The sports industry is facing a Herculean task: the global control of its suppliers required by the EU in the new supply chain law. The countdown to implementation is running. But how can we monitor whether all social and sustainability standards are being implemented? One thing is clear: only together can brands solve the challenges.
The good news is that the tasks ahead for the sports and outdoor industry are so complex and comprehensive that numerous representatives of retailers, brands and the European Outdoor Group (EOG) are calling for cooperation. "We can only solve this together. That is why we will publish our research results. We want to share the know-how we have built up over the past few months with the industry," said Debbie Read and Tim Fish of Equip Outdoor, for example, in a presentation on their sustainability report at OutDoor by ISPO 2023.
But what is it all about? The "Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDD)", or EU Supply Chain Act for short, is expected to come into force in 2024. It affects all companies operating in the EU with at least 500 employees and a net turnover of at least 150 million euros. For this group, the regulation will become mandatory in 2026. The second group includes companies that have more than 250 employees and generate net sales of more than EUR 40 million. For them, the law will take effect in 2028.
The EU supply chain law provides for regulatory control including fines and civil liability. This means that companies are liable if they fail to meet their due diligence obligations and human rights are therefore violated or the environment is damaged. Basically, the regulation aims to require companies to align their business model and corporate strategy with limiting global warming to 1.5 °C in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement. Regulatory authorities in EU member states are to monitor whether companies actually comply with the new regulations. They can levy fines of at least five percent of global sales.
To prove the correct implementation of the standards, brand owners must ensure the traceability of a product back to fourth-tier suppliers (TIER 4). In concrete terms, this means that brands must be able to prove, for example, whether pesticides were used in the cultivation of a hemp fiber. Data collection and analysis are mandatory prerequisites for this. Only with detailed information can weak points be identified, adjustments implemented and necessary certifications applied for by the EU. Or as Pascale Moreau from the consulting firm Ohana put it at OutDoor by ISPO: "No data, no compliance, no market!"
The question arises: how should the data be collected? "The supply chain ecosystem is so complex that traceability can become a case for a profiler," said Joel Svedlund at the outdoor trade show in Munich. And the Swedish sustainable development expert at Peak63 announced, "The EU will probably make 'Digital Product Passports' mandatory in 2027. Manufacturers need to prepare for this now!"
The industry receives support from associations such as the European Outdoor Group or the Outdoor Industry Associationfor example through various seals and initiatives, self-assessment tools such as the Higg Index or the measurement of CO₂ emissions and suggestions for their reduction. For example, the Sustainability Data Exchange Project (SDEX), which the EOG has been conducting together with the German Sporting Goods Industry Association since the beginning of 2023, addresses the problematic situation around the exchange of sustainability data at product level between brands and retailers. The aim is to standardize various attributes in order to enable customers to make more sustainable purchasing decisions.
In the "Carbon Reduction Project"the EOG is exploring ways to decarbonize supply chains. The project is an association of brands that want to identify common suppliers in order to discuss optional steps with them. Katy Stevens, Head of CSR & Sustainability at EOG, presented some figures from the project at OutDoor by ISPO. According to the figures, a supplier supplies an average of three to four brands. "One supplier even worked with 44 manufacturers," Stevens said - an effective lever to get action going. "The good news is that suppliers are highly willing to collaborate." CO₂ reductions of 50 to 60 percent are thus achievable in the relatively short term, he said.
David Eklund, CEO of Icebug, presented a pilot project at OutDoor by ISPO that became a success story in a very short time: Together with five U.S. apparel brands, Icebug funded a solar roof for a TIER 1 factory in Vietnam. "Eighty-five percent of emissions happen before the product leaves the factory," Eklund recited. To reduce them, he said, switching electricity to solar energy is the best recipe - and much easier to implement than optimizing heat production. A nice side effect: production costs dropped by 20 to 40 percent. Aku, Garmont and Mammut have joined the The Solar Rooftop Scaling Program. With assistance from Icebug and solar vendor BayWa these three outdoor brands have taken the first step to help their joint factory in Vietnam switch to solar energy. "This project shows that no company can do everything on its own. But by sharing information and dividing the time and costs, we can find solutions together."
Red Flag for Environment and Health: PFAS are toxic! And yet omnipresent: in frying pans, food packaging, rain jackets and in our outdoor equipment are the toxic chemicals. Find out why this is a concern and which brands have found sustainable alternatives here.
PFAS or PFCs are chemical compounds consisting of carbon and fluorine atoms. The abbreviation stands for "per- and poly fluorinated alkyl substances". They are exceptionally stable, water-repellent and heat-resistant and are therefore popular for finishing textiles.
