Arc'teryx Introduces System 0, a New Framework for the Future of Product Design and Circularity

NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Arc'teryx Equipment, the global design company specializing in technical high-performance apparel and equipment, today introduced System 0™, a new framework that reimagines how products can be designed, manufactured, used, repaired, and ultimately regenerated. System 0 represents the next evolution for sustainability in the outdoor industry, as it embeds circular thinking across an entire product lifecycle while maintaining the uncompromising performance standards that define the Arc’teryx brand.

The first product being introduced as part of the System 0 platform is the Sperro SV jacket, a multisport mountain-grade hardshell engineered for durability, repairability, and disassembly at end of life – the stage that has traditionally been the greatest challenge to circular design. Built with GORE-TEX® Pro Fabric featuring the ePE membrane, Sperro SV was developed with GORE-TEX Brand’s testing expertise to meet their durable waterproof, windproof, and breathable performance standards. Sperro SV's nylon face fabric and backer are separately designed for recyclability in partnership with Aquafil, the manufacturer of ECONYL® regenerated nylon.

Available globally beginning September 4, 2026, through Arc'teryx stores and arcteryx.com, Sperro SV is now Arc’teryx’s most advanced hardshell jacket, succeeding in the brand’s goal to prove that a circular approach can be integrated into technical apparel without compromising the greatest standards for performance.

"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. "For decades, Arc’teryx has built gear that's meant to be repaired, not replaced. This is the next step forward. System 0 challenges us to consider the entire process of creating products so they can remain in use longer and ultimately be regenerated into something new. Our vision is a future where gear doesn’t end up in landfills but instead continues to have a purpose beyond its first life. Today moves us closer to that vision.”

Sperro SV is the first product to be certified by TESTEX® Circularity, a leading standard Arc'teryx copiloted as part of this work to fill a gap in circular product standards. The TESTEX® certification surpassed their own expectations in confirming the jacket’s unique capacity for long-lasting wear, quick and easy repair, and ability to undergo a cutting-edge chemical recycling process to maximize reuse of materials.

This new System 0 approach builds on the popularity of ReBIRD™, Arc'teryx's existing ecosystem of Wash, Repair, Trade-In, Resale, and Upcycle. Following years of research and engineering, System 0 integrates these principles into every stage of the business. That includes everything from design, to sourcing and manufacturing, to guest experience, repair, and end-of-life recovery – all with the intention of making circularity a scalable operating model.

Sperro SV has been extensively tested by alpine professionals, including the search and rescue teams from Vancouver’s North Shore Rescue. It is reinforced at common failure points, including the brand’s first easily replaceable zipper slider, a previous common failure point, and comes with three years of unlimited, out-of-warranty repairs through ReBIRD™. When Sperro SV is no longer repairable, the chemical recycling process grinds up the fabric, separating nylon materials from the GORE-TEX membrane, and returns the material to Aquafil to be regenerated into new virgin-grade ECONYL® yarn. Built to remain in use as long as possible, Sperro SV is Designed to Persist™.

"At Arc’teryx, we design products to perform for the long-term. System 0 asks us to think even bigger," said Katie Becker, Chief Creative Officer of Arc’teryx. "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. And we know we’re just getting started."

"As a society, our expectations for what premium products can do are growing rapidly," added Haselden. "And we believe circularity will increasingly become a part of what defines premium performance. The future is not a choice between technical excellence and environmental responsibility – we should expect both. System 0 represents our commitment to advancing that future.”

To learn more about System 0, visit arc’teryx.com. Watch ‘A New System,’ the latest episode of our Obsessive Design series, on YouTube.

Arc’teryx is a Canadian company based in the Coast Mountains. Our design process is connected to the real world, focused on delivering durable, unrivalled performance. Our products are distributed through more than 2,300 retail locations worldwide. We are problem solvers, always evolving and searching for a better way to deliver resolved, minimalist designs. Good design that matters makes lives better. Arc’teryx is part of Amer Sports, a global group of iconic sports and outdoor brands, publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more information, visit https://arcteryx.com