Sustainability: challenges and opportunities for the industry

Sustainability and environmental protection are major challenges for the sports and outdoor industry. The advancing climate change is not only forcing politicians to rethink, companies, economic sectors and private individuals must also take action.

Some companies are already leading the way with ecologically fair production conditions and innovative materials, while others are still struggling. Reflection on the ecological footprint, production, materials and the circular economy is essential. In addition to the environment, social issues and governance are also playing an increasingly important role.

Discover the current trends and challenges as well as best practices in sustainability on this topic page and at OutDoor by ISPO 2024.

What moves the industry

Bio-based materials

Algae, seaweed, olive pits and agricultural waste have one thing in common - they are innovative, recyclable raw materials for your products. Eco-design plays an important role in the sustainable transformation of the sports and outdoor industry and bio-based materials are an important key to lower emissions and circularity. In the Material Lab at OutDoor by ISPO 2024, you can expect the most innovative materials in the spirit of the circular economy.

Close

Green Deal

Climate neutrality by 2050 - that is the promise of the EU Green Deal. In order to implement it, the sports and outdoor industry must also make decisive changes. As consumers cannot consider the impact of every product they buy on the climate and environment down to the last detail, this task falls to the companies. Certificates, circularity and the future therefore go hand in hand.

More about the EU Green Deal

What does this mean for the industry?

Close

Textile and PET recycling

Recycling from PET bottles is often the first thing that comes to mind when you ask about circular products. And not without reason, as these are easy to recycle compared to clothing and shoes, and the step from PET to rPET is not difficult. However, legislators and consumers are increasingly demanding genuine textile recycling. Despite all the current hurdles, there will be no alternative in the long term. The industry currently has high hopes for the development of polyester polymers made from renewable raw materials such as wood or sugar cane - so-called BioPET - as well as for CCU fibers based on carbon emissions.

More on the topic

Close

Sustainability Hub: Insights & Trends

The Sustainability Hub has become an integral part of ISPO and OutDoor by ISPO. For years, exhibitors have been presenting the latest trends and innovative ideas in sustainability here - a catalyst for positive change. A marketplace of sorts, showcasing the latest approaches to ESG (environmental, social and governance) solutions in the sports industry and beyond.

Part of the Sustainability Hub is the Material Lab, where we introduce you to innovative, high-performance and recyclable raw materials for your textile designs or packaging. The life cycle of materials is presented in individual steps, from the development of the raw material through the intermediate steps to the finished material.

We present current trends and insights from the Sustainability Hub at OutDoor by ISPO 2024:

OutDoor by ISPO 2024

Products for the outdoor heart

The outdoor heart beats faster: from jackets made from recycled feathers to climbing harnesses made from bio-based materials and shoes with natural rubber - these products have received the ISPO Award and are pioneers in terms of a sustainable future.

To the magazine

More on the topic Sustainability