PFAS are used in a wide variety of industries. For example, they are found in food packaging, cleaning agents and construction materials. The apparel industry uses PFAS to protect textiles from staining and moisture. They are coated with the chemicals to prevent moisture penetration - raindrops simply bead up. So it's very likely that your water-resistant outdoor jacket contains PFAS.
PFAS have been shown to be harmful to the environment and human health in several scientific studies. They are classified as toxic and carcinogenic and can damage organs such as the liver, kidneys, thyroid and immune system.
Particularly problematic is the fact that PFAS are persistent, meaning they cannot be degraded. They end up in the environment primarily during production, but also during the use of products containing PFAS: through wear and tear, during washing, and ultimately during their disposal.
Extensive scientific studies have shown that PFAS are widespread almost everywhere in the world. In rivers, lakes, oceans, groundwater, soils and even in the air. They have also been detected in our food: Fish, meat and vegetables are often contaminated and carry the toxic chemicals directly into our bodies.
In 2011, environmentalists from Greenpeace launched the Detox campaign with the aim of detoxifying the textile industry. A key demand on the industry is to eliminate wastewater emissions of hazardous chemicals. Throughout the supply chain. The organization also pressures policymakers to enforce stricter laws and regulations on the use of hazardous chemicals.
NGOs and scientists* have brought the issue to the attention of the general public over the past 20 years and have made a big difference with their research findings. Most people remember at least the discussion about toxic Teflon pans or cheap plastic toys.
Politicians have also reacted and many countries have taken measures to curb the spread of PFAS and have banned certain PFAS compounds. In the European Union, PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS are subject to mandatory authorization because they have been classified as "substances of very high concern." An EU-wide PFAS ban is currently being discussed. Unfortunately, however, a global solution is not in sight. In many countries, there is not even a specific labelling requirement for products containing PFAS.
More and more sustainable outdoor brands are going to great lengths to completely eliminate PFAS. And there are environmentally friendly alternatives when it comes to making textiles water-repellent. For example, if a fabric is woven appropriately, it can naturally be water-repellent as a result. In general, there are naturally water-repellent materials, such as wool or hemp. If waterproofing is required, some manufacturers now offer sustainable alternatives to silicone and PFAS made from beeswax or vegetable waxes.
Unfortunately, there is no uniform labeling or certification to date that indicates PFAS-free. Some brands identify their products via labels or tags that say "PFAS-free" or "without PFAS". There are also special seals that require the absence of the toxic chemicals. These include bluesign®, Oeko-Tex® or Green Shape. More and more brands, not only from the outdoor industry, are publicly committing to reducing or eliminating the use of PFAS.
1 - VAUDE is on the verge of a breakthrough.
At VAUDE, they've been working for a long time to banish PFAS from both their products and their supply chain. The brand is not only bluesign® certified, but has also committed to being consistently sustainable with its own Green Shape label. Currently, all clothing fabrics, sleeping bags, backpacks and shoes are already PFAS-free. By 2025, VAUDE also wants to equip tents with environmentally friendly PFAS alternatives.
2 - Patagonia with new GORE-TEX ePE membrane.
As of last fall, 78 percent of Patagonia's water-repellent materials are PFAS-free. The company has been working to drastically reduce the toxic chemicals since 2013 and also wants to eliminate them completely. The current collaboration with GORE-TEX represents another milestone in this effort: the newly developed ePE membrane forms a sustainable alternative made of microporous polyethylene (PE). The new products have been announced for 2024.
3 - Fjällräven has avoided PFAS for more than ten years.
The Swedish outdoor brand has developed its own guidelines for handling chemicals in cooperation with the Swedish Chemical Group and strictly adheres to avoiding them. From backpacks to rain jackets, absolutely all products at Fjällräven are impregnated fluorocarbon-free. Currently, the brand is also working on the production of PFC-free zippers.
4 - PFAS-free outdoor wear from Houdini
It took six years for outdoor brand Houdini to completely eliminate PFAS - in 2018, they did it: all products are free of the toxic chemicals. Instead, recycled hydrophobic polyesters are processed, whose membrane is also water-repellent. The company is also committed to a PFAS-free world through the Popfree project, sharing its sustainable innovations to support the transformation of the entire industry.
5 - PFC-free outdoor jackets from Bleed Clothing.
The sustainable outdoor brand from Upper Franconia has guaranteed PFC-free since its founding. For this, the company has teamed up with Sympatex. The company's membranes are made of 100% recycled PFC-free polyester, which is super water-repellent and can also be recycled again.
