Outdoor and sustainability - ideas and constant progress
- Written by Portal Editor
The 25th OutDoor jubilee edition show takes place from Sunday 17 to Wednesday 20 June 2018 in Friedrichshafen and is open to trade visitors only. Sustainability - outdoor firms are rising to the challenge and making it part of their company DNA.
Sustainability is not something prescribed by law, but the majority of outdoor firms are now committed to sustainability and transparent social standards. Where there is a will, there is a way. Outdoor companies are making this crystal clear.
Outdoor and sustainability:
Although the outdoor business processes a comparatively small amount of fabrics and textiles compared to the fashion industry, it has established as a pioneer and innovator when it comes to sustainability. In addition, it is increasingly meeting customer expectations, which are particularly demanding on this issue. OutDoor show in Friedrichshafen from 17 to 20 June, 2018 clearly demonstrates that the industry is continuing to rise to the challenge and manufacturing using clean, fair and high-quality techniques to an ever-greater extent. The result: backpacks made from recycled fishing nets, T-Shirts made from ocean waste and recycled laminates made from PET bottles which are now a serious functional alternative to less eco-friendly membranes.
At the 25th jubilee edition of the OutDoor show in Friedrichshafen, plastic microfibres is a widely-discussed topic. Last year, the Guppyfriend, a special washbag with a filter function that captures microplastic particles during the washing process received an OutDoor Gold Award. Certain firms offer it in their collection, to help promote its use. However, it remains clear that: "We need creative ideas and to drive research forward to develop genuine long-term solutions that are not just based on filtration,” argues Melanie Kuntnawitz, Sustainability Manager Jack Wolfskin. Vaude proves that this is possible with Biopile: a fabric pile fleece - a cellulose fibre that is 100% biodegradable. At OutDoor 2018, Röjk are launching a collection made exclusively from natural fibres or biologically degradable polyactides. Waldkauz and Roughstuff are showcasing jackets made of Loden and wool fleece that involve no microplastics. Picture is presenting fully compostable sweat jackets.
Stretch fabrics will be completely recycled in the future too. Taiwanese manufacturer Sheico is starting a "new green era” with the first ever recycled Spandex yarn, while Primaloft is offering a synthetic insulation made from 100 per cent PCR (Post-consumer recycled polyester) without making any sacrifices on performance and softness. Vaude is making backpacks and bags from recycled fishing nets, this is a significant step forward given that ten years ago nylon 6,6 was considered impossible to recycle. Adidas is now introducing a range of products from functional T-shirts, to footwear midsoles, to outer layer fabrics from ocean waste and supporting the ‘Parley for the Oceans’ initiative, which puts forward solutions to end marine plastic pollution by cleaning up shorelines, collecting plastic waste and using closed loop recycling systems. And Edelrid produces climbing ropes from recycled polyamide.
Sustainability is not something prescribed by law, but the majority of outdoor firms are now committed to sustainability and transparent social standards. Where there is a will, there is a way. Outdoor companies are making this crystal clear.
For more information, please visit: www.outdoor-show.de and www.facebook.com/OutDoor.Show/.
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