During OutDoor in the summer the European Outdoor Group (EOG) held an open meeting to start to discuss the question of sustainability and what as an industry sector the outdoor market should be doing. The attendance at just over 60 was good, but in comparison to the total attendance figure of 19,000 visitors at the fair from all over the world, you could say it was meagre. But those that did attend represented the largest brands in the industry. At that meeting it was agreed to form a Steering Group and to arrange the first meeting for the end of October.

The follow-up meeting took place at the end of October in Friedrichshafen with those that confirmed attendance becoming the working group at least for the initial stages. The new EOG Sustainability Working Group (SWG) is currently made up of representatives from Vaude, Mammut, W L Gore, Odlo, Salomon, Haglöfs, The North Face, Deuter, Globetrotter, and Petzl.

The aim with the SWG is to work with the US Eco Working Group (EWG) set up last year by the US’s Outdoor Industries Association and to collectively put forward suggestions of best working practice. Any decisions taken by the Groups will obviously be optional for anyone working with the industry but it is hoped that they will give the opportunity to put forward a cohesive process for the outdoor sector to follow.

Secretary General of the EOG, Mark Held commented about the relationship and ways forward for the two groups, ‘we have to say that we already owe a debt of gratitude to the EWG as so many of the key issues have already been covered and we were able to discuss the outputs of their Boulder and Boston EWG meetings as everything was commendably open source. (Something we have also committed ourselves to.)’

There were numerous outcomes of the October meeting but two key issues that arose are:

1. USA and Europe individually or combined?
There is a clear danger that the US and Europe could conceivably go in different directions over the issue of sustainability, specifically when looking at differing existing legislation like the EU REACH Chemicals Directive. However it was concluded that this would very definitely not be in the interests of the wider outdoor community, which is rapidly becoming a global one, and that European brands selling in the US (and vice versa) need a common approach and not fragmentation. It is obviously important to ensure that if differences do arise, we have a mechanism for managing them for the common benefit.

2. What does Europe bring to the party?
The whole idea of a cohesive viewpoint on sustainability is very much a ‘work in progress’ and needs serious consideration to ensure that we become an added resource for the whole project and not just a ‘tag along’ to what the US has already started. The EOG SWG is committed to putting resources into this issue and these could range from market research, to working on some of the metrics to be used within an international framework.

So what next?
Ispo, February 2009 will provide the first platform for reporting back to the industry and anyone wishing to attend the open meeting is welcome. This will give companies the opportunity to put forward ideas and shape the future.

The open meeting will take place on Tuesday the 3 February at 10:30, in Room A42. In addition we will be devoting some of the meeting to a Question and Answer session on the Bluesign Standard, which we feel has potential within our industry, Peter Weber its CEO will be present.

Notes to Editors:
The European Outdoor Group is an association set up to represent the common interests of the European outdoor industry.
Founded in 2003 the European Outdoor Group has 46 members, which include some of the largest brands in the world. The combined strength of the member brands, and a close cooperation with national outdoor associations, provides an extremely powerful force to represent the European outdoor industry in a constructive and positive manner.

Further information about the European Outdoor Group can be found on the website:
www.europeanoutdoorgroup.com
Or contact Vanessa Knowles, Tel: +44 1942 886402, vanessa.knowles@europeanoutdoorgroup.com