Sustainability is a Commitment, Not an End Game.

It’s all about the approach shot.

So let’s get this out of the way first, just so everyone's on the same page ... there’s no one magic solution that fits all when it comes to sustainability.  A sustainable future is a moving target, but we knew that when we started Radmor. We also knew that we need to do more, as a sport and as an industry. Quite simply, we can all do better.

 

We asked ourselves this question for almost a decade before bringing Radmor to life as a company and a brand. Our mission is to make amazing products that you can feel great about, not just because they look amazing and perform well, but because they take into consideration the impact on our environment, our health, and our collective wellbeing. We advocate that we can all do more by consuming less. Consuming less polyester, less synthetic material, less plastic, less 'new or virgin material' and instead turn to recycled and renewable, more sustainable solutions.

 

But finding the perfect approach to ‘sustainability’ is like hitting a 40’ putt to a hole that’s constantly moving; it’s essentially impossible as there simply isn't one solution that works for everything. Sustainability is not a game of perfect at all, it's a game of 'better'. It starts by recognizing the issues we're facing, determining what options put us on a better trajectory, and subsequently making some difficult choices that benefit the greater good. 

 

We think of design practically. We make apparel we want to wear, while trying to a solution. Using less problematic materials, thinking about end of product lifecycle, and trying to reduce our environmental impact all make our golf apparel better.

We start by avoiding the use of virgin polyester, always. Less than 15% of our collection use synthetic fibers, but we recognize that consumers expect them, and we’re realists.If we have to use a synthetic material then it has to be a high quality solution like certified recycled REPREVE polyester made from ocean plastic or ECONYL nylon made from recycled nylon fishing nets.

The the vast majority of our garments are made from either BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) cotton, certified organic cotton, or our favorite, non-GMO ELS (extra-long staple) Pima cotton from Peru. Sure it’s more expensive, but it’s stronger, lighter, and lasts longer than other cottons.

We also work with partners to certify our materials, including Oeko-Tex, WRAP, CIT, and GOTS to name a few.

Let’s face it , the average American throws away 80 lbs. of clothing each year. That accounts for more than 11 million tons of clothing waste, most of it ending up in landfills because it can’t be recycled. The majority of that clothing waste is made from synthetic polyester. Polyester takes decades if not centuries to decompose in a landfill, and what’s left is PET micro-plastic. Polyester is plastic, it’s forever. We think there’s a better solution ...

At Radmor the vast majority of our products are made from natural cellulose fibers like Cotton, or cellulose fibers like Tencel which are made from wood pulp. In a landfill these yarns decompose in months rather than decades, and because they’re bio-based organic matter, the impact on the environment is drastically lessoned.

 

The future of sustainability is a circular ecosystem, where you eliminate waste and reduce, reuse, recycle, and reproduce. The world is still a long way from being circular, so we've focused our energy eliminating the use of single-use plastics in everything from polybags to hangtags. Our shipping bags are designed to be used more than once and are completely biodegradable and compostable, while our hangtags are made from recycled paper, and are designed to be used as a ball marker and practice cup.  Even our garment labels are made from recycled materials.

Thinking through each process, evaluating, simplifying, and reevaluating is our commitment to doing better and making a difference.

 

All garments shed microfibers. But one of the worst things about synthetics like polyester is that is sheds plastic microfibers. Every time you wash a polyester shirt, thousands of tiny plastic microfibers are shed. They’re so small that your washing machine is unable to trap the fibers in its filter, so they ultimately wash out to the ocean, ending up in our food and water, and creating one of the most significant pollution problems the earth has ever known.

What’s worse? Studies show that these polyester microfibers are being shed every time you swing a club, mark a ball, and play a round, literally every time you move. Natural microfibers on the other hand, break down quickly and much more efficiently, due to their organic composition. Another reason to wear Radmor.

 

We’ve always believed that making a difference starts with the culture you create and with the community you engage. We recognize that our company culture is a direct reflection of our brand, and as such, we view them as one and the same.

From our Golf Everyday Policy, which is less a mandate than an inspirational motivator to get outside, swing a club, engage with nature, to our RadCycling initiative which repairs damaged and well-worn products and provides them to people in need, to our support of several 501c3’s around the United States, we’re striving to make our company and our community a better place for everyone.

 

We only work with verified suppliers who meet or surpass our expectations for safe and healthy working conditions, fair wages and labor practices, while upholding our commitment to the environment.