Trail running is a sport and hobby based on the natural world, we want to start acting like that and have a smaller impact on biodiversity, the environment and climate with every single decision and step we take.
On this page you'll find out how we do business and why we do it the way we do.
Asking Less of the Natural World For The Trail
We start with understanding the natural world, identify the real problems facing the trail, and then build tangible solutions that reduce harm at the source.
For The Trail only release products if they ask considerably less of the planet than what is currently available. You can find out more about our environmental work at ForTheTrail.com
The bottom line: If our products didn't significantly outperform existing options environmentally, we wouldn't be making them. Asking less starts with the product itself - everything else in our business model reinforces that commitment.
DirtBags — The First For The Trail Project
DirtBags are the first project from For The Trail, order DirtBags now to get them delivered on the next season drop!
They replace single-use energy gel packets, powder sachets, and plastic zip bags with a reusable, home-compostable alternative made from plant-based bioplastic.
They exist because reduction and reuse matter more than recycling and because using single-use packaging and plastic that ends up in the landfill, should not be normalised.
By backing DirtBags, you’re not just supporting a product.
You’re helping fund a growing environmental movement within trail running.
How Your Support Is Used
First production run - We’ll take DirtBags from tested prototypes to full-scale production so you can carry them on your next big adventure.
Research & development - Keep refining the design and testing new ideas to make DirtBags tougher, longer-lasting, and even more useful.
Sustainable fulfilment - Build the most efficient, circular shipping system we can, where packaging is compostable and waste-free.
Spread the word - Grow awareness through marketing so more athletes, hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers and adventurers can ditch single-use plastics and use reusable alternatives that ask less of the planet.
Partner with nutrition brands & events - Work directly with companies and race organisers to make bulk fuel the norm, so DirtBags and refillable soft flasks replace disposable gels and plastic ziploc bags.
Lead by example - Show the outdoor industry that sustainable, compostable gear works and inspire bigger shifts across the kit we all use.
Grow our circle - A community of reusers who share tips, hacks, and stories about amazing wild experiences and how we can do more for the trail.
Why We Do Seasonal Drops
Most outdoor brands manufacture speculatively, warehouse products for months, then run sales to move excess inventory. It's wasteful by design.
We do four seasonal drops per year.
Here's why:
1. Zero Overproduction We only manufacture what's pre-ordered. Traditional brands overproduce by 15-25% - inventory that becomes waste. We eliminate that entirely.
2. No Warehousing Energy Products don't sit in facilities consuming energy for months. They move from manufacturer to you in weeks, cutting 10-15% of typical supply chain emissions.
3. Batch Manufacturing Making the DirtBags that have been ordered in one seasonal run uses 30% less energy than multiple small runs throughout the year. Resources are used precisely.
4. Sea Freight, Not Air We choose slower shipping with 10x less carbon than air freight. Your 8-10 week wait means we're asking less with shipping.
5. Better Relationships With Products When you can't impulse-replace something next week, you take better care of it. Seasonal scarcity encourages repair and longevity. The environmental impact of any product drops dramatically the longer you use it.
6. We ship them to you in one go and here in the UK we get the products that are ready to be posted all picked up in bigger batches by Royal Mail. This means we aren't driving to and from the post office every single day to send parcels.
The wait isn't a compromise - it's what it takes to ask less of the planet.
Our seasonal schedule:
- Winter Solstice (Dec 21): Pre-orders Sep-Nov
- Spring Equinox (Mar 20): Pre-orders Jan-Mar
- Summer Solstice (Jun 21): Pre-orders Apr-Jun
- Autumn Equinox (Sep 22): Pre-orders Jul-Sep
Between drops, we're not available. No "shop anytime" because constant availability requires constant production, warehousing, waste.
This isn't how the outdoor industry usually works - and that's the point.
How We Do Business (In Short)
- Only release products that ask less of the planet than current options
- Reduction and reuse in every aspect following a circular life cycle
- Shipping batches aligned with the start of the seasons
- No paid advertising (We send nothing to influencers)
- No sales or discounts which promotes consumerism
- No planned obsolescence
- Rewarding people who make their products last longer
- No constant or new product releases of the same product
- No reliance on carbon offsets
- [Future] Supporting rewilding initiatives in Wales
Instead, we focus on reduction, durability, transparency, and education, not upselling.
SUMMARY TABLE: Industry Standards
| Greenwashing Tactic | What We Actually Do |
|---|---|
| Carbon offsets | Real emissions reduction (no warehouse, batch manufacturing, products with smaller impacts, etc) |
| 2030 goals | Immediate action (system built today) |
| Recycled materials focus | Whole business model redesign |
| Unverified take-back | [Future] Verified composting with documentation |
| Marketing ≠ operations | Seasonal drops prove commitment (we close!) |
| Sustainable materials + overproduction | Made-to-order (zero overproduction) |
| "Circular" with no system | Actually compostable at home |
| Partial transparency | Full cost breakdown visible |
| 1% donations | [Future] % profits + systemic change |
| Constant new releases | No product obsolescence |
| Shifting responsibility to consumer | System-level solutions |
| Glossy reports | Simple dashboard with real data |
🌱 My Story - Why I’m Passionate About This Problem
I'm Martin, I've been an environmentalist since I was a teenager and I make trail and nature films as Kelp and Fern and passionate about capturing the essence of trail running and its deep connection to nature. Through immersive films and plant-forward projects, I aim to inspire you to appreciate the outdoors and motivate you to give back to the beautiful places that fuel our adventures.
I’ve been hiking, running trails, and tackling mountain ultra-marathons for most of my life. And in every adventure pack, there was always the same thing: plastic zip bags and single-use wrappers and packets.
They were useful, but at the end of every race or long day out, they went straight into the bin. Over time, it felt wrong. I was carrying waste through the very landscapes I loved, only to throw the packets and wrappers in to a bin.
For me, this wasn’t just waste, it was hypocrisy. I cared deeply about the wild places I was running through, yet I was adding to the very problem I wanted to fight.
That’s when I knew there had to be a better way. And that’s where the idea for DirtBags began. Join me on this journey to celebrate the trails we love!
👣 Join The Movement FOR THE TRAIL
For The Trail is about demanding less from the planet, through radical, durable solutions that put the environment and biodiversity first.
Join the circle — learn about nature, share what you know, and help protect the trails.