Thunderpants USA
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The Shifting Gaia rating evaluates brands based on sustainable practices, ingredients and materials, and social responsibility, among others. Below are a few factors influencing this brand's score:
overview
about
Thunderpants USA produces underwear, swimwear, and apparel made primarily from organic cotton blends, with manufacturing in Oregon. Highlights
• Fairtrade organic cotton
• ECONYL® swimwear
• Toxin-free dyes
• Scrap upcycling
• Vegan
sustainability
details:
Packaging
Thunderpants USA uses 100% recycled plastic mailers for shipping.
Material Sustainability
A representative sample of products mostly shared a common composition: 90% fair-trade certified, organically grown cotton and 10% spandex (elastane). All cotton garments are dyed/printed with water-based inks rather than solvent-based or PVC inks.
Notably, Thunderpants also produces swimwear using ECONYL®, which is a regenerated nylon yarn made from reclaimed waste (e.g. fishing nets and carpet scraps).
Energy Use and Footprint
Thunderpants USA has a relatively localized supply chain and production, which helps lower its carbon footprint. All cutting and sewing of the cotton garments occurs in Oregon. However, Thunderpants has not published detailed data on energy use or emissions. The brand hasn't announced using renewable energy at its facilities or at partner mills.
That said, the company does take some steps to mitigate carbon impact. Notably, at checkout they offer customers the option to offset the carbon footprint of their purchase for a small fee (using a program that funds native forest regeneration and renewable energy projects).
Waste Management
Thunderpants turns its leftover material into new products rather than discarding it. They have an entire “Scrap Products” range devoted to upcycling these remnants. They even sell bags of fabric scraps by the pound to crafters or customers who might reuse them.
While they haven't published data on water usage or dye house wastewater, the choice of printing method (roller printing with water-based dyes) implies lower toxic runoff and that any effluent can be treated with standard procedures.
Business Model
Thunderpants USA's business model is fundamentally slow fashion and quality-driven.
non-toxic
details:
The primary fabric (organic cotton) is grown without toxic pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, so from the very start the fiber is free of residues like carcinogenic herbicides or insecticides that can remain on conventional cotton. All Thunderpants prints are created with water-based inks and dyes. This is significant because it means they steer clear of azo dyes containing harmful aromatic amines, as well as formaldehyde-based dyes or finishes.
social responsibility
details:
Thunderpants USA demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical labor throughout its supply chain, especially in the final production stage. All of the brand's cutting and sewing is done in the United States. However, Thunderpants does not rely on formal audits or certifications for labor. They explicitly mention they don't require the factory to do official audits, preferring the trust and verification that comes from their frequent in-person visits. Thunderpants does trace and disclose a lot of its upstream supply chain too (a positive sign for fair labor). They share where the fabric is knitted (Los Angeles), where it's printed (Los Angeles), and even the origins of raw materials (cotton yarn from India/Indonesia, spandex from South Korea).
Thunderpants USA is essentially a 100% vegan brand. They use no animal-derived materials in any of their products.
They have a notable practice of financially supporting numerous non-profit organizations on an ongoing basis. In 2023/24 alone, Thunderpants donated to a wide array of organizations, many on a monthly recurring basis.
