The outdoor apparel brand BAM has taken a notable step in sustainable fashion by earning a certified recyclable status for its Any Weather Mac from the Circular Textiles Foundation. The certification recognises that the garment has been designed and manufactured to be fully recyclable at the end of its lifecycle — a challenge that has long eluded the waterproof jacket category.
Why Traditional Waterproof Jackets Fail the Recycling Test
BAM points out that conventional waterproof jackets are notoriously difficult to recycle. These garments typically combine multiple materials bonded together with chemical glues, making it nearly impossible to separate or process them at the end of their useful life. The result is that the vast majority of such jackets end up in landfill, contributing significantly to textile waste in the performance and technical clothing segment.
The Any Weather Mac was developed specifically to challenge this norm. All major components of the garment — the membrane, adhesives, fabric, and trims — are made from polyester derived from 95% recycled content, creating a unified material ecosystem that supports mechanical recycling without the need for disassembly. The only exception is the zip head, which is removable and sits outside the polyester system.
Engineering a Recyclable Waterproof Mac Without Compromise
Ultrasonic Heat Sealing Replaces Petrochemical Glues
One of the more technically demanding aspects of producing a recyclable waterproof jacket lies in the seam-sealing process. BAM’s manufacturing approach deliberately avoids petrochemical glues, which are a common barrier to recyclability in technical outerwear. Instead, the Any Weather Mac uses ultrasonic heat sealing along with a specialised polymer adhesive that is compatible with the garment’s polyester makeup. This ensures the coat can be mechanically recycled as a whole, rather than requiring component-by-component separation.
PFAS-Free, Plant-Based Waterproofing Treatment
The waterproofing treatment applied to the Any Weather Mac is described as plant-based and is entirely free from polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. Often referred to as “forever chemicals,” PFAS have attracted growing regulatory and environmental scrutiny due to their persistence in the environment and the human body. BAM’s decision to avoid these substances in its sustainable outdoor clothing reflects a broader industry shift away from fluorinated chemistries in performance apparel.
BAM’s marketing director Clare Coughlan commented on the development: “Our technical and design teams alike have gone above and beyond in taking on the challenge to make a waterproof mac that’s not only recyclable, but great looking and high performing, meaning our customers don’t have to compromise.”
A Take-Back Scheme to Close the Loop
Beyond the product’s design, BAM has established a take-back scheme that allows customers to return their Any Weather Mac once it reaches the end of its useful life. The company states that this programme guarantees the coat will be recycled rather than sent to landfill — directly addressing the gap that often exists between a product being technically recyclable and actually being recycled in practice.
This end-of-life return infrastructure is a critical component of the recyclable waterproof jacket’s full-circle proposition, ensuring that the Circular Textiles Foundation certification translates into real-world environmental benefit.
BAM’s Wider Sustainability Framework
The Any Weather Mac exists within a broader sustainability strategy at BAM. The brand reports that over 90% of its products are made using nature-based or recycled materials. It has also developed its 73 Zero range, which is described as fully circular, and introduced a “Product DNA” feature that enables customers to trace each garment’s production stages by scanning a QR code — a transparency tool aimed at informed consumer decision-making.
The launch of a certified recyclable waterproof mac reflects the increasing pressure on the apparel industry — particularly in technical and performance categories — to address how garments are treated at the end of their life. The Circular Textiles Foundation’s certification of the Any Weather Mac signals that meeting these standards, while maintaining product performance, is an achievable goal for PFAS-free waterproofing and circular fashion design.
