For PACT Outdoors, sustainability isn’t an afterthought; it’s at the core of everything they do. Founded with a mission to make it easier for people to take care of themselves and the planet while outdoors, PACT’s focus on responsible sourcing and waste reduction is redefining what it means to “leave no trace.”
“Part of what inspired us to create these products was learning that a lot of toilet paper and conventional wet wipes are often sourced from forests that aren’t necessarily managed in a responsible way,” explains the PACT team. “Not only that, both types of products can contain unnecessary chemical additives, known carcinogens like PFAS, chlorine, formaldehyde, and even plastic fibers. These not only affect human health but also take much longer to decompose when buried outdoors.”
Their answer? PACT Bathroom Wipes, a compact, lightweight, and water-activated alternative designed specifically for outdoor use. Made with responsibly sourced plant fibers and minimal chemical inputs, the wipes represent a new model of how outdoor essentials can balance performance with environmental stewardship.
Simplifying Sustainability Through FSC
As a small business, finding sustainable sourcing solutions can be daunting. But for PACT, sourcing FSC-certified offers both simplicity and credibility.
“FSC makes it easier for our business to ensure our products meet certain standards,” they explain. “We’re not a huge company with enough buying power to change how or where paper products are sourced. FSC helps us identify manufacturing partners that meet our values.”
PACT describes the process as “easy and straightforward” yet “thorough and confidence-building.” The FSC verification systems and guidance provided assurance that their materials truly came from responsibly managed forests. “The FSC team was responsive and gave us great instructions on how to talk about this work and use the appropriate language,” they say. “That kind of support makes a huge difference for small brands.”
Why the FSC Label Matters
For PACT, communicating the meaning of the FSC label is simple and powerful: “We shouldn’t be sourcing toilet paper from old growth forests. That’s just dumb and short-sighted.”
As blunt as that sounds, it perfectly captures the urgency behind PACT’s mission. The FSC label, they note, “signifies that our paper sources are responsibly managed and provide economic and social benefits to the local communities.” Customers recognize and trust that symbol: proof that sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated or performative. “People like seeing it,” they add. “They recognize the label and understand what it stands for. It’s definitely helpful for the user.”
Responsible Forestry, Responsible Recreation
PACT’s products are designed with one core belief: outdoor stewardship begins with small, everyday actions. “We exist to give people tools that help make it easier to be good stewards when they’re on public lands, specifically with their bathroom practices,” the team says. “Without responsible forestry, there are no outdoor spaces and then we have no reason to exist.”
To PACT, forests aren’t just resources; they’re the heart of outdoor adventure and human connection to nature. “Protecting forests has been one of the greatest ideas we’ve ever had in the U.S. They’re essential to our survival, but also to our joy. Not doing this goes against our values. It’s non-negotiable.”
Innovation Rooted in Nature
While PACT is proud of its current lineup, the team is quick to emphasize that sustainability is a journey, not a destination. “As our buying power grows, we hope to leverage that to continue improving our supply chain and sourcing,” they explain. “That means removing unnecessary additives and chemicals that are used out of ease or laziness. We’re proud of what we’ve built, but it can always be better.”
Their forward-looking projects push this ethos even further, into the heart of one of public land management’s most pressing issues: human waste. “If you can believe it, mis-handled human waste is one of the biggest issues affecting our public lands and a major driver of reduced access,” they explain. “It’s also one of the biggest expenses for land management, an enormous line item on an already insufficient budget.”
PACT’s next innovation? Reimagining trailhead and backcountry bathroom systems using fungal mycelium, nature’s most effective decomposer, to make waste breakdown faster and less dependent on chemicals and fossil fuels. “We want to reinvent the entire system,” they say, “to save money for land managers while reducing environmental impact. Stay tuned!”
A Shared Vision for the Future
Through their collaboration with FSC, PACT Outdoors shows how even small companies can make a tangible impact by rethinking the essentials we take for granted. By combining practical design, transparency, and a deep respect for forests, they remind us that sustainability can start anywhere, even with something as simple as a wipe.
For PACT, it all circles back to stewardship. “We want a wealth of forests to be around forever, for our kids and their kids and on and on,” they say. “Protecting forests isn’t just a value. It’s a responsibility.”
