ENVIRONMENT, MATERIALS and RESPONSIBILITY at Grüezi bag®
what does that mean to you?
When you buy a Grüezi bag® product, you're not just getting a sleeping bag or a jacket. You're getting a product that we've carefully considered and tested, asking ourselves many questions beforehand:
- Is this material really suitable for outdoor use?
- Does it feel pleasant on the skin?
- Does it help in humid conditions and fluctuating temperatures?
- Is it durable enough for regular use?
- Can the product be maintained, repaired, or refilled?
- Are the materials sustainable, and is the sustainable option also durable?
Because outdoor equipment shouldn't just sound good in the shop, it should also work outdoors.
Products made from as much natural materials as possible
Many customers want outdoor products made from as many natural materials as possible – without compromising on functionality, comfort, and durability. This is precisely the standard we pursue with selected Grüezi bag® products.
For us, nothing is as good as nature – when the right natural material is used for the right purpose. That's why we use natural materials where they make technical sense: for insulation, sleeping climate, skin contact, or moisture regulation.
Where a functional component such as a zipper, yarn or technical outer fabric is needed, we choose the solution that suits the product's lifespan and function.
Your advantageYou get products that combine as much natural material as possible with genuine outdoor functionality.
For us, nothing is as good as nature – when the right natural material is used for the right purpose. That's why we use natural materials where they make technical sense: for insulation, sleeping climate, skin contact, or moisture regulation.
Where a functional component such as a zipper, yarn or technical outer fabric is needed, we choose the solution that suits the product's lifespan and function.
Your advantageYou get products that combine as much natural material as possible with genuine outdoor functionality.
RDS-certified down
Down is one of the most efficient natural insulating materials. It is very light, highly compressible, and can trap a lot of insulating air. That's why we use it in many sleeping bags, jackets, and duvets.
For products containing down, we use RDS-certified down. The Responsible Down Standard, or RDS for short, is an independent standard for animal welfare and traceability in the down supply chain. Among other things, it includes requirements for the treatment of ducks and geese and prohibits live plucking and force-feeding.
The down we use is a byproduct of food production. No animals are bred or slaughtered specifically for their down in our sleeping bags or jackets.
Your advantageYou get the high warmth and low weight of down - with a documented standard for animal welfare and traceability.
Mulesing-free European wool
Wool is a particularly valuable functional material for us. It can absorb and release moisture, supports a balanced sleeping or body climate, and feels pleasant even under changing conditions.
For our wool insulation, we rely on European wool, primarily from the Alpine region. The wool we use, including lavalan® wool insulation (whose origin is traceable via Track & Trace), is mulesing-free.
For our wool insulation, we rely on European wool, primarily from the Alpine region. The wool we use, including lavalan® wool insulation (whose origin is traceable via Track & Trace), is mulesing-free.
Sheep are regularly sheared; their wool is therefore a naturally renewable resource. We ensure that our wool materials have traceable origins and are produced in an animal-friendly manner.
Your advantageWool helps to better balance moisture and temperature - especially in changeable weather, condensation in the tent, as well as nights by the water or longer use while traveling.
The better down
70% down
Nothing insulates as well as down.
Super light
packs small
30% wool
regulates the temperature
Remains warm when damp
antibacterial
DownWool®
Best of Both Worlds
as light and packable as pure down
Better insulation even in humid conditions
climate balancing
DownWool®: Down and wool cleverly combined
DownWool® is our patented combination of down and wool. The down provides light weight, excellent compressibility, and high thermal performance. The wool supports moisture regulation and helps keep the climate inside the sleeping bag or jacket drier and more balanced.
Especially outdoors, moisture is a crucial factor: condensation in the tent, humid air, fluctuating temperatures, or longer hikes can all affect insulation. The wool content relieves the down by allowing moisture to be absorbed and regulated more effectively.
Our DownWool® filling is bonded purely mechanically in Germany and does not require any chemical hydrophobization of the down.
Your advantageDownWool® combines the lightness of down with the climate-regulating advantage of wool - for a pleasantly dry and comfortable sleeping environment.
