Perfect for spring shredding in the park the Burton Thirteen Premium Full-zip Hoodie is 80% cotton, 20% recycled plastic bottles. With custom allover plaid print design and the signature - regular fit this hoodie is super comfy and super stylish.
Colors: Blotto Gray, Sherpa (shown above)
Purchase at Burton.com $59.50
Oakley Bob Burnquist Gascan Sunglasses are Oakley's first "green sunglasses" created using sustainable materials. The frames feature reclaimed and excess materials used from creating other eyewear reducing the use of virgin materials. They come with a bamboo fiber storage bag and the packaging is created from recycled materials and printed with soy-based ink. Best of all a portion of all proceeds go to Bob Burnquist's Action Sports Environment Coalition (ASEC) an organization that utilizes its collective assets to broaden the horizons of conscious consumption--paving the way for skateboarders, surfers, snowboarders, BMX bikers, and those passionately involved in the sports to achieve lasting sustainable benefits for individuals and community institutions.
Purchase at one of these retailers for ~$100.
The Foundation Room is an ongoing blog by Arbor co-founder, Bob Carlson about the Company’s commitment to sustainable board sports design. Here's his first post...
Here we go, my first attempt at a blog. For a while now, the marketing crew has been asking me to talk about Arbor’s 15-year commitment to creating rider-oriented products that are friendlier on the environment to produce. They’re hoping I can tell some of the stories behind our mission to deliver quality, performance, and style with significantly reduced environmental impact. I hope they know what they’re doing…
Anyhow, I thought for this opener I would provide a little background on our environmental philosophy and how it drives our vision of the Arbor brand. Some of you may have read a bit of this before, but I think it’s worth touching on before we dive into specific initiatives, events, etc.
To begin, it was time spent riding that provided the motivation. The reality of protecting this planet for us is saving the environments enjoyed by people who ride. In the end – we all need clean air to skate, clean water to surf, and snow to ride.
Frankly, we came to the conclusion that companies that profit from a use of the environment should, at least strive to do no harm to the planet, and at best work to help repair the damage done. To that end, we founded Arbor in 1995 to take a more responsible approach to the development and production on boardsports equipment and apparel.
Arbor works to replace as many environmentally harmful materials as possible, across our complete line of snowboards, skateboards, and apparel, with functional, ecologically based alternatives. We also donate at least 5% of profits to groups working to restore and protect the environment. It is important to note that as of right now, it’s not possible to deliver 100% “green” boardsports products. Reality is about taking as many steps as possible towards that future. Those steps are what drive the Arbor Collective.
The funny thing is that we’re not into being “green” just for the sake of being green. With fifteen years of sustainable design experience under our belts, we’re sure about one thing; people expect performance and relevance, even when choosing a more environmentally friendly alternative. So, you can expect us to continue our efforts to combine the latest technology and most powerful art with those eco-materials that allow us deliver better performing products – form still follows function.
I think it’s also important to mention that we see the face of environmentalism changing. A range of perspectives has replaced the movement’s “hippy” past. Today, the hardest kid you know can be eco-minded at his or her core. Arbor sees this as a critical change if respecting the environment is to remain relevant for the next generation. You don’t have to broadcast it to live it – it’s not about identity – it’s about values.
OK, there’s a little background on how we approach the environment and its relevance to our design efforts and the brand. I appreciate your interest in what were doing and look forward to talking in more detail as this blog evolves. I think you’ll find the story behind the materials, methods, suppliers, and environmental groups that we’re working with or supporting to be pretty cool. I also hope to introduce you to some of the people I work with here at Arbor and give you a little insight into what they add to the collective. In my next post, I will be covering the group “True Offsets” who Arbor has been supporting for the last two years. I will be talking about their efforts to restore forestlands in Hawaii and establish a real, measurable carbon offset program.
More to come,
Bob Carlson
Vipe Desai has worn numerous hats in his career in the surf industry, but perhaps the one that has drawn the most passion from him is the non-profit he founded, Project Blue, which raises funds for local beaches through the sale of specially made product from partner companies including Dakine, Billabong, O’Neill, Electric and Nixon. As part of our State of Sustainability series, we caught up with Desai to discuss the biggest challenges faced by brands moving towards sustainability and how to make eco-friendly products move at retail.
What have been the biggest challenges in helping to move your business and the industry towards sustainability?
Communication to consumers is one of the bigger challenges, especially at retail. In surf, most of the major apparel guys already have some environmentally friendly product out there, but at many retailers, they tend to blend in with everything else.
If you look back to women’s apparel at retail in specialty surf, roughly fifteen years ago, there was a lot of apprehension in dedicating a section of the floor to it. But for the expanding lines to succeed, they needed their own sections in stores so women could find the clothes they were looking for.
When it comes to environmentally friendly products, the price needs to be right, the quality and design need to be as good as what else is on the market and just as important, consumers need to be able to find them easily as they’re browsing the racks.
