Textile Insight

textileinsight.com Spring 2025 ~ Textile Insight • 27 so I have been able to provide guidance on materials strategy as well as provide content and support for their first few sustainability impact reports." Tell us a bit about the workshop you'll be running on "How to Acknowledge and Reward Sustainability Excellence in Materials." "is is the third Functional Fabric Fair to have a Day 0 Sustainability Workshop, which I am planning and facilitating with my co-conspirators Jill Dumain and Kevin Myette. At the two events last year, the agenda was building practical knowledge about sustainability topics that are most relevant for the textile industry. is year the agenda is going more into the details of those foundational topics and discussing some of the challenges that hinder our collective progress. Speakers including brands, fabric manufacturers, and other subject matter experts will be sharing their knowledge, and an interactive activity will help attendees think differently about assessing and valuing sustainability excellence in the materials supply chain and collaborating on solutions. e knowledge gained on Day 0 should be immediately applicable to the business conversations that happen between buyers and suppliers on Day 1 and 2 of the Fair." What are some of the mistakes that companies make when it comes to sustainability initiatives — either in materials or in other ways? "e most common mistake is when companies think that there is a quick fix for sustainability, like a one-off product offering or a seasonal marketing campaign. A real sustainability strategy requires long- term commitment to identify the most relevant issues, make improvements and communicate authentically about progress and challenges. I certainly don't want to be discouraging, because every company can – and should – have a sustainability strategy because it's something most customers and employees expect, and it's a critical part of managing business risk. I'm just saying to be realistic about the timeline required to make meaningful change, and to not take a 'flash-in-the-pan' approach that oen gets called out as greenwashing. e other mistake is trying to market the perfect 'sustainable' material, product, or company. While I recognize the importance of communicating sustainability attributes to customers (B2B and B2C) so they can make informed purchasing decisions, when claims seem too good to be true then they probably are! Everything has an impact, so look at the big picture and try to make it better. And keep in mind that sustainability is a space of ever-evolving knowledge and continuous improvement." You are a sustainability advisor to the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA). At this transformative time, where do you see the outdoor industry headed and how will it evolve? "Since 2016, I have served as a sustainability advisor to the OIA and participated in and led working groups for nearly a decade prior. rough the OIA, I witnessed the uncomfortable process of fierce business competitors joining together to collaborate on sustainability issues that were too big for any one company to address. Although we haven't yet achieved all that we set out to do, I've seen amazing progress and widespread influence as the results of that collaboration. It's worth remembering that many of the sustainable business practices that are commonplace today were pioneered at outdoor companies, because their customers, employees, and even owners were passionate outdoor recreationists who wanted to protect the natural environment where they spent their time. In nature you can see firsthand the devastating impacts of pollution, resource extraction and climate change. e unpredictable weather patterns and warming trends we see today pose existential threats to outdoor businesses, not to mention recreational access to public lands. is is on top of an economy-wide rollercoaster ride since 2020, which isn't over yet. Fortunately, there are many outdoor companies producing great products with innovative materials and a strong commitment to sustainability. Within the OIA membership, there is a lot of new engagement on sustainability through the Climate Action Corps and the Clean Chemistry and Materials Coalition. I contributed content to the latest guidance resources which I think will be very helpful for the membership, and I strongly encourage companies to join the OIA and get involved with the CAC and CCMC. e trail-blazing leadership combined with genuine camaraderie is still alive and well in the outdoor industry." n "The most common mistake is when companies think that there is a quick fix for sustainability, like a one-off product offering or a seasonal marketing campaign. A real sustainability strategy requires long-term commitment to identify the most relevant issues, make improvements and communicate authentically about progress and challenges." —TODD COPELAND

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