SCANDINAVIAN OUTDOOR GROUP TAKES A LEAD IN SUSTAINABILITY

Scandinavian Outdoor Group (SOG) has, as the first organization in Europe, jointly signed the European Outdoor Group Sustainability Charter which the European outdoor industry has developed. Signatories align themselves to a shared agenda at a senior level and commit to pursuing a more sustainable future for all. Now, the 70+ Scandinavian outdoor member brands of SOG are signing this Charter individually as well.

The Scandinavian Outdoor Group (SOG) has announced that it has signed up to support the European Outdoor Group (EOG) Sustainability Charter. The charter sets out an understanding of good corporate citizenship and responsibility and articulates stages and aspirations of a journey towards best practice. It was unanimously agreed at the SOG’s recent annual meeting to adopt the Sustainability Charter and make pursuing the aspirations set out in the charter part of the membership criteria for the group’s 70+ members.

Launched in 2016, the EOG Sustainability Charter was developed by the association’s CSR and Sustainability Council, in partnership with key external stakeholder. Companies and other organisations that sign up to the voluntary charter do so to express support for the importance of the EOG’s work in sustainability, and to back the efforts and resources that are committed to that. Crucially, the EOG Sustainability Charter does not set out to be prescriptive, but provides a framework and articulates three strategic stages on a journey towards key sustainability objectives for the outdoor sector.

– We are delighted that the Scandinavian Outdoor Group has taken such a strong public lead by adopting the Sustainability Charter, Says, Pamela Ravasio, Head of CSR & Sustainability at EOG. This sends a clear message to the industry about the importance of working collaboratively towards a more sustainable future, and signals that Scandinavian outdoor businesses are determined to do that. Along with my colleagues at the EOG, I look forward to working closely with the SOG to secure a viable and sustainable future for our industry.

The EOG’s and SOG’s CSR and sustainability teams offers ongoing support to organisations that sign up to the Sustainability Charter, providing advice, insights and guidance that will help them complete each stage of the journey at their own pace.

– Our main ambition within the SOG is to work collaboratively, to get stronger together, says Sara Wänseth, General Secretary of the Scandinavian Outdoor Group. A key focus strategy of today is to join forces to work towards a sustainable outdoor industry. Together we can make a difference.

For further information:
Joel Svedlund, SOG, +46 70 621 21 76, joel@scandinavianoutdoorgroup.com
Chris Lines, +44 (0)7971 868329, chris@rightlines.info or www.twitter.com/chrisjlines

 

THE EOG SUSTAINABILITY CHARTER

The EOG Sustainability Charter is a public document that can be found on the association’s website. A voluntary document, the charter outlines the EOG’s understanding of good corporate citizenship and responsibility. It outlines a journey of three stages towards best practice:

• Stage 1: At the most basic level the charter encourages:
  (a) implementation of the 10 UN Global Compact Principles,
  (b) demonstrable recognition that social, societal and ecological well-being are essential, and
  (c) asks for conflicts to be resolved fairly and with mutual respect.
• Stage 2: At the intermediate level the charter encourages:
  (a) effective management of the most material sustainability aspects,
  (b) effective self-monitoring and management,
  (c) constructive and collaborative participation in industry initiatives.
• Stage 3: And finally, at the most advanced level, the charter encourages a holistic and integrated uptake of sustainability into governance, management and business procedures and processes, including the purchasing, sales, innovation process and product life-cycle management. Further, it encourages the measurement of progress and wide-reaching communication and transparency efforts.

Additional details about the above can be found in the full charter document.