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European Outdoor Summit early bird rates end soon, keynote speakers announced
On October 6 and 7, 2022, the outdoor world’s senior executives gather in Annecy for the European Outdoor Summit (EOS), organized by the European Outdoor Group (EOG) and Outdoor Sports Valley (OSV) – powered by Dometic as a champion sponsor for the first time. EOG and OSV members are offered ...
SAC pauses Higg Index consumer-facing transparency program
Following the Norwegian Consumer Agency’s (NCA) official notice to the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) – regarding Norrøna and H&M and the use of life cycle assessment (LCA) data from the Higg Index to support consumer-facing environmental marketing claims – the SAC has now released a statement addressing the allegations.
European Council and Parliament agree on provisional sustainability reporting directive
The European Council and European Parliament have reached a provisional political agreement on the corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD) that is now subject to approval by the Permanent Representatives Committee. Amending the 2014 non-financial reporting directive, the corporate sustainability reporting directive introduces more detailed reporting requirements, especially for large companies, ...
New products for Tour de France brand merchandise
Tour de France is introducing a new brand, “Maillot Jaune,” with products for cyclists of all abilities. Italian equipment supplier Santini is supporting the launch with the creation of an initial exclusive collection that celebrates the Tour. New manufacturers will be called on to support the brand in the future. ...
Porsche Ventures invests in London-based bicycle insurance provider
Laka, a London-based bicycle insurance provider that announced a $12 million Series A round earlier this year, has secured additional funding from Porsche Ventures, the venture capital unit of Porsche AG, bringing the total round to $13.5 million. The Series A funding was initially led by Autotech Ventures, followed by ...
After successful return of OutDoor by ISPO, EOG continues to plan for new era of trade shows
The European Outdoor Group (EOG) has thanked its members and the wider industry, who supported the return of OutDoor by ISPO this year. The trade show was held in Munich earlier this month for only the second time since EOG members voted to move the show in 2018. The EOG ...
ZDHC releases its third Impact Report
The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Foundation has released its 2021 Impact Report, which, according to the organization, shows positive results for the fashion industry. Based on manufacturing suppliers who tested and reported all their wastewater results on the ZDHC Gateway in October 2021, 98 percent of manufacturing suppliers ...
USWE acquires Oregon-based Giant Loop, opens U.S. subsidiary
Swedish company USWE Sports AB has agreed to acquire U.S. companies Giant Loop LLC and Armadillo Bag LLC, among the most successful brands in the soft-bag segment for the off-road market in the U.S. The fixed acquisition price totals approximately $3 million, of which roughly $1.5 million will be paid ...
Bergzeit launches second-hand platform
On June 1, 2022, the German mountain sports e-tailer Bergzeit launched its own online store for used outdoor clothing. At “Bergzeit RE-USE,” outdoor enthusiasts can get well-preserved and fully functional outdoor clothing. Second-hand shoes and outdoor gear will be added over the course of the year. “This is the only ...
New HeiQ AeoniQ yarns made from Circulose pulp instead of polyester and nylon
HeiQ of Switzerland and the Swedish sustaintech company Re:NewCell have joined forces to commercialize 100-percent circular and bio-based high tenacity filament yarns as viable replacements for fossil fibers such as nylon and polyester on a large scale. Together, the two companies are pursuing a vision of a circular and bio-based ...
The Natural Fibers Alliance calls for suspension of Higg Index
In the wake of the recent New York Times article “How fashion giants recast plastic as good for the planet,” the Natural Fibers Alliance (NFA) is also campaigning for an immediate suspension of the use of the Higg Index. Since its implementation in 2012 by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, the ...
Isbjörn reports consistent, sustainable growth
Swedish outdoor children’s apparel brand Isbjörn of Sweden has announced 20 percent year-over-year global growth through April 2022. Isbjörn was recently acquired by Online Brands Nordic AB, which will provide a solid financial backbone for further sustainable growth, and reported a healthy Ebitda of more than 11 percent.
SAC’s Higg Index faces public criticism from media and Norwegian authorities
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) faces headwinds for its Higg Materials Sustainability Index from the New York Times and the Norwegian Consumer Authority (NCA). One problem the coalition faces is an article published by the New York Times, accusing the Higg Index of strongly favoring synthetic materials made from fossil ...
Vittoria Group and A Dugast open new regional headquarters in the Netherlands
Right after the acquisition of A Dugast by the Vittoria Group in May 2021, there were considerations on how best to join forces and exploit synergies. On June 15, the two bicycle tire suppliers inaugurated the new headquarters of Vittoria Northern Europe and A Dugast in Oldenzaal, the Netherlands. This ...
First Norrøna Store opens in Germany
Norwegian outdoor brand Norrøna opened its first German flagship store on July 15, with 400 sqm of space on Sendlinger Straße at the entrance to the Asamhöfe in downtown Munich, previously home to Geox, the shoe brand. The Norrøna store opening is part of a large-scale sales and marketing initiative ...
