At the end of June, OutDoor by ISPO took place at the Munich trade fair for the first time with the slogan Ever New Horizons. The fair conmprized 1018 exhibitors, 84% of whom were international. Alongside classic outdoor-activities like hiking, climbing, water sports and urban outdoor, adventure travel and bike were integrated as new themes (1).
About the Fair
Klaus Dittrich, chairman of the executive board of Messe München, speaks in a press release about the revolutionary changes the outdoor brands presented. He emphasizes a new era, where ‘outdoor’ not only defines an industry, it is also an umbrella term for the attitude of every individual (2).
Panel discussion between Sustainability Managers and NGO-activists in the CSR Hub and Sustainability Kiosk.
Moreover, a Code of Conduct and sustainability counted as fundamental principles of the fair. For this purpose, a CSR hub and Sustainability Kiosk offered visitors exclusive insights from industry experts. Next to presentations about brand-specific innovation and research development, panel discussions tackled the challenges that confront today’s outdoor.
As an example, the hot topic of single-use plastics was discussed between NGO-activists and sustainability managers. In relation to this, the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) stood out as one of the most important initiatives engaging with this specific topic.
Trends & Awardees
When looking at products, we were inspired and positively surprised by how brands are seeking for more sustainable alternatives. The following list reveals our Top 8 of the most prominent innovations and trends.
- Fleece Material from biodegradable wood fibre
- Futurelight as an advanced breathable waterproof outerwear technology
- PrimaLoft Bio as one of the first biodegradable synthetic isolation material
- Natural Dyestuffs coloring textiles with plant-based pigments
- Parley for the oceans, recycling plastic litter into new textiles
- Seacell fibre made out of algae
- Hemp as a resilient and fast-growing raw material
- EicoPrene as a mixture of limestone and recycled tires imitating the new neoprene
Furthermore, we also walked down the award carpet and were impressed by the winning products. You can find more information and awardees here.
The Higg Index
Apart from presenting products, the various brands also announced their commitment to the Higg Index. As a centerpiece of the SAC, the assessment tool allows companies to measure the environmental and social impacts of their products and services. In accordance with this, our CEO Karin Ekberg was recently awarded the Higg Index Verification Leadership Award for her outstanding support.
At Leadership & Sustainability, we have made it our mission to discover your sustainability potential. This is why we are offering you a comprehensive SAC-related service portfolio to equip your company with an essential strategy to achieve a more sustainable business model.
In Summary
To summarize the event, we enjoyed the thought-provoking presentations that were showcased by brands and experts. It became evident that sustainability is a major concern, which proofs that we are going in the right direction.
Leave a Comment