Industry focus - Environment


• German sporting goods manufacturer Adidas proved that athletic footwear can be produced sustainably. A joint project with the New-York-based initiative “Parley for the Oceans” yielded a shoe made of recycled plastic marine debris.


• The young outdoor company Picture Organic Clothing received the ISPO AWARD in the ECO category several times.


The company has a new generation of its award-winning ski helmet, made of a polymer sourced from corn plants as well as old automotive cockpits.


• Bergans of Norway’s Eidford Jacket is made from the material ecodear by textile manufacturer Toray. The fabric uses waste molasses, a by-roduct of sugar production. It is said to set a milestone in the development of resource-saving plastics and in the utilisation of renewable resources instead of fossil oil.


Not all good - a Greenpeace warning


D


efender of the natural world, Greenpeace has sounded a warning that when it comes


to hazardous per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in outdoor gear, it’s not all good news. In its investigation, the results of


which were revealed at ISPO Munich, Greenpeace tested a range of outdoor gear for hazardous per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). The study revealed that not only


• Outdoor clothing designer Patagonia has linked with insulation technology specialist Primaloft and has converted its entire Nano Puff collection using PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco, a synthetic insulation with 55% recycled content.


• Patagonia has also introduced neoprene-free wetsuits, made with natural rubber derived from sources which are Forest stewardship Council certified by the Rainforest Alliance.


• This spring, a family business from southern Germany, Vaude, introduced cycling and outdoor sports footwear made with eco- friendly leather by German


manufacturer Heinen.


The outdoor model features a 100% recyclable Sympatex membrane in


combination with the leather. It is water- repellant and breathable.


outdoor clothing and footwear but also camping and hiking equipment such as backpacks, tents and sleeping bags contain chemicals that are hazardous to the environment and to human health. This follows an analysis conducted


on items produced and sold by various outdoor brands, selected for testing by outdoor enthusiasts and Greenpeace supporters. This is the first time a Greenpeace


product testing investigation has been designed with the participation of the public. Out of the 40 products that were


tested, only four were found to be free from the per- and polyfluorinated chemicals that were investigated, to the detection levels used. Greenpeace tested 11 jackets; eight


pairs of trousers; seven pairs of shoes/footwear; eight backpacks; two tents; two sleeping bags; one rope and one pair of gloves. PFCs were detected in all product


categories, apart from gloves. Analysis was done on different parts of some samples and duplicates of some samples were also analysed.


www.sgboutdoor.co.uk • 17


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