Autumn Winter 23.

The second of the two installments launched in Autumn Winter 2023 was designed to support its wearers through temperamental weather conditions, fusing practicality

Ganni holds itself accountable in its public

with playfulness. Crafted from lightweight,

annual responsibility report; its spring–

breathable and waterproof Gore-Tex materials,

summer 2023 clothing collection is 97%

the collection included Bluesign and Oeko-Tex

“responsible” (composed of at least 50%

certified fabrics, alongside Seaqual — which

organic, recycled, or low-impact materials).

uses 95% recycled polyester made from

As a business we have immense respect

plastic litter removed from the ocean.

for the role Ganni is playing in progressing sustainability within the fashion sector through their actions and, particularly, their role in taking the conversation mainstream to positively influence consumer awareness contributing to greater sense of responsibility in the industry as a whole.

Since our initial meeting with Ganni in 2019 when the two brands first collaborated, the husband-wife teams at the helm of each brand have recognised each other as kindred spirits, with similar outlooks and values.

The Spring capsule collection was made entirely from a selection of deadstock materials, working with what we already had,

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For the Spring Summer capsule all of the garments were produced near-shore in our own factories in Latvia. Of the nine styles in the Autumn Winter capsule, six were made in our own factories.

66°North

“We share the same sense of pride in where we come from and for this collection, I wanted to go back to our roots and revisit some of those iconic pieces that really make us who we are. This season I have been reflecting on our journey and I love how those introspective elements come across in the collection while still being fun and new,” – GANNI Creative director, Ditte Reffstrup

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Partnerships with purpose

66°North x Charlie Constantinou In 2023 we provided a platform to emerging

adapting to the wearer, is a near perfect

London based designer Charlie Constantinou,

metaphor for 66°North’s commitment to

giving him access to nearly 100 years of

adaptability and a perfect construction within

craftsmanship and know-how as a vehicle

which to use scraps and off cuts of otherwise

for his imaginative, textural approach to

unusable fabric to minimize waste. He is also

functional wear.

passionate about creating something that

Having graduated in 2022 from Central Saint Martins MA Fashion Design Program

can be used in multiple ways - also mirrored within 66°North’s design philosophy.

where he specialised in technical fabrics and

While planning the collection Charlie

dyeing processes, Constantinou has since

worked closely with the 66 design team,

been awarded the ITS Academy award for

spending time in Iceland to understand

emerging designers and reached the semi-

how the environment has fundamentally

finals of the LVMH Prize. Brought together by

shaped the company’s rigorous approach

a shared affinity for near-mythical landscapes

to garment technology. The result; two tight

and extreme weather, the collection resulting

collections consisting of technical knitwear

from our partnership with Charlie was made

produced in Italy alongside outerwear

primarily from deadstock materials within

staples that captured Iceland’s other

66°North’s own factories.

worldliness through jagged dye effects and

For Constantinou creating garments that move beyond the decorative and have a sense of purpose and of longevity is what matters - and here our values were perfectly aligned. His signature experimental quilted fabric, with its ability to expand and shrink,

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a nature-inspired colour palette. This project educates a new consumer about responsible material sourcing and, with the narrative accompanying the collection campaign, visually communicates climate impact, for example, the receding glacier profile in Iceland.

“For me the basis of this collaborative relationship was formed on the values that me and 66°North share, the need for function and practicality. The focus of my work is centred around functional wear with a greater sense of imagination and being able to break out of the proportions 66°North usually work with which played an important role in the collaboration.”

– Designer, Charlie Constantinou

66°North

‘Ever since Bjarney and I joined 66°North back in 2011, we have been interested in supporting new and emerging designers. Many of these young talents are facing similar challenges; access to capital, manufacturing capacity, and technical people. 66°North can provide all the above coupled with 100 years of experience in making performance wear that needs to keep up in the most demanding weather conditions on earth…Following the launch of our European flagship in London we wanted to find a local talent that we firmly believed did not only have talent but also the ambition to make something spectacular,’ explains CEO Helgi Oskarsson. ‘His incredible design talent is an inspiration to us and captured our imagination.’

