Savannah Westeinde: A History of Level Six's Sustainability Journey

My name is Savannah Westeinde, for those of you who don’t know me I am a whitewater kayaker on Canada’s Freestyle Team, part of the Keener Program at Ottawa Kayak School, and a Level Six team member. As a paddler and as a human being, environmental sustainability has always been a topic close to my heart, and I know that sentiment is shared throughout the outdoor community. We are lucky enough to experience nature in full force often, mountains, rivers, and oceans feel more like home than our actual homes (at least for me). So when asked if I would be interested in writing a blog post, I thought a little exploration into sustainability could be a fun adventure. So, in this blog, I am going to explore a bit of the history of Level Six, how sustainability practices have evolved over time, and some of the things that have been difficult to achieve in terms of sustainability. In other words - the areas in which the company has failed to be perfect - but still strives to improve. 

My Approach 

My Dad is a sustainability developer, so growing up I was used to having conversations about the changing climate, and the importance of doing my part in preserving the world around me. While talking and thinking about sustainability is great, I have always been interested in what it means to take action. How much is my responsibility to take on? Am I a terrible person for not recycling that water bottle, or getting a plastic bag at the grocery store? How much of an impact can actually be made at an individual or local level, when we know that it is only a handful of big corporations responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Of course our actions have an impact, hence the very popular expression “One person can change the world” - thank you for that great motivation Rosa Parks. However, we also know this isn't fully true, you only have so much power as an individual. Yet it is very possible to change the world of the people around you, to make an impact in your community, and to start ripples. You should try your best to recycle that water bottle, but it doesn't make you a terrible person if you don't. When I think of what it means to be someone who wants to do their part in protecting the environment, the two most important things that come to mind are accountability and a constant drive to improve. 

I will be the first to admit that the life I live is often not sustainable. I drive everywhere, constantly - it’s the price I pay for loving kayaking, I travel to rivers all over Canada and the US, and won’t hesitate to hop on a flight and explore a new country. Moreover, I drive a big truck that tows a trailer, so that's even more gas consumption and emissions. I try my best to recycle and compost when I am able to, to buy local and sustainable, and to reuse things as much as possible. That doesn't mean I don't also order from Amazon or support other businesses that aren’t so great when it comes to sustainability. Sometimes the “right” things are inconvenient, expensive and just not within our scope of ability at a given moment.

I wish I could say I was perfect, but I am not, in every aspect of my life, I am not perfect - and no one is! I am ok with it because I know I am always thinking about how I can improve, and as I add habits into my life, stop being a broke kayaker (unsure if this will ever be achieved), then it will be easier to take bigger steps, and bigger steps, and continue to lessen the impact I have on the world around me. 

Level Six 

One of the reasons I love this company is that we share these same values, constantly striving to improve, recognizing the need to do our part, but also admitting - we are not perfect.

For all of us, sustainability is a topic that has gained more and more popularity in recent years. The team at Level Six really started to evaluate their impact and think about solutions in 2014, and began the front-facing sustainability journey in 2020. Since then they have made significant strides in reducing their carbon footprint and single-use plastics. I got the chance this year to have a series of candid discussions with them regarding their sustainability journey, if you are interested in the full timeline, I have outlined it after the blog.

The initiatives they have implemented, such as plastic-free packaging, recycled fabrics and the elimination of forever chemicals, have not been without their challenges. It’s important to me and the team at Level Six that we show the whole picture, because as I said accountability is the most important factor when it comes to implementing sustainability initiatives and being a leader in the industry. In order to be accountable for our actions, we have to be transparent about the reality. During our conversations, I got to have some really honest takes about the things that have been difficult, roadblocks and the things that wouldn't necessarily make the list of achievements.

Things That Stood Out Were

•                     Manufacturing process 

•                     Elimination of single-use plastic 

One of the main challenges that any company faces, especially small to medium-sized businesses, is ensuring sustainability throughout the manufacturing process. No matter how many sustainability initiatives or materials you use, there’s only so much you can offset when you are relying on traditional manufacturing processes. Striking a balance between sustainability, ethics and affordability is no easy feat. Level Six has worked hard to ensure that its labour is ethically sourced. There are other factors, such as the sustainability aspect, that are hard to control when they are reliant on third parties. It is impossible for instance, to control where the energy comes from that runs factories in foreign countries; this is a simple fact. The folks at Level Six are encouraged by the movement towards green energy in the countries where they manufacture in but at this point, it is an element of their sustainability journey that they have no control over and sometimes don’t know.

The obvious answer that many people will reply to this (I asked as well), why not manufacture domestically? Employing more locals and knowing your energy source, it seems like the perfect solution. However, the unfortunate fact is that there is a limited textile sewing industry specializing in waterproof breathable fabrics in Canada. The cost to manufacture domestically would far exceed the potential profits and would drive up prices. To do this, Level Six would have to train workers from the ground up, suffer years of quality issues (which they have worked so hard to improve), nearly double prices, and still be unable to pay these workers a wage that allows significant take-home pay. Currently, the average take-home pay for their factory workers is 50% after living expenses. Level Six is not against domestic manufacturing, but to do it they would need some big economic factors to change for it to be a benefit. Right now they are focusing on employing more locals in their repair team and keeping their gear out of landfills.