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100: materials tested for harmful substances
Many of our products and materials are tested according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100. This standard stands for textile products and components that are tested for certain substances that are harmful to health.
This is especially important for sleeping bags, jackets and duvets, because you have direct contact with the inner fabric, outer fabric, filling or other components for many hours.
Your advantage: Greater safety during skin contact - especially with products you sleep in or wear directly on your body.
Certification: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, certificate number
OEKO-TEX clothing: 24.HDE.38124
OEKO-TEX sleeping bags: 23.HDE.74998
PFC/PFAS-free impregnations
Outdoor products have to withstand a lot in use. Outer fabrics should be lightweight, robust, breathable, and water-repellent. At the same time, we want to avoid PFC/PFAS-containing impregnations.
Therefore, we use PFC/PFAS-free impregnations in appropriately equipped products. Depending on the product, different solutions are used, for example ECOPERL CN-08 by CHT, BIONIC-FINISH® ECO with RUCO®-DRY ECO PLUS, or Zelan™ R3.
Water repellency is not the only important factor for us. The impregnation should impair the breathability of the fabric as little as possible, so that the sleeping bag or jacket feels comfortable and moisture can escape more easily.
Your advantage: Protection against light moisture and a more pleasant climate inside the product - without PFC/PFAS-containing impregnation.
Recycled and durable outer fabrics
We use robust, lightweight, and recycled nylon fabrics in many of our products. But for us, it's not enough that a fabric is recycled. It also has to meet technical requirements: tear-resistant, abrasion-resistant, downproof, comfortable against the skin, and durable.
Our ultralight outer and inner fabrics, used in many products, are made from robust 20 denier 380T nylon derived from recycled polyamide. To make the fabric downproof, it is passed over hot rollers, mechanically narrowing the pores. This allows the fabric to be downproof and windproof without the need for a traditional plastic coating.
Your advantage: The fabric remains light, soft and breathable - and is designed for regular outdoor use.
Colors and textile finishing
We also pay attention to quality and tested standards when it comes to paints and finishes. Where applicable, we use high-quality dyes such as BEMACID from the Cradle to Cradle by CHT range or bluesign®-certified solutions.
It's not just about beautiful colors. Outdoor products must remain lightfast, colorfast, and durable. At the same time, fabrics should retain their breathability and pleasant feel.
Your advantage: Colors that look good, last a long time and match the technical requirements of the product.
WoodWool: Wool with wood fiber
Our WoodWool shirts combine wool with lyocell. The wood fibers are obtained through a manufacturing process in which 99,8% of the necessary production materials are biodegradable.
The combination of wool and lyocell makes the material soft, pleasant on the skin and more robust than pure wool.
Your advantage: A shirt with a comfortable feel, good moisture management and high suitability for everyday use.
SilkWool: recycled silk and wool
Our SilkWool products incorporate recycled Italian silk, among other materials. Combined with wool, this creates insulation that is pleasantly lightweight and suitable for a wide range of uses.
Wool can absorb moisture and helps create a balanced body climate. Silk enhances comfort and makes the insulation supple.
Your advantage: A natural functional insulation with a comfortable feel and a wide comfort range.
Transport routes and production facilities
We strive to regionalize supply chains wherever technically and qualitatively feasible. DownWool® is manufactured in Germany. lavalan® AlmWolle is also processed in Germany. The raw materials for DownWool® and AlmWolle originate from Europe.
Deliveries to customers in Germany are made using DHL GoGreen Plus.
At the same time, we're honest: not every production step can currently be carried out in Europe to the desired quality. The processing is particularly challenging with very light, thin fabrics. Our 20 g/m² fabrics are significantly lighter than a normal sheet of paper. This requires specialized sewing workshops that can work with great precision.
For these products, we collaborate with long-standing partners in the Shanghai region. We know our producers personally and maintain close, long-term relationships. The quality of the seams directly impacts a product's lifespan, which is why we make no compromises in their processing.
Durability: use, maintain, repair
A durable product needs to be replaced less often. Therefore, for us, the best solution is not always the material that sounds most natural at first glance, but rather the product that lasts a long time, is easy to care for, and is actually used in everyday life.
