SIA Leadership Summit Advances Sustainability & Climate Change Conversation

Snowsports Industries America (SIA) is proud to announce the successful conclusion of its Leadership Summit, which convened hardgoods industry leaders and stakeholders for a critical conversation on sustainability and climate change. Held last month in Sundance, Utah, and in conjunction with SIA’s Summit Series, the event provided a platform for collaborative discourse and strategic discussion aimed at addressing pressing sustainability challenges facing the snowsports industry.

The SIA Leadership Summit brought together more than two dozen subsidiaries, retailers, manufacturers, non-profits, and distributors, all united by a shared commitment to the future of the winter industry. Through engaging discussions and expert insights, attendees gained valuable knowledge about current sustainability efforts, forthcoming legislation, and collaborative platforms to streamline global, industry-wide sustainability initiatives.

One of the key takeaways from the event was harmonizing efforts to create a standardized reporting tool for retailers and suppliers. PFAS legislation is set to go into effect in New York and California on Jan. 1, 2025, requiring that all manufacturers provide a certificate of compliance to retailers stating their apparel and textile products are PFAS-free. However, the law as-written provides few details on what specific information these certificates must contain.

To help SIA members save valuable time and resources developing their own certificates, SIA’s team of legal and compliance experts have developed the ‘Certificate of PFAS Compliance’ template to help retailers and suppliers standardize and streamline the compliance process, saving valuable time and resources. This tool is available to all SIA members at no additional cost.

"As the landscape of PFAS legislation evolves, SIA recognizes the critical need for clarity and standardization in compliance measures," said Nick Sargent, President of SIA. "With legislation set to take effect in key states, including New York and California, our mission is to empower our members with the tools they need to navigate these regulations efficiently and effectively. That's why we've developed the 'Certificate of PFAS Compliance' template—to streamline the compliance process, save valuable time and resources, and ensure the integrity of our industry's commitment to sustainability and consumer safety. This initiative underscores SIA's dedication to supporting our members and advancing responsible practices within the winter outdoor community."

Additional key outcomes of the Summit included:

• Identification of current sustainability efforts within the snowsports industry, and how to tackle it at scale.
• Exploration of EU legislation that is already in place, (which affects supply chains, products, communications, and business practices) which is a driving force for mandatory legislation and its implications for businesses.
• Investment into collaborative platforms to streamline sustainability initiatives and optimize resource allocation.
• Development of actionable next steps for tackling sustainability and climate change on a global scale, including collaborative working groups on Consumer Engagement and Education on Winter Outdoor Sustainability Efforts, Circularity and Climate Change.

In partnership with the Winter Sports Sustainability Network (WSN), continue to underscore the importance of and drive participation in the Global Climate Pact, designed to align the global winter outdoor industry on a set of meaningful commitments to tackle climate change. To-date, 21 winter outdoor brands have joined the Pact, signaling their leadership and commitment to addressing climate change.

The joint Summit Series in Sundance also focused on EU regulations and PFAS affecting US businesses, bringing in representation from the European Winter Sports Network to help broaden the US perspective and align global efforts.

“SIA's unique position as a unifying force within the industry cannot be overstated,” said Alex Draper, Global SVP of Product for Elevate Outdoor Collective. “It was inspiring to see the initiative and creativity in bringing together key stakeholders to make progress on pressing topics, and the ability to foster a positive and collaborative atmosphere kept it fun."

The SIA Leadership Summit underscored the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges. By fostering collaboration and sharing best practices, participants left the event energized to tackle the issues at hand and continuing the conversations on how to do so at scale, industrywide.

Moving forward, SIA remains committed to advancing sustainability initiatives and driving progress within the winter outdoor industry. Through ongoing collaboration and innovation, SIA and its partners are dedicated to reducing environmental impact, preserving natural resources, and ensuring a vibrant and sustainable future for generations to come.