– CEO, Helgi Rúnar Óskarsson 59

Partnerships with purpose

Airbag cushions 66°North x Fólk x Studio Flétta For this project 66°North was introduced to

within the car wrecks caught their eye. They

emerging Icelandic interior and lifestyle brand

proposed taking these beautiful discarded

FÓLK by regular collaboration partner Studio

textiles and redrafting them into cushions.

Flétta.

It took two years for FÓLK to find steady

FÓLK is an emerging Icelandic interior and lifestyle brand founded in 2017 that specialises in designs for modern sustainable living. With the vision to enable and inspire people to live a more sustainable lifestyle

sources of airbags in big enough quantities to start production. Outer airbags were sourced from car-junkyards in various countries in Europe, such as Denmark, Iceland and Poland.

FÓLK commissions progressive designers

Once all the fabric for the outer casing

to create smart homeware, furniture and

was gathered they needed a filling for the

lifestyle products focused on sustainability,

cushions and 66°North stepped in to provide

responsibility and transparency around the

repurposed power fill from 66 jackets used

production process. In this example FÓLK

for the filling.

recruited upcycling duo, Studio Flétta and gave them the brief to look for materials in a car part dealership and propose design ideas to breathe new life into discarded items from materials they found there.

Studio Flétta spent some time at the car part dealership and the pastel hued textile remnants of redundant airbags sitting 60

With all the components in place the cushions were then sewn by local Icelandic socio-economic non profit Huset-Venture.

The rope handle is the only item used on the cushion design that is not circular.

Impact Report

Consumption & community

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66°North

63

Consumption & community

During 2023 66°North co-organised events for a range of audiences to help educate about the importance of designing for longevity and keeping goods in circulation, through repair or adaptation, for as long as possible.

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Consumption & community

Are we buying to throw away?

On 23rd November 2023, 66°North, along with

and solutions must be sought to reduce its

the Center for Design and Architecture, and

environmental footprint.

Festa, the Center for Sustainability, convened a group of Icelandic thought leaders for an anti Black Friday symposium. Held at Gróski, Hub of Innovation in Reykjavík, it was attended by academics, students, interested professionals and the general public.

In her talk, Kristín Vala Ragnarsdóttir, a Geologist and Professor at the University of Iceland who spent 30 years living overseas with time spent in the UK, USA, Germany, Norway and France, before returning to Iceland, observed that she has never seen a society as

Posing the question ‘Are We Buying to

driven to follow trends as Iceland, leading to a

Throwaway?’, the purpose of the event was

high level of disposability. Directly addressing

to highlight Icelanders’ own attitudes to

Icelandic consumption patterns she shared

consumption and how unsustainable current

a Phd Student’s thesis that if the whole world

consumption patterns are.

consumed as Icelanders consume, fourteen

Freyr Eyjólfsson, Circular Economy Manager at Icelandic waste management company, SORPA, moderated and speakers included; Hrefna Sigurðardóttir, designer at Studio Fléttu; designers Valdís Steinarsdóttir and Arnar Ingi Viðarssson; Kristín Vala Ragnarsdóttir,

planets would be needed to accommodate humanity. The context of this was the recent EU study documenting that emissions from the production of fashion clothing will increase by 50% by 2030 if production remains constant compared to 2022.

environmental engineer and professor at the

The final discussion of the day focused on

University of Iceland; Bjarney Harðardóttir,

the importance of domestic production, the

co-owner of 66° North; Þorgerður María

importance of educating people with the skills

Þorbjarnardóttir from Landvernd and Elva Rakel

necessary for textile jobs, including repairing

Jónsdóttir, manager of Festa. All emphasised

garments and how technology could be used

similar priorities: that the circular economy

to produce garments from start to finish in

must be activated in the textile industry

Iceland.

