What if distribution could be more than just moving boxes — what if it could create real, positive change? That question led brothers Christophe, Dominic and Philippe Declercq to found Elements in 2010, a distributor and agency of outdoor brands such as Patagonia, Osprey, Zamberlan and Houdini.

“We founded Elements with the belief that sales representation and distribution could be done better, more consciously, and with a greater sense of responsibility,” says Christophe Declercq. Today, that vision is carried forward by a team of 21 people across Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany, and Austria.

The family business distributes renowed outdoor brands as Klean Kanteen, Care Plus, WakaWaka, Katadyn and Nocs Provisions to both independent outdoor shops and major retail chains including A.S. Adventure, Bever, Globetrotter and Au Vieux Campeur.

“We choose brands that strengthen the connection between people and nature, and that focus on high-quality products.”

For Elements, corporate social responsibility is not an add-on — it is at the heart of everything they do. This begins with a careful selection of the brands they work with.

“We consciously choose to take on our societal responsibility as a key player in the supply chain — not simply as a link passing on products, but as an active partner,” says Nelson Coomans, Sustainability Coordinator at Elements.

“This creates a true synergy between brand and local distribution: a win-win story in which growth and positive impact go hand in hand.”

Walking the talk on impact

In-house Sustainability Coordinator Nelson ensures that Elements does more than just talk the talk — they walk the talk.

“Since 2019, we’ve been committed to reducing air freight. By switching to ocean freight, we reduced the CO₂ emissions of our imports to 0.32 tCO₂e per tonne in 2023. That’s a decrease of 89.51 per cent compared to 2019. Even now, with ocean freight becoming more challenging due to geopolitical tensions, we remain committed to our goal: 90 percent of our imports come by sea.”

Elements also contributes financially to positive change. As a member of 1% for the Planet, the company has donated €301,223 to more than twenty non-profit organizations.

“In 2019, we were the fifth Belgian company to make this commitment, and one of the first distributors in Europe to do so,” says Nelson.

Thanks to these efforts, Elements became the first distributor in the Benelux to receive B Corp certification in 2023.

Together we go further

It’s clear: Elements aims to be a true force for good. This commitment translates into tangible actions, from small symbolic gestures to bold initiatives like the impact discount — which rewards retail partners for their climate and environmental efforts.

Because Elements knows that real impact goes beyond individual actions. “The climate crisis demands fundamental change. Only by sharing our knowledge and collaborating with retailers, brands and NGOs can we, as an outdoor sector, truly make a difference. Let’s create impact, together.”

Lead Photo: Elements