Rab reveals latest Service Centre expansions as part of their circularity journey, striving to reduce the impact of their products at every stage of their lifecycle.

Environmental impact is becoming an increasingly important factor when it comes to choosing outdoor kit, but the fact remains that the most sustainable product is the one you already own. Repair and care have been woven into Rab’s story from the very beginning, a tradition that began with their founder, Rab Carrington. Decades later, that spirit still endures.

More than just a “Service Centre,” Rab’s services extend beyond standard repair and care offerings. Currently accessible in the UK, Europe, Canada, and the USA, customers can choose from a range of options to suit their needs. This is part of the “Rab promise,” to keep products going for as long as possible. When an item needs to be retired, Rab look at it afresh and either upcycle it for a second use, repair it and donate it to one of the charities they partner with, or strip it for spare parts to give other garments a new lease of life.

“Forever Chemical”-free care

Care and repair have never been more important, following the brand’s successful transition to PFAS-free shell technologies in AW25. Rab started developing PFAS-free alternatives back in 2013 and have consistently swapped their fabrics to lower impact solutions ever since.

The products’ Material Facts provide transparent information about the PFAS status of a product as well as other sustainability credentials.

Recognizing that PFAS-free gear requires regular maintenance for optimal performance, Rab are introducing an extensive aftercare education programme through their Rab Lab and Rab Lab Academy, offering comprehensive training to consumers and retailers on how to maintain outdoor gear.

Fixing kit for 40 years

The Rab Service Centre has had to evolve over the years in order to keep pace with the company’s ever-expanding range of modern mountain kit. Even so, many of the core employees in the original Rab Service Centre have been working for the company since day one.

Most recently, Rab opened their first ever customer-facing Service Centre in Cheshire, UK. This new state-of-the-art facility revolutionizes the way Rab serve their customers by making professional care and repair services directly accessible to the public.

Rab has also launched wash services for non-Rab products in their UK Service Centres for the very first time, with plans to roll this out globally as soon as capacity allows.

In 2024, the Service Centre completed 22,005 washes and repairs – and this number continues to increase year on year. With ambitious, Science-Based Targets Initiative-verified targets to reach Net Zero Emissions by 2050, the Service Centre’s contribution is vital to helping Rab accomplish its climate goal.

Lead Image: Rab