Ridge was born on a cold autumn day in 2014. It was the beginning of a small, family business focused on developing the highest quality Merino wool base layers designed to make everyone feel more comfortable outside.
But that's not all. The things we cared about, our very ethos, centered around the "two Ps" - people and planet. From the start, we have been dedicated to building a company that's as sustainable as possible.
We're constantly trying to minimize our environmental impact in all aspects of our business - from operational efficiency, to the natural materials we source, to carbon offsetting. We have also partnered with like-minded brands through our Ridge Collective collaboration, and we give back to charity organizations that work to make the world a better place.
Here's a quick snapshot of what we've accomplished and our continued commitment to this effort.
🌿 Since we started Ridge, we’ve been a member of 1% for the Planet, a global movement of more than 1,200 member companies in 48 countries, all donating at least 1% of annual sales to environmental nonprofits. With every Ridge purchase, our customers directly contribute to awesome charities that are making a difference, such as Protect Our Winters, Waterkeeper Alliance, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Earth Guardians and The Access Fund, to name a few.
🌿 Sustainability is a key part of the Ridge Merino promise. We strive to innovate, using all-natural fabric and materials whenever possible. Most of our products are made mostly - or entirely - of Merino wool, a natural, renewable and biodegradable fiber produced from the Merino breed of sheep. Our eco-friendly TENCEL™ products are made from a renewable wood pulp harvested from sustainable forest plantations in an award-winning closed loop process. Products are developed with minimal environmental impact and waste generation and with the most efficient use of water, energy and other resources. Because they are of botanic origin, TENCEL fibers are biodegradable and compostable and fully revert back to nature.
🌿 We were the first company in our area to achieve Green Business Certification from the California Green Business Network. To receive this certification, businesses must demonstrate sustainable and environmentally-friendly business practices. We’re proud to have Ridge held to this higher standard, and it was a natural next step for our company.
🌿 We offer a carbon-offset shipping option. This means that for any carbon emissions released into the atmosphere as a result of shipping items from Ridge, we invest in projects that reduce carbon emissions by the same amount. These projects include efforts to eliminate carbon from the atmosphere (e.g. planting trees); and renewable energy efforts, which prevent carbon from being emitted in the first place.
🌿 Our newly launched Ridge Collective collaboration in Mammoth Lakes, Calif. features super cool partner brands who operate in a similar manner, including All Good, MIIR, Pendleton, Joyous Organics and Sunski.
We're proud of what we've built over the past seven years. But we know we can always do more, and we plan to! We appreciate your continued support and believe that if we all work together towards positive change, we can make the world a better, healthier place.
"We love the outdoors and know that that decisions we make today will impact our world tomorrow." - Ridge Merino
