Arc'teryx launches System 0, a new framework for circular design

Canadian outdoor specialist Arc'teryx is introducing a circular design framework across its product range called System 0, starting with the new Sperro SV hardshell jacket.

The new System 0 covers the full product lifecycle, from design and production through to repair and end-of-life, and aligns with the technical apparel brand's broader approach to sustainability. It is also a clear reflection of where the Vancouver-based brand wants to grow, promising the same performance standards from materials that can be recycled once a product reaches the end of its life. Over the coming years, Arc'teryx plans to apply the design framework across its full product range.

The first product created using the framework is the Sperro SV, a mountain-grade, multisport hardshell jacket built to last, be repaired easily and be disassembled at end of life, one of the hardest problems in circular design. It is made using Gore-Tex Pro Fabric with the ePE membrane, developed alongside the Gore-Tex Brand to meet its waterproof, windproof, and breathable standards, while the nylon face fabric and backer were each designed for recyclability with Aquafil, the maker of Econyl regenerated nylon.

"System 0 represents a fundamental shift in how we build and scale our business with circularity front of mind," said Stuart Haselden, chief executive officer of Arc'teryx, in a statement. "For decades, Arc'teryx has built gear that's meant to be repaired, not replaced. This is the next step forward."

The Sperro SV is the first product certified under Testex Circularity, a standard Arc'teryx helped shape to address a gap in existing criteria. Prior to its market launch, the jacket was field-tested by alpine professionals, including Vancouver's North Shore Rescue, and is reinforced at common breakage points.

"At Arc'teryx, we design products to perform for the long-term. System 0 asks us to think even bigger," added Katie Becker, chief creative officer of Arc'teryx, in a statement. "It represents a mindset shift for our entire design team and a powerful evolution in how we innovate. We deliberately started with one of the hardest problems – a hardshell, the most complex product we make. If we can solve circularity here, we believe we can apply what we learn across our entire system."

The jacket includes three years of unlimited out-of-warranty repairs through Arc'teryx’s ReBIRD system, extending the brand's existing wash, repair, trade-in, resale and upcycle programme. Once it can no longer be repaired, the fabric is ground up to separate the nylon from the Gore-Tex membrane, and the nylon returns to Aquafil to be regenerated into virgin-grade Econyl yarn.

The Sperro SV, which Arc'teryx calls its "most advanced hardshell jacket", launches in stores globally and on arcteryx.com on September 4.