Extending its key role at the heart of the outdoor industries, the EUROPEAN OUTDOOR GROUP (EOG) has welcomed nine new members.. Since November last year, Odlo, Carbonfact, Darn Tough, Locally, New Zealand Merino, Norrona, Performance Days, Sportair and Tast have all joined.
The EOG was formally constituted in 2005 by 19 of the world’s largest outdoor companies, all of which recognised the need for a cohesive, cross-border approach to the representation and promotion of the outdoor sector.
Reflecting changes in the sector and the wider business and political landscape, in recent years the EOG has opened up membership to retailers, technology brands and organisations in the wider value chain.
The association builds its programme of activity on three core pillars: doing business right; preserving nature; and promoting participation. In addition, members are required to commit to join a Race to Zero initiative, as part of the UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE (UNFCCC) global project. The EOG membership committee assesses each application before new organisations are formally accepted by the association.
Hannah Piatok, EOG relationship manager, said, “Growing to over 150 members is a great way to mark the twentieth anniversary of the official foundation of the European Outdoor Group, and is testament to the relevance and importance of our work. Each of our nine new members has its own key motivations for joining the EOG.
“What they all share is a commitment to collaboration on the big issues that affect the whole industry. From sustainability to regulation, and from market insights to public affairs, we look forward to working closely with all of our new and continuing members, on projects that serve and promote the European outdoor industry.”
Outdoor performance apparel brand Odlo is among the new members, stating, “Like many others in the industry, we are on a journey when it comes to sustainability, and there is so much we can learn from the European Outdoor Group and its members. We look forward to collaborating and contributing in our own way to a broad range of topics and issues close to our heart.”
Locally.com is the world’s largest network of specialty brands and local retailers committed to making it easier than ever to shop online and buy locally. The company’s founder and CEO Mike Massey added, “As the outdoor industry continues to embrace omnichannel strategies, our partnership with the EOG allows us to better support European retailers and brands in meeting the evolving expectations of their customers. Together, we can create solutions that not only drive sales but also strengthen local economies.”
Performance Days is an internationally renowned functional fabric fair. CEO Marco Weichert said, “As the voice of the European outdoor sector, we support their vision of conducting global business successfully while giving back more than we take from nature and people. As a leading trade fair for functional fabrics and sustainable textile innovations, we can face the future challenges of the outdoor industry with forward-thinking approaches and collaborate on important topics.”
The EOG is continuing to recruit new members from the sector and wider value chain that share the association’s goals and commitment to collaboration. Organisations that are interested in exploring membership options and finding out more about the benefits of being part of the EOG, should contact Hannah Piatok on hannah.piatok@europeanoutdoorgroup.com.