Outdoor Retailer - January 2021 - 13

From top: Courtesy POC, courtesy Northwest Arkansas Council

a brain trust of peers who can ask questions
and offer advice.
There's no pressure from the Corps to follow a specific path to being carbon positive,
but member companies commit to making
meaningful reductions. Some start with lowhanging fruit, like converting a facility to solar
as a first step while they explore more complex
savings opportunities. In support, the Corps
created collabs to purchase renewable energy.
" The Climate Action Corps has given us the
knowledge and support we need to start measuring our carbon footprint, identify hot spots,
and start aggressive reduction projects, " says
Theresa Conn, Nemo's supply chain sustainability manager.
" We recognize the importance of engagement and collaboration to reduce the
impacts of climate change and to protect individuals' abilities to participate in outdoor
activities, " says Guru Larson, global sustainability lead for Columbia Sportswear. " We
joined the Climate Action Corps because it
provides a platform to take meaningful action, collaboratively. "
By the end of 2021, Climate Action Corps
companies will have measured GHG emissions in their operations and supply chains,
and set an ambitious target to reduce.
Member companies will file their first progress reports in March 2021.
" We know the outdoor industry is unique, "
says Horton. " It's not typical for a trade association to lead this work. "
Climate work is complex and new, and
many sectors have found themselves behind.
OIA has invested heavily, and it's likely the
model can and will be adopted in other sectors. OIA intends to make it broadly available
over time.
It's the outdoor industry's first and boldest
effort to take action on climate change. And it's
clear that paying lip service is no longer an option.
" There's no road map, and it's a work in
progress, " says Horton. " The key is that we're
helping members find reductions everywhere
they can. We're committed to progress over
perfection, and we're committed to making meaningful carbon reductions industrywide-and sharing those success stories to
inspire others to action. "

POC is
seeking
new athletes.

LIMITLESS POTENTIAL

POC hopes to tap unknown talent-and create a more inclusive community-with its
Aspired Collective.
" POC has a long history of supporting grassroots talent, " says Cam Price, the brand's events and
community manager. Now, with the founding of its Aspired Collective, POC is stepping up its support of athletes-of all disciplines, ages, and genders-by providing opportunities to applicants who
may otherwise not have an avenue for sponsorship or recognition.
The Aspired Collective is an evolution of POC's Local Talent Program and POC Alliance, which,
in line with the company's heritage, primarily focused on alpine ski racing. The new program expands the reach to include all types of skiing, snowboarding, backcountry adventuring, mountain
biking, and everything in between-regardless of experience. " What matters most to us is supporting athletes who have the talent and the passion, but have yet to have the opportunity, " says David
DeMartini, POC's chief marketing and digital officer. " The Aspired Collective is our way of being
able to nurture and support athletes who, like us, want to inspire others and make a difference. "
" Our industry is becoming more inclusive, more progressive, more exciting, further reaching, and
filled with more and more talent every day, " Price says.
Athletes who apply to the program will be selected based on their talent, results, community impact, and goal setting. They will be connected with local reps and retailers, and sponsorship packages will be offered at three different levels. For more information on the Aspired Collective or to access the application, go to cloud.email-pocsports.com/aspired-collective -Bevin Wallace

RAZORBACK
RELOCATION

Get $10K and a mountain
bike if you choose to move
to northwest Arkansas.

The Northwest Arkansas
Council, with support from the
Walton Family Foundation, is
investing more than $1 million
to get remote workers and the
self-employed to call Arkansas
home. Selling points include
the low cost of living; nationally acclaimed arts, culture, and
cuisine; and the killer mountain
biking. When your application
is approved, you'll get a check
for $10,000 and a free moun-

tain bike or a street bike. To be
eligible, you must be 24 or older
and willing and able to move
in the next six months. Clearly,
Arkansas believes a new ride
will help newcomers assimilate.
And Bentonville's IMBA Silver
Trails network will be a draw for
the kind of people the council
is targeting. Check the state's
cost of living calculator here
while you consider the offer.
Then click here to apply. -B.B.

January 2021 / OUTDOOR RETAILER 13

https://www.pocsports.com/us/home/ http://cloud.email-pocsports.com/aspired-collective http:// https://findingnwa.com/incentive/ https://nwark.typeform.com/to/ihjHkaVu

Outdoor Retailer - January 2021

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