We pay attention to robust outer fabrics, high-quality yarns, precise seams, and careful workmanship. For very thin fabrics, we use round needles and sew deliberately slowly to protect the material.
We offer repair options for many products. For selected products, we also offer a filling refill service. In addition, we provide care and washing instructions to ensure that sleeping bags, jackets, and blankets are properly washed, dried, and stored.
Your advantage: You can use your product for longer, maintain it better, and have it repaired if necessary.
Children's sleeping bags that grow with them
Children grow quickly. That's why our children's sleeping bags are designed to be lengthened using a zipper. This allows them to be used for a longer period of time.
Your advantage: A children's sleeping bag that fits for a longer time and doesn't need to be replaced after a short period of time.
DownWool Nature: Sleeping bag with the highest possible proportion of natural materials.
Our customers repeatedly expressed a desire for a sleeping bag made from as much natural material as possible. This led to the creation of our DownWool® Nature.
This sleeping bag is made entirely from natural materials. Apart from functional components like the zipper, the sleeping bag consists of natural materials. The DownWool® insulation combines down and wool: down ensures low weight and good compressibility, while wool supports moisture regulation and a pleasantly balanced sleeping climate.
Your advantage: A sleeping bag with the highest possible proportion of natural materials, a pleasant sleeping climate and high comfort for camping, van life, roof tents and nights outdoors.
DownWool Ice Compostable: even the end of life is considered
What happens to a product when it can no longer be repaired or reused? This question is an integral part of our product development process.
With the DownWool® Ice Compostable, we have demonstrated that a high-performance sleeping bag can also be designed with end-of-life considerations in mind. The sleeping bag was developed to be compostable under defined anaerobic conditions. According to the relevant documentation, the product can decompose within 200 days under these conditions.
Important: This does not mean that a sleeping bag can simply be thrown into the garden compost. Compostability always depends on clearly defined conditions and should only be communicated together with the appropriate test or certificate.
NOTE: The production costs are still too high for this product, so we have discontinued the model for the time being until we find a solution that is more cost-effective and affordable for the end customer.
Multifunctionality through wool
Insulation fillings containing wool offer a wide range of uses. Wool can absorb and release moisture, thus helping to maintain a balanced climate. This is helpful in fluctuating temperatures, high humidity, condensation inside the tent, or on longer trips.
A product with a wide comfort range can be used more often – for example, in different seasons, climates, or travel situations. This makes it more versatile and can reduce the need to buy a separate product for each individual situation.
Your advantage: More possible uses for one product - and therefore more benefits over its entire lifespan.
Climate protection: measure, reduce, provide additional support
We are working to better understand our emissions and reduce them step by step. To this end, we have created a greenhouse gas inventory. It helps us identify key emission sources and derive targeted measures.
In addition, we support projects for the establishment and maintenance of climate-resilient mixed forests with "Waldemarie" in Germany. Such projects are not a substitute for our own reduction measures, but rather an additional contribution.
Your advantage: We work with measurable data and concrete projects, instead of just making general climate promises.
Long-standing supply chains and vetted production partners
Outdoor products consist of many individual components: fabrics, fillings, zippers, yarns, straps, buckles, labels, and packaging. These components don't always come from a single country. That's why it's important to consciously consider the supply chain.
We work with many production partners on a long-term basis and know our key manufacturers personally. When selecting production facilities, we prioritize quality, reliability, and social standards. Manufacturing plants are audited according to amfori BSCI standards.
Your advantage: We select our partners not only based on the lowest price, but also on quality, reliability and verifiable standards.
We work with many production partners on a long-term basis and know our key manufacturers personally. When selecting production facilities, we prioritize quality, reliability, and social standards. Manufacturing plants are audited according to amfori BSCI standards.
Your advantage: We select our partners not only based on the lowest price, but also on quality, reliability and verifiable standards.
your questions
What does RDS mean in the context of down?
RDS stands for Responsible Down Standard. This standard includes requirements for animal welfare and traceability in the down supply chain. Among other things, live plucking and force-feeding are not permitted under the RDS.
Is your wool mulesing-free?
Yes, the European wool we use, or lavalan® AlmWolle, is mulesing-free.
