September 30, 2025 New tool update streamlines sustainability data for outdoor sector

The outdoor industry moves closer to harmonized sustainability data as the EOG and BSI launch an updated tool for streamlined ESG reporting. SDEX 3.0 introduces packaging and life cycle data, a revised brand tab, and support for complex product types.

Sustainability data exchange gains traction in the outdoor industry

The European Outdoor Group (EOG) and the Bundesverband der Deutschen Sportartikel-Industrie (BSI) have launched an updated version of a pioneering tool that is standardising and harmonising product sustainability data across the outdoor sector. Following months of development and sector engagement, the Sustainability Data Exchange Questionnaire version 3.0 (SDEX 3.0) is now live and available for use by brands and retailers.

SDEX was originally launched in 2023 by the EOG and BSI. The project addresses an issue relating to the exchange of sustainability data at product level between brand and retail. At the time, the existing practice of using extensive spreadsheets and questionnaires for each product and for each trading partner, was very time-consuming for all parties, involving many duplicated tasks. In response, project partners developed the SDEX tool, with a harmonised questionnaire to facilitate data exchange. SDEX quickly saw widespread uptake from the industry and the EOG and BSI made improvements to the questionnaire in 2024, with a promise to keep enhancing it for the benefit of the whole industry.

Key upgrades in SDEX 3.0 enable more harmonized data collection

SDEX 3.0 represents another significant step forward in the project and partners have introduced key changes to the tool, which include:

• Product tabs now include questions on packaging and life cycle analyses (LCAs), reflecting industry requests and increased data availability. Packaging has also been added as it is a reporting requirement for retailers.
• The brand tab has been completely revised to reduce duplication, align with reporting needs, and cover environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics such as chemicals, design, compliance, policies, and codes of conduct. A filter has been added to reduce the burden on SMEs.
• The hardgoods section has been thoroughly reworked in collaboration with producers to accommodate the wide variety of products in this category. The new format offers greater flexibility for components and materials, with logic allowing up to 10 named components and three certifications.

Outdoor industry stakeholders endorse harmonized sustainability efforts

Details of SDEX 3.0 were presented to industry stakeholders at a special webinar in early September. During the event, retailers on the call confirmed that they will begin using the SDEX brand tab in their sourcing and buying processes.

“We’ve been delighted with how outdoor brands and retailers have embraced SDEX since we first launched the tool, and the launch of the updated questionnaire represents another important milestone in the project,” shares Dr Katy Stevens, EOG head of CSR and sustainability.

“With our colleagues at the BSI, we’ve introduced changes that will further broaden the relevance and reach of SDEX. It was really encouraging to hear from retailers during the webinar who stated that the role of SDEX extends beyond sustainability data, and towards broader transparency, and that they now regard the tool as a common industry pathway. This clearly reflects the fact that global policy is moving towards a time when the supply and display of the data involved in SDEX is a legal requirement. With that in mind, I encourage all outdoor brands and retailers to get in touch and engage with SDEX 3.0.”

Visit EOG’s SDEX webpage for more information.