OutDoor by ISPO 2022: The show is back. And so is the business community.
On Tuesday, June 14, the OutDoor by ISPO in Munich ended. The trade show was also representative of the relaunch of the ISPO Group’s sports trade shows after two and a half years of the Covid pandemic. Surprisingly for many, Messe München placed the show in the Munich Order Center ...
Mips presents new strategy and updated financial targets
At Capital Market Day 2022 in Stockholm on June 9, Swedish helmet technology and “Brain Protection System” (BPS) manufacturer Mips AB unveiled its new long-term strategy with updated financial targets and strategic priorities for the coming years. The reason for revising the company’s strategy and long-term financial targets is not ...
SSU partners with Rhenus on “largest bicycle components hub in Europe”
Signa Sports United (SSU) announced a strategic partnership with Rhenus Warehousing Solutions and the opening of a new state-of-the-art SSU warehouse. The newly built 20,000-square-meter facility, which SSU says is the largest bicycle parts hub in Europe, is strategically located in Hockenheim, Germany, with excellent distribution channels to several European ...
Fox Factory publishes first global sustainability report
In time for World Environment Day, Fox Factory – based in Georgia, USA – released its first sustainability report for 2021. The report includes the results of the company’s first materiality analysis, which led to the development of the Fox Factory Frontiers sustainability strategy. The publication summarizes the current state ...
Porsche takes over remaining 80 percent in Fazua
Porsche AG seemed to like what it saw when it acquired a 20 percent minority stake in fledgling e-bike drive manufacturer Fazua GmbH in January 2022. The German sports car maker now announced it will acquire the remaining 80 percent. No details were provided about the sale price.
Bergans named circular company of the year in Norway
Bergans was named “Circular Company of the Year” at Den Store Sirkulærkonferansen (Great Circular Conference) in Oslo on June 7. The annual conference, organized by Cnytt.no, the Norwegian Center for Circular Economy and Circular Norway, is a place where companies, industry, organizations and policymakers come together to present and discuss ...
Bain survey shows fast growth of sustainable thinking in Asian countries affected by pollution
The consulting firm Bain & Company has released the outcome of a new study conducted among 16,000 consumers in eleven countries across seven product categories. The interesting results: Most fast-growing Asia-Pacific markets have larger environmentally and socially conscious and health-conscious segments than mature markets like North America or Europe. The ...
Bruno Maier takes over helm of UWI from Claude Jordan
Following the retirement of the previous CEO and president of United Wheels Inc. (UWI, with bicycle brands Batch Bicycles, Buzz E-Bikes, Huffy, Niner Bikes, Royce Union and Vaast Bikes), Claude Jordan, after nearly four years in office, the U.S.-based company, under the wing of Hong Kong-based Covation Holdings Limited, has ...
Schöffel publishes sustainability report 2021
In its comprehensive sustainability report just published, Schöffel looks back on the efforts made to improve on transparency of the supply chain, product longevity and a reduction of CO2 emissions. Firstly, Schöffel collaborated for the first time with the University of Augsburg and the Augsburg chamber of industry and commerce ...
Nordic Swan Ecolabel increases focus on textiles
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel has announced new requirements for clothing and other textile products. The official and currently most important ”sustainability” label of all the Nordic countries (Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland), which has so far been used more for other consumer goods such as soaps, detergents, etc., is ...
SSU’s sales bolstered by acquisitions
Signa Sports United (SSU), battling worsening consumer sentiment in Europe and persistent bike/e-bike shortages as headwinds, expanded second-quarter revenues by 47.5 percent to €269.0 million from €182.0 million. The increases were aided by including results from its recent WiggleCRC and Tennis Express acquisitions (closed on Dec. 14 and Dec. ...
Worn Again Technologies builds textile recycling demo plant in Switzerland
Worn Again Technologies, a U.K.-based technology licensing company, reported that it is in the final planning stages of an innovative demonstration plant that will display its cutting-edge polymer processing technologies for textile recycling. The plant, which the business will build and run, will be built in Winterthur, Switzerland, and will ...
USWE sales up 88% in 2021, Q4 hit by geopolitical situation
Swedish company USWE Sports AB, which was founded in 2007 and went public on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market in June 2021, said in its delayed report for Q4, which ended March 31, that, as before, the quarter was marked by problems related to the latest lockdown in China, ...
Australian investment company acquires majority stake in Sea to Summit
Australian investment company Five V Capital has become the majority shareholder of Sea to Summit Pty Ltd, the adventure gear brand headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. Sea to Summit offers adventure equipment such as sleeping bags, dry bags, sleeping mats, tents, camping kitchens and outdoor accessories worldwide. In Australia, Sea ...
Munich bike retailer Alpha Bikes parts ways with Specialized, opens Giant flagship
Since founding Alpha Bikes in 1992, owners and CEOs Gerhard Wagner and Daniel Castro have worked hard to create an indispensable bike community in the German city of Munich. When they teamed up with Specialized in 2008, they even gave up their own brand. That was the year they opened ...
