The Feel Good Stuff (2025)
We’ve been doing really cool stuff to improve our impact for a long time BUT in an effort to cram in all the info, our reports became really boring and no-one read them.
So………Here’s what we did in 2025 to help us all strive towards a better future for our planet:
Quite simply - we are what we do. We all use the kit. We love getting outside. Oh, and we’re independently owned - the climber in the picture? That’s our Co-Owner and Director Paul, climbing on Y Llewedd.
“In addition to providing the best equipment and advice to hillwalkers, trail/ultra runners, rock climbers, mountaineers and expeditions, we are committed to considering the impact of our activities on people and the planet.”
Did you know? By shopping with us you keep 30 people employed across our locations. Then there are the countless local businesses we use for supplies, systems, maintenance and marketing in both England and Wales.
We’re all climbers, runners, walkers, mountaineers, backpackers and understand how immersing ourselves in the outdoor environment is vital to our well being. That’s our other Co-owner and Director Cathy, lucking out on full alpine conditions on the Càrn Mòr Dearg Arête, Ben Nevis.
“We love helping people enjoy the outdoors and we fully recognize the connection with environmental impact. For many years we have supported three National Park charities: Cymdeithas Eryri and The Lake District Foundation and Fix The Fells, helping to protect our stunning natural environment for generations to come. ”
Did you know we’ve been a certified Green Business for 6 consecutive years!
In a nutshell:
Our electricity is sourced from sustainable sources.
Our energy consumption is reducing as we switch to LED lights.
Our electricals are recycled by North Wales Recycle IT, an ethical and sustainable IT recycling company who certify our data is destroyed before sending repairable items out be re-used by people, families and communities in our region.
Our warehouse uses entirely paper-based packaging with a very small portion of plastics used where safety and security are a priority. Items packaged in DPD specific plastic packaging use bags made from 80% reclaimed material and are 100% recyclable.
Where possible, our printer ink is from Making IT Green, a sustainable supplier who also recycle spent cartridges.
All paper is recycled and in Wales we we send our confidential waste to a local social enterprise providing work for adults with learning disabilities: Antur Waunfawr.
In 2025 we switched to Humphreys Waste Solutions so 100% of our waste in Wales is kept out of landfill.
Our Suppliers
In 2025 our Directors personally visited supplier manufacturing facilities at Rab (UK), La Sportiva (Italy) & Paramo, Colombia (shown)
As a retailer, we are part of a global and complex supply chain, with a large environmental impact. We need technical clothing and equipment to enjoy the sports we love and using high quality, ethically manufactured product immediately reduces our impact. Our key suppliers Rab, Mountain Equipment, Montane, La Sportiva, Scarpa, Paramo, Petzl, Edelrid, Scarpa, Sea To Summit, Exped and indeed the majority of the brands we stock, work hard to improve and maintain ethical and environmental excellence across their business practices.
We are committed to helping our customers make their kit last as long as possible:
Large spares and repair tapecollection always in stock
Digital repairs and servicing guide , available to all
In store and digital information on maintaining waterproofs and insulated clothing so garments last longer.
Buyers Guides are product linked and free to access.
Outdoor Gear Chat podcasts packed full of lived experience, advice, technical knowledge and maintenance tips.
How You Help…..at home
Every time you buy a map for Ali’s Round or the Mountain Goat Circuit we pledge a donation to The Lake District Foundation and The Snowdonia Society.
In addition, with your custom, we are able support local grass roots events with race and competition prizes including donations to our vital local Mountain Rescue Teams. This year we also supported the She Climbs event at the National Outdoor Centre: Plas y Brenin and at a community level support a Llanberis based youth group with their healthy eating programme.
Our long term support of the Joe Brown Midweek Series Fell Runs has helped create a strong youth following with whole families coming out to run together on a Tuesday evening.
How You Help…..internationally
Internationally, we work with charities committed to promoting the advancement of health, the relief of poverty, improving young people’s life chances. We do this via the El Rio Foundation (formerly The Frank Davies Trust), and Community Action Nepal via Rental payments for our Ambleside shop & the selling of Doug Scott signed photographic prints and Nepali artifacts.
None of the above would be possible without you, our valued customers. We would like to take this opportunity to say a massive THANK YOU for choosing Joe Browns and The Climbers Shop to buy outdoor gear to enjoy your adventures.
It’s astonishing at how your money can work so hard, not just supporting our staff team and the local businesses we buy from, but also literally thousands of strangers across the globe.
You can read our previous reports here