Green Steps Sustainability Journal

The Green Steps Journal is one strand of a sustainability initiative beginning to spread gradually throughout the outdoor industry. The purpose of the Journal is not to attempt to identify the “greenest” companies, but to explore the ways companies of varying shapes and sizes and at varying points on the “sustainability continuum” are learning to think differently about business. All articles in this archive are by Pride Scott Wright unless otherwise noted. Thanks for stoppin' by, and please drop in again!

The outstanding characteristic of the Earth household is its inherent ability to sustain life. As members of the global community of living beings, it behooves us to behave in such a way that we do not interfere with this inherent ability: this is the essential meaning of ecological sustainability. What is sustained in a sustainable community is not economic growth or development, but the entire web of life on which our long-term survival depends. It is designed so that its ways of life, businesses, economy, physical structures, and technologies do not interfere with nature’s inherent ability to sustain life.

——Fritjof Capra, from the book The Hidden Connections

It's a start. The editor's note from issue one

Once you go green, you never go back. The editor's note from issue two.

The Role of the Retailer Retailers have an indispensable role to play in terms of advancing the cause of sustainability.

One Percent for the Planet Terry Kellogg wants to maximize your change-agent potential.

Fair Trade Pardon me, are those sweaters Fair Trade certified?

Environment as a Source of Quality We can’t begin to comprehend the cost of environmental degradation until we make a true accounting of the services a healthy ecosystem provides. An excerpt from “Natural Capitalism”, the extraordinary book by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, and L. Hunter Lovins.

Ripples From the simplest local organic food purchase to socially responsible investments to supporting and highlighting emerging sustainable solutions in the outdoor industry, take the time to know where and how your decisions could matter more. By Trathen Heckman

Flowing An excerpt from Eric Alan’s excellent book, Wild Grace, Nature as a Spiritual Path

Company Profiles

Chaco Minister of Sustainability Dave Knutson goes systemic.

Earth Creations Where can you find an earth friendly alternative to toxic dying processes? Dig deep.

Green Brand Recycled cotton arrives.

i-merino “We claim we offer the most sustainable performance fiber in the world,” says Stuart Adams. “And we’re working on certification to back up that claim.”

Indigenous Designs “We compete with design, we compete with quality,” says Scott Leonard. “We’re proving you can do the right thing and still be successful.”

Of the Earth Looking for a low impact natural fiber? Meet the next big thing.

Teko Socks The choices of greatest consequence to the environment are most frequently made in the design phase.

Timberland An outdoor giant goes to work on its environmental footprint.

TS Designs Tom Sineath and Eric Henry treat their headquarters in Burlington, North Carolina as a laboratory, missing no opportunity to express their commitment to sustainability.

Wickers Wickers is the largest supplier of private label synthetic polyester performance underwear in the outdoor industry, but that doesn’t mean Doug Hoschek has to be happy about it.