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Consumption & community

T-shirt making workshop On the 21st October 2023 Arts & culture centre, Höfuðstöðin, located in Reykjavik, and 66°North joined forces to deliver a fun t-shirt workshop for kids & adults focusing on recycling materials.

66°North provided deadstock tee-shirts that had minor faults in them and so could not be sold along with leftover bits of fabric from production which could be used, for example, to create patchwork designs on the shirts.

Led by artist Sigrún Hrófsdóttir, the workshop explored the idea of what is possible when making something new out of unwanted waste material. Everyone who attended would then take their design home with them.

For 66°North organising workshops like this supports the brand’s ethos of building strong links with families in the community, a vital part of the brand’s DNA, as it has always been so intertwined with the daily lives of Icelanders throughout its history.

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66°North

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Impact Report

Supply chain & people

70

66°North

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Supply chain & people

Ownership of production: Latvia Unusually for the apparel industry, and

Where factories and production typically

almost unique in the outdoors sector

sit within most apparel brands tier 3

specifically, 66°North owns two factories

scope emissions, our two facilities sit

that account for just over half of our

within our tier 1 reporting meaning we

annual production - around 51% in 2023.

have higher levels of responsibility

Located in Latvia, we have owned these facilities since 1999.

This privileged position ensures that we have been able to develop and retain serious ‘know how’, ensuring outstanding quality, that enables us to uphold our ‘made to last’ values. More than that, we have the great advantage of knowing each step of our production processes - from material inputs, to product management and traceability.

Both factories are visited every 12 weeks by our production team as well as visits from our design and development teams throughout the year.

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alongside more control over emissions and waste.

Employing a total of 174 people, our facilities are run in accordance to EU regulations relating to labour laws and workplace health and safety. All factory employees also have labour insurance and are given the option to buy health insurance with 66°North contributing 60% of the cost of this.

66°North

Inese Tuka, who has worked for 66°North for 22 years says that the company is a good place to start from bottom and work up.

“It’s easy to communicate with co-workers in Latvia and Iceland and a good way to develop language,IT and communication skills. Employment at the factory also feels ‘socially secure – salaries in time, taxes strictly according to legislation, health insurance available, work time accessible for employees with small children. Also at age 50 plus its nice to feel in a safe in position.”

Anna Elizabete Zīverte says, “As an employee who has been working at 66°North’s factory for almost three years, commented, ’it must be said that the employer thinks about the working conditions in which the employee works provides everything necessary to improve its quality. Both existing knowledge is valued and helps to grow and develop, there are opportunities for growth. When I came to work for this company, working hours were important. It was important not to have to work on weekends and holidays. In general, I am satisfied, I like my job, working conditions and colleagues.”

In the words of Agnese Grīsle, “After 16 years with the company, I can say that 66°North is the place to work: - With a good reputation - With good working conditions - With a friendly team - With opportunities for growth - there is an opportunity to always learn something new and educate yourself (courses on the latest current actualities) - With flexible and employee-friendly working hours - With guaranteed holidays as needed, considering the working period - With a stable salary, which is always paid on time”

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Supply chain & people

Supply chain overview Alongside our own factories in Latvia we have built a long standing network of trusted suppliers with whom we have worked for a decade or more in many in cases. We only work with partners

“In selecting suppliers, we place equal priority on quality, sustainability, and ethical manufacturing practices, ensuring our partners reflect our brand’s commitment to excellence and responsibility.”

that ensure employee well-being and follow regulations about labor, health and safety of their country.

Each year our suppliers are sent a detailed questionnaire and we use their responses to monitor adherence to internationally accepted environmental and social standards and compliance. This includes a safe and healthy work environment as well as environmental and social responsibility. The purpose of these questionnaires is to establish a measurable path within the company’s supply chain, identify gaps and offer education and share best practice.