Are your products OEKO-TEX® certified?
Many of our products and materials are certified according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100. Please refer to the specific information on the respective product page or in the product data sheet.
Are your products impregnated with PFC/PFAS-free impregnation?
For appropriately equipped products, we use PFC/PFAS-free impregnations. The exact composition may vary depending on the product.
Why don't you use only natural materials?
Because an outdoor product has to function reliably. Sometimes a natural material is the best solution, sometimes a lightweight, robust, or recycled performance fabric makes more sense. We decide based on the intended use, ensuring that comfort, function, weight, durability, and care are all perfectly balanced.
Why is longevity so important?
A product that is used for a long time needs to be replaced less often. That's why we pay attention to robust materials, good workmanship, repair options, and clear care instructions.
RDS stands for Responsible Down Standard. This standard includes requirements for animal welfare and traceability in the down supply chain. Among other things, live plucking and force-feeding are not permitted under the RDS.
Is your wool mulesing-free?
Yes, the European wool we use, or lavalan® AlmWolle, is mulesing-free.
Are your products OEKO-TEX® certified?
Many of our products and materials are certified according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100. Please refer to the specific information on the respective product page or in the product data sheet.
Are your products impregnated with PFC/PFAS-free impregnation?
For appropriately equipped products, we use PFC/PFAS-free impregnations. The exact composition may vary depending on the product.
Why don't you use only natural materials?
Because an outdoor product has to function reliably. Sometimes a natural material is the best solution, sometimes a lightweight, robust, or recycled performance fabric makes more sense. We decide based on the intended use, ensuring that comfort, function, weight, durability, and care are all perfectly balanced.
Why is longevity so important?
A product that is used for a long time needs to be replaced less often. That's why we pay attention to robust materials, good workmanship, repair options, and clear care instructions.
Our credentials at a glance
| Area | What we use | Proof / Certificate number | What it means to you |
|---|---|---|---|
| natural materials | Wool, down, organic cotton, lyocell, recycled silk | See below | Use as much natural material as possible where it makes technical sense. |
| RDS-certified down | RDS certification number: TE-00105267 | Animal welfare and traceability standard for down | |
| Mulesing-free European wool / lavalan® Alpine wool | AlmWolle, wool: mulesing-free, European wool | Natural insulation with good moisture and temperature regulation | |
| Wood fibre compounds | The fiber is made from wood from certified sources. In the production process, more than 99,8% of the solvent used is recovered and reused. | More resource-efficient manufacturing methods for your WoodWool product | |
| organic cotton | Proof available | Natural fiber from controlled organic cultivation in selected products | |
| Recycled materials | 100% recycled nylon as outer and inner material, recycled silk from Italy | Proof available | Use of recycled materials where technically feasible |
| Pollutant testing | OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified for many products/materials |
Sleeping bag certificate number: 23.HDE.74998 Hohenstein Clothing certificate number: 24.HDE.38124 Hohenstein |
Textile components tested for relevant pollutants |
| If required, priming or impregnation. | PFC/PFAS-free water-repellent finishes |
Evidence available for CHT Evidence available for Zelan™ R3 Proof available for BIONIC-FINISH® ECO with RUCO®-DRY ECO PLUS |
The water-repellent finish is silicone-free and contains some bio-based raw materials. |
| Colors | BEMACID dyes from CHT | Evidence available: Use of selected BEMACID dyes. Certain dyes have recognized certifications or conformities such as bluesign® APPROVED and Cradle to Cradle® Material Health certificates. | Long-lasting color quality and tested textile finishing |
| Product lifespan | Repair service, care instructions, refill service for selected products |
https://www.gz-bag.de/pages/schlafsack-waschen-ratgeber https://www.gz-bag.de/pages/schlafsack-jacken-reparatur |
Use products longer instead of replacing them prematurely |
| Climate | Greenhouse gas balance + forest project support |
https://www.gz-bag.de/pages/treibhausgasbilanz https://www.gz-bag.de/pages/tierwohl-naturschutz |
Basis for reduction measures and supplementary support |
| Production | Long-standing partners, amfori BSCI audits | Proof available | Social standards and improved traceability in the supply chain |
