Green Steps founder and Indigenous Designs CEO, Scott Leonard will be
donating the Green Steps brand and trademarks to the newly formed
Outdoor Industry Association Eco Working Group, for oversight and use
in the outdoor industry.
“Environmental sustainability in the outdoor industry is here to stay
as evident by the recent formation of the Eco Working Group within
Outdoor Industry Association and the industrys growing awareness of
why it is important to widely adopt sustainable business practices,”
commented Frank Hugelmeyer, president of OIA. “By adding the
Green Step trademark and concept and management responsibility to the
Eco Working Groups charter, we will be able to more effectively evolve
the program and work with Outdoor Retailer to continue to green the
tradeshow through expanded programs.”
However, it is still unclear what this means for ORs “Green Steps”
program, which highlights environmentally conscious companies on the OR
show floor. During a call with The B.O.S.S. Report, Kenji Haroutunian,
show director for Outdoor Retailer, expressed concern over the
announcement made by Leonard and OIA and what it might mean for their
program.
Under the agreement, Indigenous Designs will reserve the right to use
and govern the name/brand Green Steps outside of outdoor industry
events and the Outdoor Retailer show and will serve on the Eco Working
sub-committee that makes the decisions in regards to Green Steps brand
quality control and oversight. Only the Eco Working Group can
license or use the Green Steps name for non-profit endeavors which
benefit sustainability. Any proceeds from Green Steps activity
are to be spent on specifically greening the industry and the work of
the Eco Working Group.
>>>Under the supervision of OIAs eco-working group, the Green
Steps name can now actually mean something to the industry…
