Polar explorer Eric Larsen will kick off the second Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Sustainability Insights Conference, taking place on Tuesday, August 5. The one-day-conference will be held at the Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown at City Creek, just prior to the start of Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2014.
Larsen will share his experiences from The Last North expedition, which partnered with Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, to examine how climate change is impacting the coldest places on earth. Along with Ryan Waters, Eric reached the geographic North Pole on May 6 of this year, completing a 480-mile land-to-pole crossing from Canada's Northern Ellesmere Island.
A polar adventurer, expedition guide, dog musher and educator, Eric Larsen has spent the past 15 years of his life traveling in some of the most remote and wild places left on earth including both the North and South Poles. Larsen is also currently completing a documentary, COLDER, about the Save the Poles expedition he undertook in 2009-10.
The conference will also feature Helen Clarkson, Director of Forum for the Future U.S. a group that works with Target, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, and the Retail Industry Leaders Association, among others. As part of the outdoor industry’s ongoing initiative to articulate the importance of investment in the supply chain best practices being developed by the OIA Sustainability Working Group, Clarkson will lead a session on key trends, future scenarios, and implications for the outdoor industry.
Another session, led by industry consultant Esther Speck, will provide guidance on how to integrate sustainability best practices throughout business functions and into business strategy. Additional sessions will cover outdoor consumer insights; international sourcing; and panel discussions on some of the day-to-day challenges industry professionals face, including polybag use, innovative recycling practices, and U.S. textile manufacturing opportunities and challenges.
“We are excited about the variety of topics and speakers that have been lined up for the Sustainability Insights Conference at OR Summer Market this year,” said Beth Jensen, Director of Corporate Responsibility at OIA. “The collective and diverse experience of our presenters touches on many of the challenges the outdoor industry faces in order to stay competitive and healthy in a rapidly changing environment.”
Launched at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2014, the Sustainability Insights Conference offers opportunities for industry professionals to stay apprised of best practices and industry trends around risk mitigation and supply chain management, providing a forum to collaboratively discuss and address shared challenges.
To view the full agenda or to learn more about registering for the conference, please visit: http://outdoorindustry.org/responsibility/swg/swgmeeting.html
About OIA Sustainability Working Group
Convened in 2007, the Sustainability Working Group is a collaborative industry group dedicated to developing industry tools, standards, and best practices around responsible supply chain management. In addition to in-person meetings at Outdoor Retailer, the group has regularly scheduled calls throughout the year to address topics around materials traceability, social responsibility, chemicals management, and product indexing.
To learn more about the Sustainability Working Group, download the OIA Corporate Responsibility Topline Report or contact sustainability@outdoorindusty.org.
About Outdoor Industry Association
Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the leading trade association for the active outdoor lifestyle industry and the title sponsor of Outdoor Retailer. OIA supports the growth and success of more than 4,000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives, and retailers of outdoor recreation apparel, footwear, equipment and services. For more information, go to outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.