The next area that has been a challenge is the elimination of single-use plastics. When it comes to global shipping, it is important that products are protected for the journey. To their credit, they have eliminated single-use plastic in shipping from their warehouse. However, from the factory to the warehouse, their carton, which is a larger box in which multiple products are shipped, needs a plastic liner to be protected from the elements. They must balance one plastic liner versus a whole carton of damaged, unusable products that will end up in the landfill. The plastic liner obviously has a smaller environmental impact. So far, Level Six has been unable to find a sustainable alternative to plastic liners when it comes to global shipping, but they are looking. For now, they reuse this plastic as garbage bags for the warehouse so that it is not single-use.

The Goal 

Taking into account these difficulties, Level Six is striving to reach net-zero carbon and continually improve its sustainability practices through things like petroleum-free neo, all recycled fabrics, and fully eliminating forever chemicals. 

Other ways they are doing this is through encouraging and offering their own, repair service. Focusing on prolonging the lifetime of gear rather than simply replacing it has a huge impact on keeping things out of the landfill, it’s also more financially sustainable for consumers. This initiative creates an easy option for customers to prolong the life of their gear and limit textile waste. 

On this same note, Level Six has put out a series on how to care for your gear in order to prolong its lifetime. I have been reaping the benefits of this series as I have recently learned that I have not been taking care of my gear properly. Often, we focus on the sexier side of sustainability, such as buzzwords like “recycled” and “petroleum-free.” However, it was surprising to me, how adamant they were that the best thing they can do for the environment is to teach people how to make their gear last. Moreover, the team expressed to me that the ultimate goal would be to create a circular production cycle. Where gear/material that has reached the end of its life can then be used to create new products. This is a ways away, and the reality is that small to medium-sized businesses can only do so much at once. The most common thing I heard from Level Six is the philosophy that chips make chunks and crumbs make a cake. They truly believe that all progress, no matter how small, adds up to something meaningful over time and the proof is in the pudding.

Why sustainability? 

So what does it mean to be sustainable? Is it even possible for a company or individual to achieve? Well, that depends on your definition. There are levels of sustainability. Zero carbon, waste production, land use, water and energy consumption; all can be used as markers for sustainability. As mentioned earlier, Level Six is striving for a zero-carbon goal. Actually, having no impact or carbon footprint is pretty next to impossible. As with most things in life, there are too many aspects, processes that we are all a part of, that are out of our control. Even Greta Thunberg in all her activist glory and extensive efforts to draw attention to the climate crisis, has a carbon footprint^[1].

Yet reducing carbon footprints in any capacity does help slow the process of climate change. Sure on an individual level this effect may not be tangible, but to bring Rosa Parks back into the conversation, our actions do still have an impact. I am a strong believer that we should all strive to live lives that align with our values, and the more we acknowledge the value of earth, the value of the rivers, oceans, and mountains that we enjoy, the more people and companies will do to protect it.

Now this whole aligning our actions with our values thing is not an overnight change, it's not a simple decision you can make and then bippity boppity boo - everything you do has no negative impact on the things that are important to you. It’s making conscious decisions everyday and most importantly taking note of the things you can improve and adapting - over time. Chips make chunks, it’s a lifelong process. A process that Level Six is committed to, which I commend, and helps me in aligning my actions with my values when it comes to where my gear comes from. Level Six has made substantial efforts to rope people into living more sustainably alongside them. 

No one is perfect, we never will be - but we can sure as hell try together. Somewhere along the way it's inevitable we achieve something of note. 

Timeline of Sustainability Initiatives at Level Six

2014:

•        The initial thought process for sustainability began internally.


2020:

•        Sustainability efforts became publicly visible.


•        Removed 9,200 poly bags from packaging compared to 2019.

○                    Committed 1% of all direct sales to watershed conservation, something they had been doing unofficially for many years.


2020:

•        Began behind-the-scenes journey for PFAS-free and recycled drywear.


•        Eliminated all plastic from Dry Suit packaging, using 100% recyclable boxes.


•        Further reduced plastic usage by 20,000 bags, switched to recycled cardboard packaging, and tied casual wear with extra fabric cutoffs.


•        Introduced REPREVE recycled fabrics to the adult activewear collection.


•        Started using recycled nylon in technical paddling gear, to be fully phased in by Fall 2022.


•        Undertook a carbon footprint assessment as a step toward becoming a carbon-neutral company.


2022:

•        Eliminated all long-chain PFAS chemicals from future production.

•        Committed to using 100% recycled nylon and PFAS-free waterproof breathable fabrics.


•        Won the Sustainability Award at the International Paddlesports Show in Lyon. For their use of recycled fabrics and packaging innovations.

2023:

•        Introduced the world’s first PFAS-free drysuit the Loki. It is also a latex and neoprene-free drysuit with a PU-coated Lycra gasket system.

•         Accepted the 2023 Water Leader Award in Ottawa.

Ongoing Efforts:

•        Continually working to reduce carbon footprint and aim for climate neutrality.

•        Focus on creating long-lasting products, increasing the use of recycled materials, and eliminating single-use plastics from the supply chain.

•        Utilize sustainable packaging options, such as biodegradable ink and recycled cardboard, despite potential aesthetic trade-offs.

2025

·         95% of all products in production are now PFAS-free

Sustainability is not about being perfect—it’s about making progress. Just like in paddling, every small step forward builds momentum. Level Six’s journey toward sustainability is ongoing, with each initiative—from plastic-free packaging to PFAS-free materials—bringing the company closer to minimizing its environmental impact.

At the end of the day, it’s about accountability and a commitment to doing better, not just as a brand but as a community of paddlers who care deeply about the waterways we explore. By supporting sustainable brands and making conscious choices, we can collectively protect the places we love—one adventure at a time.