Mind your Bs and ZQs SPEEDMACHINE REBOOT

We all want to buy products that are gentle on the Earth and fair to the people who make them. However, recognizing these stars in a rack of jackets or a wall of skis is anything but obvious. Help is coming in a multitude of certifications. Like organic food, these third-party organizations work with companies and supply chains to verify high standards for different aspects of the materials, labour practices and corporate behaviour. From knowing where the wool or down keeping you warm in your Glerups and Helly Hansen came from or that the workers who sewed your Patagonia or Arc’teryx jacket were fairly paid, many brands proudly proclaim their corporate responsibility. To understand the hangtags in the shop, read on.

B Corporation: In order to become certified, businesses have to balance profit with purpose. They have to have high social and environmental ethics, and are transparent, inclusive and accountable. They drive change through leadership within their head offices, with their customers and in their communities. bcorporation.net

Bluesign: Its focus is on reducing harmful chemicals and manufacturing processes in textiles. A Bluesign hangtag means the fabric that went into

a jacket or pant is more sustainable. There are two labels: Bluesign Product means every piece of fabric in a garment is approved; Bluesign Approved means only some of the components are. bluesign.com

Climate Neutral: This certification helps brands measure their carbon footprint, offset it and develop plans to reduce it. A progressive process, it requires companies to improve annually. Last year it helped offset 683,626 tonnes of carbon. climateneutral.org

Fairtrade: Focused on workers in developing countries, Fairtrade ensures any hands that helped farm, sew or touch a product were compensated fairly, paid a decent wage and had good working conditions. It covers everything from food to textiles, including many brands of clothing. fairtrade.net

Responsible Down Standard: Live plucking of geese and ducks was the big concern that led to industry-wide standards for down, but RDS certification also covers other animal-welfare concerns, working conditions on farms and helps with chain of custody throughout the supply line. textileexchange.org

Responsible Wool Standard: RWS certifies everyone in the wool supply chain, from the farmer to the garment factory, for everything from animal welfare to labour practices.

It’s managed by the Textile Exchange, the same industry group that runs RDS. textileexchange.org

ZQ: Like RWS, this standard developed by New Zealand’s wool industry includes animal welfare, environmental and social sustainability, as well as adding traceability. Scan a QR code on some ZQ products to learn about the farm where the wool keeping you warm came from. discoverzq.com

Nordica revamped the Speedmachine in 2016 with modern materials and construction, and this year it gets another makeover, starting with the shell. A hard plastic skeleton starts under the foot and gradually rises up and around the heel, providing seamless power transfer, while softer plastic wraps around the arch to make entry easier. A third density of plastic wraps the rest of the foot and extends up the shin. A luxurious liner blends cork, EVA reinforcements and adjustable tongue to fine-tune fit and sensitivity. It comes in three high-performance models for men, and two in women-specific shapes. From $350; nordica com