Eco Seven. Seven news from the green world.
By Davide Fioraso
ICEBUG – THE WORLD’S FIRST CLIMATE POSITIVE OUTDOOR BRAND
Icebug is the first outdoor footwear brand recognized as “Climate Positive” by the UN Climate Change, the United Nations secretariat for climate change. The Swedish brand has been producing footwear since 2001 and for several years has set sustainability at the top of its priorities, it has now reached this milestone 10 months ahead of schedule. Being “Climate Positive” means respecting the Climate Neutral Now initiative in three simple steps: measuring the greenhouse gas emissions of the entire company, including production and transportation, making a real commitment to reduce emissions as much as possible, compensate annually emissions that cannot be avoided thanks to initiatives recognized by the UN. Icebug is now launching the challenge to the rest of the sector.
PATAGONIA – PROTECT WILD FISH
After Artifishal, the feature film that highlights the problems caused by fish farms in the open sea, Patagonia went to Iceland with its ambassadors Mikael Frodin and Katka Švagrova for a new video project called Protect Wild Fish. Nord Atlantic Salmon Fund Iceland and Icelandic Wildlife Fund are fighting against exponential expansion of livestock that increasingly threatens the existence of wild fish. Of particular concern: in 1970, globally, 10 million wild Atlantic salmon eggs were present. Now only 3 million remain. The short film attempts to raise public awareness of the importance of acting for the survival of wild fish, including sea trout and alpine char.
ALPACKA RAFT JOINS THE CONSERVATION ALLIANCE
Alpacka Raft has become a part of The Conservation Alliance, the non-profit organization founded in 1989 by leaders of the outdoor sector such as REI, Patagonia, The North Face and Kelty, with the aim of supporting the conservation and protection efforts of the last wild spaces of North America. The company from Mancos, Colorado, joins a group of over 235 companies that have helped save 51 million acres of wilderness over the years, protect 3,107 miles of rivers, stop or remove 34 dams, designate five marine reserves and buy 14 climbing areas. Alpacka Raft, already involved in numerous water protection initiatives, will concentrate its efforts in favor of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, donating part of the proceeds of the new Arctic Sky packraft model.
OSPREY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE WESTERN OSPREY
Osprey Europe announced its collab with Birds of Poole Harbor, a charity that promotes environmental initiatives in favor of birds and that plays a fundamental role in their preservation and conservation. The common goal is to reintroduce the osprey into key areas for repopulation, such as Great Britain and Northern France, avoiding the decline of the species to which the brand of backpacks owes its name. “The new collaboration undertaken with Osprey is a new and exciting prospect, a project that aims to repopulate the area of this magnificent bird of prey. We are excited to be able to collaborate with such a respected brand and we look forward to finding out how this synergy can involve and inspire a completely new audience”, reads the association’s press release.
ALWAYS LESS PLASTIC IN CRAZY PACKAGING
“Small steps towards a world less polluted by plastic: if there is something superfluous that can only do damage, it is better to eliminate it”. So Crazy Idea, an Italian company specialized in technical sportswear, presented an initiative that aims to set an example on the road to sustainability. The brand has announced the introduction of a new packaging in recycled paper (in which the garments can be wrapped and shipped to stores) that reduces the plastic used. Inside the sheets there are ideas on how to recycle and give new life to the packaging material. “Thanks to this initiative we save more than 200,000 bags a year: If every outdoor brand were to do it, a billion plastic bags would be saved”.
COTOPAXI AMPLIFIES SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS WITH THE HIGG INDEX
Cotopaxi has announced its commitment to use the Higg index to guide environmental and social responsibility along the supply chain. The Higg index is a tool to measure the impact of products developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), already used by 8,000 global brands united in a collective effort to improve the sustainability and transparency of the supply chain in the textile and clothing sector and footwear. “We welcome the addition of Cotopaxi to the growing number of organizations using the Higg Index and we look forward to participating in this effort” – said Amina Razvi, Executive Director of SAC Interim. “Small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of our industry and SAC greatly appreciates their commitment to accelerating change”.
BODY GLOVE IS LAUNCHING A NEW ECO-FRIENDLY LINE
Body Glove presented Tati’s Sanctuary, a new eco-compatible activewear collection designed in collaboration with the professional surfer Tatiana Weston-Webb. The collection consists of six garments made of recycled polyester or solid organic cotton inspired by the Hawaiian island of Kauai, The Garden Island, a tropical forest paradise where Tatiana has grown. “Collaborating with Tatiana is a natural extension of the relationship between Body Glove and one of today’s most challenging athletes. The vision is to bring the brand to a new audience that fuses performance and sustainability” – says Peter Maule, Senior Vice President Marquee Brands Sports and Active. “By making this collection eco-friendly, we invite consumers to celebrate the outdoor lifestyle in an authentic and responsible way”.