6 - Ortovox guarantees PFC-free even under extreme conditions
The mountain sports outfitter Ortovox has committed not only itself but also its suppliers to comply with the "Guide to Chemical Management and Compliance" and has been manufacturing all products without the use of PFCs since this year. The brand thus provides proof that extreme sports equipment can also be sustainable.
7 - Sustainable clothing, footwear and tents from Jack Wolfskin.
Since 2011, Jack Wolfskin realizes the bluesign® standards and announced with the spring-summer collection 2019 the complete renunciation of PFAS: all backpacks, bags and even all tents of the manufacturer are since then finished without per- and polyfluorinated chemicals.
Are you intrigued by the growing number of vegan athletes and the impact of plant-based diets on their performance? Dive into our comprehensive article where we reveal famous vegan athletes, explore the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle, and showcase the top 15 plant-based athletes who have risen to prominence in the sports world. Learn how these vegan athletes are not only making a difference in their own lives, but also inspiring others to consider the advantages of adopting a plant-based diet.
Our top vegan athletes include:
This trend has also arrived in the sports world. More and more professionals live vegan and oppose the stereotype that vegan nutrition does not give strength or is not a basis for sports. Vegan athletes are also role models for young people, because their professional status gives them great responsibility within society.
An environmentally friendly lifestyle has many faces. Whether it's less plastic waste, textiles made of artificial leather or doing without the car for weekly shopping. But one trend in particular has stood out in recent years: veganism. The market is creating more and more alternatives to animal products, making this form of nutrition increasingly interesting, especially for young people. This creates more scope for innovation and benefits the environment.
why do people fail on a vegan diet while others succeed? There are only a few of the vegan athletes who have given up their plant-based diet so far. Nevertheless, one prominent athlete is included in this list, namely boxing legend Mike Tyson. In 2010, he started his vegan diet and lost 50 kilograms in a short time. According to Mike Tyson's statements, he felt much better and made health progress. Since 2020, however, he has been eating meat again. But the reason is not deficiency symptoms or health problems - he wanted to regain his old strength and gain weight, he explained in a podcast.
The topic of veganism has since also become a contentious issue, especially between proponents of plant-based diets and meat eaters. In principle, a quick change in diet is not recommended without thorough research, because there is a risk that the body is not supplied with important nutrients. Amino acids in particular are a point of contention, because vegan Protein-alternatives do not have the same biological valency as beef, for example. Here high-quality preparations must come, in order to create a balance.
In principle, the vegan way of life is healthy, if one nourishes oneself from fresh food. Fruits and vegetables supply us as main components of a healthy nutrition with important vitamins, nuts are perfect fat suppliers and Veganer do besides without the high quantities of salt in meat and sausage products. Many see the protein supply with a vegan nutrition problematically, but well informed there are also here no difficulties - Tofu, leguminous plants, beans and peas offer for example good alternatives.
Athletes in particular should find out in advance about good sources of protein and supplements for amino acid and vitamin intake. In the performance area, high-quality proteins in combination with amino acids and B vitamins are important to provide the body with ideal nutrition. Once the foundation is laid, nothing stands in the way of increased performance - vegan food is digested more quickly and the midday slump is absent. Due to the omission of fatigue, sleep is better at night and thus also the regeneration after sports.
Many fail at a vegan way of life because they make too radical changes and renounce the consumption of animal products from one day to the next. Slowly adapting your diet is the key to success, according to Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Austrian bodybuilding legend and former governor of California does not live completely vegan, but has changed his diet to largely plant-based alternatives.
Developments in professional sports have shown that it is not the vegan diet that is the problem, but the eating habits. Many vegan athletes are proof that a purely plant-based diet and top performance go hand in hand.
So what does that mean? Grabbing your grocery bag, buying vegan food and changing your diet without sound research is not recommended. Above all, raw food diets are not advisable because the body lacks essential nutrients as a result. Those who pursue the goal of switching to a vegan diet are best off dealing with the basic principles and which nutrients they need as a first step.
Finally, we answer frequently asked questions about vegan athletes.
A purely plant-based diet can support muscle building very well. The only important thing is to make sure that you have a sufficient protein intake in your vegan diet.
The strongest man in the world is Lithuanian Žydrūnas Savickas and he does not live vegan. But the one who has been living exclusively vegan since 2011 is Germany's former strongest athlete, Patrik Baboumian.
The Argentine soccer player does not live a completely vegetarian lifestyle, but he largely avoids meat and relies on a plant-based diet, as do many other soccer players.