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Eva Lillý Bjarndal Einarsdóttir, Head of Production, 66°North

ICELAND 0.5%

PORTUGAL 11.7%

CHINA 26.6%

ESTONIA 1.1%

POLAND 3.2%

SPECIAL PROJECTS

DOWN PARKAS T-SHIRTS SWEATS

DOWN PARKAS COATS SHELL JACKETS PPANTS ACCESS. KNITTED (CLOTHING+ ACCESS.)

SHELL JACKETS COATS

ACCESSORIES

LATVIA 51.6%

ROMENIA 2.3%

ITALY 3.0%

WORKWEAR FISHERMAN CLOTHING SHELLL JACKETS PANTS/BIBS SOFTSHELL JACKETS AND PANTS MID LAYER/BASE LAYER BOTH IN FLLEECE AND OTHER FARBICS

ACCESSORIES KNITTED SWEATERS

ACCESSORIES

Impact Report

Operations reporting

76

66°North

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Operations reporting

Carbon reporting 2023 66°North continues to use Klappir

The increase to our Scope 3 emissions

Sustainability Management Reporting

has been driven by increased

Software to gather and track our carbon

international business travel as 66°North

data. This is then verified by Nasdaq’s

seeks to expand operations overseas

ESG Reporting Guide in alignment with

mainly in the UK and Denmark but also,

the principles of the Greenhouse Gas

towards the end of 2023, the United

Protocol Standards.

States.

During 2023 our data resulted in

A proportion of the Scope 3 increases is

documented increases of 3.4% and

also attributed to an increase in unsorted

6.4% in our Scope 1 and Scope 3

waste in Iceland. Unsorted waste is

emissions respectively.

waste that cannot be extracted for

Meanwhile, for the same period, we are

recycling.

pleased to report that we were able to

Meanwhile, the decrease we were able

reduce our Scope 2 emissions by 17.6%

to record in our Scope 2 emissions was

The increase to our Scope 1 emissions is primarily attributable to an increase in the use of gas to heat our Latvian facilities due to weather changes - a

due to a reduction in the use of electricity within in Iceland. This is thanks to switching the majority of our lighting sources to LED.

more intense, and longer cold period.

The graph shows three consecutive

through the winter months. With no

years of data starting with our baseline

green renewable energy infrastructure in

recorded in 2021.

Latvia we unfortunately have no current alternative than to rely on gas as our heating source.

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66°North

2023 SCOPE 1, 2, 3 TOTAL 881,3

2022 SCOPE 1, 2, 3 TOTAL 746,3

648,4 609,1 2021 SCOPE 1, 2, 3 TOTAL 746,3

455,3

230,7

177,3

171,4

60,3

67,5

55,6 79

Operations reporting

Waste During 2023 we continued to build on the work we initiated with waste management consultancy, Pure North in 2022 when we conducted a comprehensive waste audit and establish a waste action plan.

While developing circular solutions remains a top priority for the business, we acknowledge that responsible waste management runs alongside this and we are working hard to improve recycling rates and eliminate waste-tolandfill at our stores and offices.

In 2022 the scope of the audit encompassed our headquarters in Garðabær and 4 stores: Hafnarstæti, Skipagata, Faxafen and Miðhraun. During 2023 we asked Pure North to conduct a review of our Latvian facilities.

In 2022 we achieved a classification rate of 75%, and mixed waste (that cannot be recycled) was 22% - this is below average. In 2023 while we reduced our overall total waste by 5718 kg (a 15% reduction), we did not meet our 15% reduction target for unsortable waste instead finishing the year with a total of 32% mixed waste overshooting our target by 17%.

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66°North

11010 KG MIXED WASTE 10262 KG MIXED RECYCLABLES

31579 KG TOTAL WASTE

6204 KG RECYCLABLE PAPER

2189 KG RECYCLABLE PLASTIC

1680 KG ORGANIC WASTE

152 KG RECYCLABLE APPLIANCES

82 KG HAZARDOUS WASTE

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66°North

In our continuous pursuit of

The current state of waste management

sustainability and environmental

not only poses environmental concerns

responsibility, we embarked on a

but also presents significant financial

collaborative venture with Pure North

implications. The cost of waste disposal,

to conduct a factory visit in Latvia. The

coupled with the inefficiencies in

objective was to closely examine the

existing waste reduction methodologies,

waste management practices at the

highlights an urgent need for cost-

66°North facility, with a special focus on

effective solutions that can minimize

enhancing efficiency and discovering

waste volume and facilitate its diversion

viable avenues for repurposing fabric

from landfills.

remnants, thereby preventing them from contributing to landfill accumulation.

