All Legal & Institutional articles
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ArticlePFAS ban consultation phase starts, strongly backed by ChemSec members
The nonprofit organization international Chemical Secretariat (ChemSec) is campaigning for an EU-wide ban of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals, backed by more than 100 companies that are worth more than €130 billion in total revenue. With its PFAS Movement, ChemSec wants to give companies a platform and united voice ...
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News briefs
Outdoor Industry Association announces new president
The U.S. Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) board of directors has named Kent Ebersole as its new president, following seven months as the organization’s interim executive director. Ebersole, an outdoor industry veteran, joined the OIA in August 2022 with a broad range of experience in media, business strategy and non-profit consulting. ...
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News briefs
U.S. Outdoor Recreation Act reintroduced in Congress
The bipartisan America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA) has been reintroduced in Congress by Senators Joe Manchin (Democrats) and John Barrasso (Republicans). It seeks to enhance outdoor recreation and protect public lands and waters. The bill, developed over the past decade by the Outdoor Alliance and its partners, includes a number ...
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News briefs
Textile Exchange publishes Material Change Index Results
More than 400 companies (Textile Exchange members as well as third-party companies) have participated in the Textile Exchange Material Change Index campaign. The results of the survey have now been published online, reporting the companies’ progress made toward systematically measuring, managing and integrating a preferred fiber and materials strategy into ...
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News briefs
Austria expands support initiative for climate-friendly mobility to folding bikes
The Austrian government is accelerating its offensive to promote more environmentally friendly mobility. Together with local sports retailers, the Austrian ministry of transport (BMK) has already sponsored the purchase of around 12,000 bicycles in Austria in 2022 (including more than 3,000 transport bikes with and without electric drive). For 2023, ...
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News briefs
EOCA puts twelve fundraising projects up for election
Twice a year, the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) invites conservation organizations to apply for funding from EOCA fundraising with their projects. Each time, about 200 organizations apply, of which twelve have now been shortlisted. With the help of a public vote running through the next two weeks, it will ...
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Article
GOTS Version 7.0 published after long consultation process
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) has released its GOTS version 7.0. The new certification guidelines feature an expanded scope of environmental and social criteria while aiming to maintain a standard that is practicable for industrial production and appropriate for a wide range of products. GOTS version 7.0 strives to ...
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News briefs
IGOT and Opening Up the Outdoors seek communications manager/outdoor activist
The non-profit initiatives It’s Great Out There Coalition (IGOT) and Opening Up the Outdoors are currently seeking a communications manager to support their campaigns to get more people in Europe active in the great outdoors. The new role offers a high degree of flexibility in terms of location and working ...
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Article
A view from the European Outdoor Group
Last month, European Outdoor Group members gathered (online) for the Annual General Assembly (AGA). During this important meeting, we took the opportunity to look back and ahead. As well as completing some formal business, we agreed on our core program of activity and budget for 2023. Traditionally, the AGA is ...
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Article
She Is Outdoors Women’s Gear Award: A target group with much untapped potential
A down jacket by Rab has won the Women’s Gear Award from She Is Outdoors. Five other products have received honorable mentions. The award offers the opportunity to take a holistic look at the women’s segment, and while there were many impressive submissions, it is clear that a lot of ...
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News briefs
Bluesign still meets new MRSL 3.0 standard
After ZDHC’s MRSL 3.0 update, Bluesign remains an official certification standard at ZDHC Level 3. According to the company, approximately 20,000 Bluesign approved chemical products that exceed standard MRSL 3.0 compliance are listed in the ZDHC gateway. An important requirement for Bluesign textile standard approval of a chemical product is ...
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Article
EOG announces new board members following AGA
The European Outdoor Group (EOG) held its 2023 Annual General Assembly (AGA) online on Feb. 21, giving members an update on the association’s key activities and achievements over the last 12 months. Five new EOG Board members were also appointed, including a role that has a dedicated CSR and sustainability ...
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News briefs
Terms of reference for leather traceability alignment project Cotance signed
The Cotance initiative to align leather traceability systems has been taking shape since its inception in Sept. 2022. In monthly meetings, key leather-related certification system operators and interested CEN TC 289 standardization experts have been preparing to define minimum traceability standards and mandatory verification evidence together with the Cotance secretariat. ...
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News briefs
GRI kicks off working process on new reporting standard for the textile sector
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has announced a new sector to be added to its existing standards: Textiles and Apparel. The new GRI Textiles and Apparel Standard sets out to apply to any organization with a primary focus on textile and apparel production and manufacturing, but also brands, retailers, and ...
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News briefs
Latest major update of Higg Brand & Retail module released
Assessment tools and reporting standards are evolving quickly: At the same time that the Global Reporting Initiative announced the planned creation of a whole new sector for textiles and apparel, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) has released a major update to its Higg Brand & Retail Module (BRM). With this ...
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News briefs
New report questions sponsor choices in winter sports
A new report by Badvertising has sought to draw attention to the sponsorship of winter sporting events by what it calls “high-carbon” companies, alongside documenting the effects of climate change on the winter sports sector. The report writers use the example of Sweden’s Vasaloppet – the world’s biggest and oldest ...
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News briefs
Euratex announces new project to support SMEs in textile recycling
The European Apparel and Textile Confederation (Euratex) is leading a three-year project called RegioGreenTex, aiming at mapping and reducing the difficulties that currently exist in the implementation of a circular economy model within the EU textile ecosystem. The partners of the project met in Brussels on Feb. 21 to kick-start ...
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News briefs
European Parliament calls for an EU Cycling Strategy
The European Parliament has adopted a Resolution calling for an EU cycling strategy. The Resolution on developing an EU Cycling Strategy tasks the European Commission with doubling the number of kilometers cycled in Europe by 2030. Whilst legally non-binding, it is a key document to shape future policy priorities and ...
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Article
Grassroots organizations invited to apply for #itsgreatoutthere grants of up to €5K
The It’s Great Out There Coalition (IGOT), a not-for-profit collaboration on a European level launched by the EOG and other founding members in 2017, has annnounced the latest round of #itsgreatoutthere grants to support European initiatives that get people active in the outdoors. Through Feb. 28, nonprofit organizations can apply ...
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Article
Too slow, too limited: POW publishes open letter to FIS urging climate action
In an open letter delivered to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) in Chourchevel following the men’s downhill finals on Feb 12, 2023, Protect Our Winters (POW) has called for greater climate action and transparency from the FIS.