Where do you think we are as an industry as far as actually walking the talk versus simply green washing ourselves to sell products?
We’re getting there, but obviously we have a long way collectively to go. The brands that started out with an eye on the environment have an obvious head start over the ones that didn’t.
People have to realize that most major companies are big ships and can’t change direction easily. We’ll get there, but it’s going to have to come incrementally and in steps sometimes smaller than many people would like them to be.
If you want to see change faster, then start voting more with your wallet. Focus your purchases on sustainable and recycled products, regardless of if it’s by your favorite brand or not. Get on Facebook and tell your friends about things you saw at retail you thought were cool. Spread the message. Brands will listen.
Interview by Mike Lewis Transworld Business
Timeless aesthetic appeal, exceptional performance, lightweight construction, quick, efficient, and effective lacing options, married with sustainable/recycled materials characterize Vans 2010/11 snowboard boot line. Recycled material content such as the textiles and synthetics can be found in their Protect Our Winters men’s Cirro and women’s Veil boots. Non-toxic water based glues/cements that are utilized across our entire boot line. Waste reducing processes such as injection molding versus compression molding results in up to 40% less waste. For more info on Vans snowboarding check out vanssnow.com!
Pictured above: Andreas Wiig III Colorway (Orange/Grey): $249 & Hi Standard Colorway (Gum/Hana): $169
Credit: Mike Lewis Transworld Business
The North Face has joined a group of investors, environmental and other public interest organizations called the Ceres network, in an effort to help address sustainability challenges, according to a post on SportsOneSource.com:
The North Face has joined Ceres Corporate Network, a network of investors, environmental groups and other public interest organizations working with companies to address sustainability challenges.
Companies that join Ceres endeavor to make continuous strides in improving their sustainability performance and reporting practices, and engage with investors, environmental groups, and other stakeholders.
With its focus on the well being of the planet and those exploring it, sustainability is a natural core value for The North Face. In 2007 the company took steps to further demonstrate its commitment to sustainability by formally developing a strategy to evaluate and measure the environmental and social impacts of all of its business operations.
“Joining the Ceres Network is a great collaboration for The North Face,” said Steve Rendle, president, The North Face and VF Outdoor. “After conducting a baseline assessment of our major environmental and social impacts, we created a comprehensive sustainability strategy that focuses on energy and climate change, elimination of operational waste, sustainable product design, and community engagement.”
In 2010, The North Face will continue its work to formalize its strategy and goals through the engagement of external stakeholders. Some of the company's current sustainability efforts include:
“The North Face has taken some important steps, including improving the sustainability of its products and operations as well as advocating for comprehensive climate and energy policy in the U.S. and internationally,” said Mindy Lubber, Ceres president. “Ceres is looking forward to helping The North Face take the next steps necessary to further integrate sustainability into its business strategies by engaging with stakeholders and publishing its first sustainability report.”
Companies that join Ceres must make continuous strides in improving their sustainability performance and reporting practices, and engage with investors, environmental groups, and other stakeholders.
Story by Transworld Business
While ipath isn't exactly a snowboard company we feel it's important to share their environmental efforts through Transworld Business's recent interview with Marketing Director Craig Metzger...
Founded by Matt Field and Brian Krauss, ipath’s path has been one of understated focus on its environmental impact. While the company’s shoes are made from earth friendlier fabrics and glues and its packaging is 100% post-consumer recycled, you won’t find any glaring claims of self righteousness in its marketing or on its Web site. Despite this fact, it has grown a strong reputation as being on the forefront of decreasing the footprint of its footprints. We caught up with Marketing Director Craig Metzger for his take on where the industry is as far as walking the eco-talk and how the recession has affected enviro-nitiatives.
What have been the biggest environmental developments in action sports over the last two years?
Everyone is trying to figure out ways to lessen their impact on the environment. For some brands it’s [just] green washing and for others they take it serious. People have been using more organic cotton and recycled fabric, for example PET, within their apparel lines and footwear companies have begun to explore better ways to make their shoes from the glues to using sustainable products like hemp. Overall the biggest development has been the realization that doing the right thing goes beyond marketing and trend chasing.
Do you think environmental ethics in manufacturing and business processes have moved forward or regressed during the recession? Why?
It’s hard for me to comment on others’ business practices but for us at ipath we are constantly trying to improve our manufacturing practices and are always looking to do things in an eco-conscious manner as well as create a viable business. Sometimes doing the right thing can cost more so I could see certain brands pulling away from it from a numbers standpoint. For ipath, it’s part of our ethos so no matter what state of economics we are in, we will always strive to do the right thing.
From a business standpoint, what are the biggest reasons for the industry to push for more environmentally friendly products/processes?
It all comes down to being responsible and understanding the lifecycle of the product you make. Corporations are the biggest polluters so it must be the corporations’ responsibility to try and do the right thing for the environment and society.