In light of these findings, a critical decision point arises: whether to invest

A significant portion of the waste

further in the refinement of waste sorting

generated at the 66°North factory

processes. This decision hinges on

comprised textile scraps, a bi-product

a careful evaluation of potential cost

of the garment manufacturing process.

savings and environmental benefits,

This discovery underscored the need for

aiming to strike a balance between

innovative waste management strategies

economic viability and ecological

tailored to the unique challenges of

stewardship.

textile waste.

Our visit to the 66°North facility in Latvia

One of the primary challenges

has been instrumental in shedding light

encountered was the complex task of

on the pressing issues surrounding

material separation. The diversity of

textile waste management. It has

fabrics used in 66°North’s production

catalyzed a dialogue on the importance

line necessitates a sophisticated

of adopting more sustainable practices

sorting system to effectively segregate

and has set the stage for exploring

different types of textile waste. This

innovative solutions that align with

complexity is compounded by the limited

our commitment to environmental

infrastructure for waste management

sustainability.

in Latvia, characterized by a dearth of comprehensive data on waste streams and an absence of standardized measures for waste quantification.

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Operations reporting

Packaging As in 2022, during 2023 66°North continued to source all its packaging through circular packaging specialists - Embacollage Since 2020, all our paper based e-commerce packaging has been made out of FSC® paper. FSC-certification on any paper packaging ensures that it has been made using wood from responsibly managed forests. Our plastic shopping bags and packaging have transitioned from virgin plastic to 100% recycled plastic and we have additionally worked to optimise packaging to reduce sizes in an effort to use less raw materials to do the same job.

In our 2022 report we stated by that by 2024 it was our goal that all packaging would be 100% reusable, recyclable and or compostable.

During 2023 sought advice from our waste management partner Sorpa (Iceland’s largest waste management company), regarding the possibility of using of compostable packaging including white compostable ziplock bags.

Unfortunately Sorpa advised that such materials cause disruptions in their processing system. On this basis, we are continuing to focus on recyclable plastics in some instances, as the most workable option aligned to our sustainability goals, available to us at this time.

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66°North

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Operations reporting

People 66°North endeavours to walk the walk

Our company management and ethos

not just talk the talk with regard to

is referential of Iceland’s world leading

upholding Icelandic values. Nowhere is

gender and human rights laws, and

this more apparent than in our people

is reflected in the joint ownership

policy.

of 66°North by husband and wife

As a business operating within one of the world’s most gender equal

team Helgi Oskarrson and Bjarney Harðardóttir.

countries, we place strong emphasis on

Add in stats around gender split

providing equal opportunities within the

and pay data / number of women in

workplace regardless of gender. We do

management. Same as last year

this by ensuring that the gender ratio in management positions, departments, and stores is as equal as possible. We also offer flexibility in relation to working hours so that our people between work and personal life, especially when it comes to balancing work and parenting responsibilities.

Equality isn’t limited to gender, however, Our policies exist for the benefit of all working within the company, regardless

Our policy is prepared in accordance with Act No. 150/2020. The Equal Rights Committee, which operates within the company, supports management and ensures that the policy is followed.

We conduct an annual employee satisfaction survey provided by VR, the largest union in Iceland, with the aim to improve our employee satisfaction from year to year.

of national origin, religion, age, place of residence, sexual orientation, race, or other.

66°North stats: - 63% of management positions currently held by women - 80% of workforce are women

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66°North

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Thank you for reading

66°North Impact Report 2023

66°07’44.9”N 23°31’20.1”W