May 21, 2024 New Materials Lab at OutDoor by ISPO
A new exhibition seeks to showcase the latest material innovations by bridging the topics of sourcing, trends and sustainability.
OutDoor by ISPO is the perfect place where the outdoor community can network and keep a finger to the pulse of the industry. It’s also a place to keep up with the latest sustainability developments – and visitors to this year’s show can once again count on the Sustainability Hub to deliver inspiration and best practices in ESG:
Environmental innovations within materials like wool, down and other feathers will be highlighted this year, not to mention recycled raw materials and the overarching circular economy. Social topics to look out for include safe working conditions in the product value chains, as well as diversity & inclusion in outdoor sports. Governance systems that ensure transparency and traceability in the value chains will be explored, as well as those used for recording and offsetting CO2 data among others.
Material Lab exhibition
At this year’s show, the “Material Lab” exhibition will aim to build a bridge to the popular Sourcing & Textrends area – which is already an integral part of OutDoor by ISPO – but will now be even better connected to the Sustainability Hub. Here, the big question will be: What are the latest developments in sustainable and innovative materials and how can they drive sustainable change?
“In the Material Lab, we will showcase best practices for circular materials and discuss their development paths, potential and current challenges,” shares Alexandra Denker, category manager Sustainability & Winter Sports.
In particular, Alexandra Denker explains that the Material Lab will explore bio-based textile fibers, biodegradable biopolymers and circular technologies. Some examples of materials to be shown here are: Bio-waste from walnut shells, agricultural by-products such as pineapple leaves and hemp residues, wood chips and sunflowers.
“From the raw material, through the intermediate stages of production, to the sports and outdoor product, the Material Lab will show the entire development.”
Image: ISPO Messe München