What have been the biggest challenges in helping to move your company towards sustainability?
The biggest one is price. It has been getting a lot more cost effective to take the eco route with regard to products and marketing materials cause the increased demand has begun to drop the price. It’s still higher in some cases but the more we push toward eco and social friendly solutions the [more] prices will fall in place.
What messages have been the most effective for you in marketing environmental products and initiatives?
We don’t really push the environmental message as much as we should to the public. We try to educate our retailers on the processes and products we make but in terms of blasting the public with green messages we haven’t really done that as of yet.
How do you leverage your business partners and customers (factories/retailers/manufacturers/consumers) to support the same message you’re working on?
We are part of Timberland and they have a really strict code of ethics. We are fortunate enough to be a part of a company that really cares about the environment and social issues around the globe. Most of the factories we try to work with are Timberland approved, and if we use vendors outside of their network we try to make sure they understand where we are coming from in terms of our commitment. With regard to our retailers, the decision is based on consumer demand. The more the kid comes in looking for eco-alternatives, the more we will see them react. Currently it’s hard to gauge but we are seeing success in our distribution channels. Our consumer is definitely looking for alternatives and is trying to put their money where their environmental beliefs fall.
Do you think we can really succeed in making truly sustainable products?
No product, that I know of, goes cradle-to-cradle but that doesn’t mean we can’t take steps in achieving a balance between commerce and environment. It’s all about commitment and seeing past the numbers and realizing the big picture.
What have been the biggest environmental developments in action sports over the last two years?
The biggest and most important development is the “politicization” of the action sports world-meaning the willingness of businesses, filmmakers and athletes to speak out on the need for strong policy on climate change. The actors in these efforts, as examples, include North Face and Timberland, Teton Gravity Research, athletes like Jeremy Jones, Ted Ligety, Julia Mancuso, and many, many others. At resorts, I’m encouraged by the trade associations being willing to speak out on climate policy. What discourages me is when these same entities seem to rank more mundane issues-like legislation that enables summer recreation activities-as roughly equal to solving climate.
Do you think environmental ethics in manufacturing and business processes has moved forward or regressed during the recession? Why?
My sense is that in these difficult economic times, businesses are suddenly very interested in projects with a return on investment, no matter how small that return. Sustainability efforts typically offer these types of returns-so I think businesses are, if anything, more focused on sustainability. Now is the time that businesses running most efficiently-not wasting materials or energy, for example-will survive the great weeding out, and the sloppy, fat businesses will fail. This especially applies to resorts which have huge capital and operational costs.
From a business stand point, what are the biggest reasons for the industry to push for more environmentally friendly products/processes?
Two key reasons: first is that the customer wants it. And second is that you have to be lean to survive in today’s economy, and energy and materials efficiency is simply a way of cutting waste. That’s all “green” business is. Leanness applies to advertising too. If you do an energy efficiency program in your factory or shop, and that saves energy but also gets you free press, then you are doubly lean.
What do you see as the biggest road blocks in moving your business and the industry towards sustainability?
The biggest barrier tends to be that businesses have a core job to do (making stuff, selling stuff, providing a service) and anything else is seen as ancillary. So a company might spend more time and money on product related efforts vs, say, energy efficiency or waste reduction. And there’s good logic to that. But over the long term, we have to see the business as a whole: that you have to produce the product or service with the least waste, with the least amount of energy, or it’s not the product that will lead to a successful business.
Where do you think we are as an industry as far as actually walking the talk versus simply green washing ourselves to sell products?
On one hand, everything’s greenwashing in that nobody is responding to climate change, the issue that trumps everything else, to scale. Businesses I’ve seen in the action sports, outdoor world tend to be doing what their customers THINK they should be doing, vs. what’s right for the planet. So, for example, a company might be incorporating recycled fiber into its product. That’s great, but it shouldn’t be the thrust of a company’s green efforts. The company should be in Washington working to ensure we get strong policy on climate change. That’s what matters. Everything else is dinking around the edges. We should do that dinking, partly because it’s fun to rearrange deck chairs on the Titanic, but not be deluded into thinking small actions are addressing the scale of the climate problem.
How do you leverage your business partners and customers (factories/retailers/manufacturers/consumers) to support the same message you’re working on?
Leveraging partners is key because it increase your ripple effect. When you ask for proposals, environment should be a component of the bid request, and then you should weight that heavily in awarding contracts. We look for partners based on the alignment of their environmental principles to our own: so we’ve end up with some leading green brands, like Green Mountain Coffee, Sprint, Audi, and others.
Do you think we can really succeed in making truly sustainable products?
Yes, you’re going to have to. But the solution might not look like what you imagine it to be. For example, the most important thing we can do is green the energy supply. if you do that, if you operate on clean energy, you’re most of the way towards sustainability.
Story by Transworld Business
