Let’s be honest—brands are great at selling gear, but not always so great at what happens next. Once your jacket rips or your waders spring a leak, you’re usually on your own. That’s where Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) comes in—and we’re fully here for it.
A recent CBC News feature highlighted just how fast this idea is picking up steam. From France to California, governments are telling brands: if you made it, you help clean it up.
And guess what? At Gear re-Store, we’ve been doing exactly that—no legislation required.
What is EPR, anyway?
In plain speak: EPR makes brands responsible for the products they sell—even after you’re done using them. Think:
- Fees based on the amount of clothing sold
- Incentives for making stuff that’s built to last
- Take-back or repair programs to keep things out of the landfill
It’s about giving gear a longer life, and making the industry finally clean up its act.
We’re not new to this—we’ve built our business around it
At Gear re-Store, we repair over 10,000 pieces of gear every year—everything from winter jackets and technical outerwear to tactical gear, fishing waders, and wetsuits.
Our repair team works across North America, with industrial sewing machines, shelves of rainbow zippers, and years of expertise in outdoor gear repair, warranty fulfillment, and brand partnerships.
Why this conversation matters right now
Black Friday sales may have come and gone—but those impulse buys stick around. Literally. Landfills are full of gear that could’ve been repaired, reused, or responsibly processed.
And while “recycling” gets the spotlight, most clothing is hard to recycle. Blends, coatings, and tech fabrics don’t just disappear.
Repair is the missing link—and the smartest fix.
How brands can actually do something
If you’re a brand thinking about how to reduce waste and meet customer expectations around sustainability, repair isn’t just nice—it’s necessary. And with policies like EPR rolling out, it’s quickly becoming non-negotiable.
We offer brands:
- Scalable repair solutions for warranty and resale programs
- Expertise in technical gear repair (think wetsuits, waders, tactical gear, outerwear)
- Tools like Gear Tracer for real-time repair updates
- A trusted way to reduce textile waste without reinventing the wheel
Let’s make outdoor gear more sustainable—together
We’re not just part of the repair economy. We’re helping build it.
If you’re a consumer tired of tossing out good gear, or a brand looking to get ahead of legislation and grow your impact, we’re ready when you are.