Before committing to durability as our core strategy, we wanted the full picture on sustainability in outdoor gear and product design. This meant challenging our assumptions, gathering facts rather than just confirming our beliefs, and staying current with research. We built an approach worth backing completely. You can read more about this research in our blog post about durability.
Why Durable Product Design Matters
"Durability is the ultimate sustainability."
When products last, everyone wins. You need fewer replacements, fewer resources are extracted, and less waste is buried. Building for durability and repair is our priority because we know it delivers the best result for you and for the environment.
How We Approach Durability
Brevn uses a design framework called the Durability Code.
It guides decisions early. Before tooling, before materials are chosen, before a product shape is locked in. The aim is simple: build gear that survives real conditions, can be fixed by the user, and comes apart easily at the end of its life.
Working this way slows development and forces tough choices. Often a faster path is available, but if taking the slower path means your product lasts longer, we take it.
The Three Core Commitments
Every Brevn product is shaped by three commitments:
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The product should outlast its expected life.
We test for abrasion, UV exposure, corrosion, vibration, and repeated stress, adjusting materials and geometry whenever weaknesses show up. -
Users should be able to repair common failures.
Parts must be available and easy to change. A simple repair should restore full function without requiring special tools. -
Every part should separate for recycling.
Fused materials cannot be recycled. If different materials cannot be separated, they end up in landfill. We design for disassembly from day one.
Supporting Design Principles
To deliver on these commitments, alongside our design philosophy, we follow four practical design principles:
Design for Disassembly: Parts must come apart easily. We avoid fused materials and irreversible adhesives that lock components together forever.
Engineer for Repair: Replacement parts should be accessible and the repair process straightforward for the user.
Recyclable by Design: Materials must match existing recycling systems, not theoretical ones. If local facilities can process it, we consider it. If they can't, we move on.
Build for Emotional Durability: Gear that earns trust tends to be kept, maintained, and passed on. That human behaviour extends lifespan more reliably than any marketing claim.
Why Doesn't Everyone Do This?
This way of working takes more effort and costs more, so it is not always a priority for other brands. Designing for disassembly and repair requires time most companies do not want to spend. We do it because it makes better products and minimizes our impact on the planet.
Less Waste, Fewer Emissions
Designing for longevity and reuse cuts both waste and emissions. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's 2021 report a circular, durability-first design is one of the most effective paths toward net-zero.[1]
What This Means in Practice
Durability isn't infinite. Water, heat, sand, vibration, and UV exposure mean everything wears down eventually. Our goal is to slow that curve as much as engineering allows.
Because regional recycling access varies, we must also plan for the end. An "Our World in Data" report shows that only around 9% of the world's plastic waste is actually recycled, while half goes straight to landfill.[2] To fight this, we commit to making recycling as easy as possible when our products finally reach the end of their service life.
New materials emerge constantly. We watch the science closely and will adapt whenever we find a proven improvement. You can learn more about our materials research in this article about plastics.
Sources
[1] Ellen MacArthur Foundation – Completing the Picture: How the Circular Economy Tackles Climate Change (2019). Explores how durability, reuse, and circular design reduce lifecycle emissions and support climate goals.
https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/completing-the-picture
[2] Our World in Data – Plastic Pollution. Global data showing recycling rates, landfill rates, and waste flows. Only ~9% of plastic is recycled globally; ~50% goes to landfill.
https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution
[3] IPCC – Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Provides analysis on how material efficiency and product lifespan influence emissions.
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3/