There are many reasons why people are failing on a vegan diet. The success or failure of individuals on a vegan diet depends on several factors. It can be the lack of planning and knowledge, inadequate food choices, personal preferences and taste, social and environmental factors, and health conditions.
Also, you shouldn't forget that what works for one person may not work for another.
The outdoor lifestyle walks a fine line. On the one hand: healthy recreation, fascinating nature experiences, socially oriented value creation. On the other hand: climate change, landscape destruction, overtourism. In this dichotomy, athletes, associations, destinations, travel providers and suppliers are positioning themselves clearly. Sustainability is the megatrend in outdoor activities - with sometimes surprising solutions.
70 years after the first ascent, Mount Everest recorded a new record year in 2023. The Nepalese government issued almost 500 permits for the ascent. Many alpinists follow the procession of climbers with horror, who buy an all-inclusive expedition to the highest peak on earth from around 50,000 dollars upwards. In Europe, too, outdoor tourism is sometimes not very individual and in harmony with nature. For example, when the traffic jam of campers and motor homes on the road to the North Cape in the Nordic midsummer is reminiscent of the rush hour of a big city. Or when self-proclaimed influencers besiege the pools above the Königssee, which were hyped as natural infinity pools and are now closed. Or when so-called Viking tourists allow themselves to be sailed with comfortable full board on cruise ships to the endangered perpetual ice of the polar regions or to deserted islands - and thus contribute significantly to climate change.
Admittedly, these are extremes for which the true outdoor community has no sympathy. But even every unspectacular excursion, weekend trip or vacation in nature leaves a footprint. Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier openly faces this dilemma. In an interview with WELT, the popular protagonist of the outdoor scene confesses: "If I say I want to leave nature completely as it is, then I may not enter it. But is that what we want? Actually, no. After all, nature gives us so much. After all, you want to live with nature, not past each other." The crucial question for her is: How much use is okay? Here she argues for control. "You should be able to continue to use the areas that you've already started to use anyway, and at the same time issue a kind of grandfathering for those areas that have remained unused until now."
Inhabitants of the countries in the north have a traditionally close relationship with nature. The philosophy of living happily with and in nature is deeply rooted in the souls of the people from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. Their traditions of "Friluftliv" (outdoor life) and "Allemänsrätt" (everyone's right) shape a culture of nature that is the basis for the regular top rankings in the global happiness index.
A lot has to happen for the rather relaxed Swedes to critically discuss the future of their Allemänsrätt, which is even enshrined in the Basic Law. Katrin Steverding knows only too well why this is the case. As head of operations, she manages the Glaskogen nature reserve. The paradisiacal spot comes pretty close to the ideal image of Nordic nature: hills, rocks and lakes, forests rich in wildlife and a diverse fauna across three climate zones. But recreational pressure is growing in excess. Together with the regional government of Värmland, the Glaskogen Foundation is tackling the problem scientifically. Visitor flows and behavior, or guest litter and its impact on nature, are measured so that measures can then be taken to ensure lasting sustainability.
Steverding, a tourism expert from Germany, and her staff want to ensure that the nature reserve can continue to serve people's recreation and experience of nature in the future: hiking, swimming, canoeing, biking, fishing, camping. Otherwise, the rule of reason of the Allemänsrätt applies: do not disturb and do not destroy nature. What used to work smoothly with a lot of landscape and relatively few visitors, and is still no problem most of the year, reaches its limits during the vacation months of July and August. The Glaskogen as a unique landscape attracts adventure-hungry vacationers* from Sweden, Europe and all over the world. In addition to the masses of sensible outdoor enthusiasts, there is a particularly troublesome minority that shows little consideration.
Some canoe groups party on the islands, leaving trash and feces behind. The bushcraft scene cuts trees for night camps or rafts and carries boulders together. Motorized off-roaders plow through nature. RVs park on trails and in the forest. An additional annoyance is that many guests do not buy a Glaskogencard, which is obligatory for access and the proceeds of which are used to maintain and preserve the nature reserve. The park manager would also like to see greater financial participation from tour operators, who after all profit from the beauty of the destination. In any case, Katrin Steverding and her team are fighting for the nature reserve's continued existence - with education, limited controls, and soon, perhaps, further necessary restrictions.
Just as the Glaskogen Foundation limits overtourism, the Scandinavian outdoor industry is marching consistently in the direction of sustainability. In all countries, there are now green labels with strict specifications that are only awarded after thorough examination and allow tourists to make a conscious decision in favor of sustainable offers.
