Nature was always a concern. Initially at a personal level but early on, seeing the kind of impact our small business had on the environment, we could only imagine what kind of impact much bigger businesses must have.With the business growing, timing was perfect to develop good habits, and make sure they were our priority along the way. We are proud to say that those good habits have now become a part of Gorila’s unwavering values.  

We soon realized that it wasn’t the most economical way to go, in our industry at least. In a world where you can seemingly get the “same product” for half the price and get it by tomorrow morning, taking the locally made approach wasn’t exactly going to be smooth sailling. We would learn that we constantly have to convince people that quality and ethic is worth the extra buck and the extra delay. Some people understood our values and they are now as much apart of this difference we are making as we are.

Our location in the province of Quebec, Canada, has been a significant advantage. Quebec is known for its hydroelectric power, and as a result, 99% of the energy we use for manufacturing Gorila products is renewable. To put this into perspective, the state of Ohio primarily uses natural gas and coal, with renewable energy resources representing less than 4% of Ohio’s total in-state electricity generation in 2021*.

Commitment to Local Sourcing

In 2016, we made a significant shift in our supply chain, changing nearly half of our suppliers to ensure that 79% are now within a three-hour drive. Additionally, 99% of the raw materials for our products are sourced within a one-hour drive.

Reducing Plastic Use

Plastic reduction is a top priority for us. We've already limited the use of plastic in our packaging as much as possible. While some plastic remains due to the lack of better alternatives, we've managed to reduce our plastic use by 80% in 2021. Plastic now represents only 1% of our packaging materials for locally manufactured products, though it's closer to 25% for items not yet made here. We have plans to lower that number further.

Inspiring Change

We hope to inspire the fitness industry to follow in our footsteps so that together, we can make a real difference. Today, we're proud to say that money and profit margins are not our main motivators; quality, equality, and nature are.

*Source: Energy Information Administration, State Energy Data System.
Text by Martin Roy, Co-founder & CEO