OutDoor by ISPO in Munich focuses on sustainability

As part of these efforts, a number of special areas are being offered at the trade fair, including the ISPO Awards Exhibition, the Sustainability Hub, the GreenroomVoice Transparency Tour, a highlight exhibit set up in the foyer and the integrative OutDoor Conference. Each activity is providing visitors with insights and outline best-case scenarios for sustainable and solution-focused ideas.

The Sustainability Hub is offering a range of perspectives and introductions to the topic of traceability and transparency. The hub is serving as a source of comprehensive information about environmental and social impacts. It will focus in particular on climate-protection measures. Each day, a GreenroomVoice Transparency Tour is being held as part of an arrangement with GreenroomVoice. The tour of the hub for trade fair visitors is being led personally by curator Anna Rodewald, ISPO said in a press release.

Sustainability is a major trend in the sports industry — a fact also reflected in the products that have been nominated for an ISPO Award. “This dominating trend was clearly seen in the latest ISPO Awards,” said Andi Spies, an award juror. “Product developers have been increasingly integrating sustainability into their work for years now. This trend is showing no signs of slowing down. The benchmark here is mono-material textiles and functional clothing that is completely biodegradable. Product durability is another aspect of sustainability. Modern products last longer thanks to the extremely tough materials and robust components that are used to make them. A supposedly higher price is justified in these terms.”

Regenerative value creation is the focal topic of the OutDoor Conference that will be held on June 14. It will explore one pressing question: How can commercial success be achieved in a way that also addresses the desperately needed regeneration of people and societies as well as nature and the climate?

Successful entrepreneurs who work in the outdoor and other industries will discuss how this is being achieved around the world today with the help of specific figures and examples. The speakers will focus in particular on such pressing outdoor issues as supply and value chains, retailing, companies, technology, the climate, human rights and financing. They will explore one other critical question as well: How can we work with political leaders to create an improved framework that fosters sustainable business practices?

Once the conference has ended, the ISPO Group and NOW Partners, a key co-organiser of this meeting along with the European Outdoor Group, will offer innovation programmes throughout the year. During these programmes, experts will show outdoor companies how they can achieve commercial success in all business activities by focusing on the regeneration of people and societies as well as nature and the climate. In the process, trade-fair and conference inspiration will turn into specific help that will foster a company’s transformation!

More than 50 per cent of exhibitors are showcasing sustainable solutions in the area of product, material and processing development. Visitors are discovering a huge range of newly developed outdoor products in the exhibition areas. Well-established companies are presenting their answers to changing consumer needs and new supply chains along with start-ups. 

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)