Scandinavia appears to be a hotspot for sustainability strategies, but the development of green outdoor projects has long been advancing throughout Europe. Here are a few examples:
Not only tourism destinations, but also numerous brands in the sports and outdoor industry have committed themselves to responsible living in and with nature. For years now, the OutDoor by ISPO has been demonstrating how committed the industry is. Thus, this year's trade show will once again focus on the change towards a circular economy and sustainable production. Examples will be provided, among others, by the members of the Scandinavian Outdoor Group with many well-known brands in the Scandinavian Village.
Since Antje von Dewitz became CEO of VAUDE, she has consistently focused everything on sustainability. In her guest article for ISPO.com, she tells us what challenges she has to contend with, which measures are most effective, and why she is optimistic about the future.
My name is Antje von Dewitz and I took over from my father as CEO of VAUDE in 2009. Through his first, far-reaching ecological projects, he contributed to my conviction that sustainable business is possible and that companies can and should assume ecological responsibility! Since I became CEO, everything at our company has been consistently geared towards sustainability: at the site, in the supply chains, in the products.
In my guest article for ISPO.com I would like to give you an insight into our transformation and the associated challenges, and encourage you to take a sustainable path. After all, it is possible for a company to act in a fair and humane manner, to be sustainable, and thus to achieve economic success!
When we started the transformation 15 years ago, we were already aware that we are one of the most critical industries and thus have a large share in global problems such as climate change, resource consumption, etc. It is only logical that we also have to be part of the solution and want to face up to this challenge. So it is only logical that we also have to be part of the solution and want to take on this task.
At VAUDE, we consistently pursue a sustainable corporate strategy with high, ambitious goals. Among other things, we have committed to the Greenpeace Detox Commitment or the Science Based Targets in order to make our contribution to meeting the 1.5 degree target according to the Paris Climate Agreement. To this end, we repeatedly work together with NGOs that do not back down from criticism - for example Greenpeace or WWF. We want to get to know their demands and measure ourselves against them.
Our commitment is reflected in our Green Shape label, which almost 80 percent of VAUDE products already meet. Green Shape products are manufactured fairly in audited production facilities, have a high level of material efficiency and are designed to be as easy to repair and recycle as possible. Their materials are certified according to the highest sustainability standards and the majority of them are recycled or bio-based. As a result, they save around 50% in emissions compared to virgin materials.
Green Shape thus fully pays into our climate commitment and our efforts around circular economy. In Germany, we have been climate-neutral since 2012 through savings and offsetting, and this will also apply to our globally manufactured products from 2022.
We are working at full speed to to further reduce our emissions based on ambitious climate targets. This is still a major challenge, especially in global production and supply chains. To this end, we are also working with other brands in the European Outdoor Group (EOG) in the Supply Chain Decarbonization Project (SCDP) - the largest project for climate-neutral supply chains. Real sustainable transformation is only ever possible as a team sport, which is why we also work together with other companies across the value chain in many initiatives and projects, for example on the topic of textile recycling.
Currently, only 1% of all textiles worldwide are recycled. In order to build up a truly functioning infrastructure here, everyone has to come together at one table: from yarn manufacturers, material producers, brands and retailers to collectors, sorters and recyclers. Everyone in the value chain needs to know and learn from each other and work towards the same goal. This is incredibly complex, but I am convinced that the changed political framework conditions will make it possible in the coming years.
As a company, we have become more and more political over the last 15 years, because in view of the global challenges, it is nevertheless very strange that it is much more difficult to to assume corporate responsibility than to let it go. It is currently still cheaper to leave your own mess lying around than to clean it up again. No wonder that most people still believe that sustainability and profitability are mutually exclusive. and profitability are mutually exclusive.
Sustainable management is possible, and I am very happy that the legal framework is now being created step by step. With the European Green Deal clearly states that the textile industry must become recyclable and climate-neutral by 2050.
In 1994, we had actually already gone that far once. We had launched the first fully recyclable polyester collection in conjunction with the Ecolog recycling network. We unfortunately discontinued it fifteen years later because it was simply ahead of its time. With our new Rethink products based purely on PET, we can now once again guarantee that our textiles can be fully recycled. As a result we now meet all EU requirements in these products with regard to a closed textile loop: they are durable, recyclable, recycled and free of harmful substances.
I am proud that we at VAUDE have built up expertise in sustainable business. We are also happy to share this expertise - for example, in our VAUDE Academy for sustainable management. Because the sustainable transformation only works together. We are heading toward an overheating planet and need to take climate change much more seriously. Cooperation creates real change and is fun! As an entrepreneur As an entrepreneur, I want to provide impetus and encouragement - for example, through my LinkedIn profile. What drives me on the inside is that I can look my children and grandchildren in the eye later and say: We really, really tried.