From OIA:
The Outdoor Industry Association Sustainability Working Group (OIA SWG) presented its third annual Individual Contribution Awards during Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2015 last month in Salt Lake City. Todd Copeland and Jason Duncan were recognized for their dedication to the outdoor industry’s chemicals management efforts.
Todd Copeland, Environmental Responsibility Manager at Patagonia, currently serves as the chair of the OIA Chemicals Management Working Group (CMWG). Over the past three years under his leadership, the CMWG has grown to around 150 members. It has established itself as the leading open collaborative effort for apparel, footwear, gear and accessories brands, retailers and suppliers to develop and implement chemicals management best practices in the supply chain. Since its establishment in 2011, the CMWG has developed and launched the Chemicals Management Module (CMM) of the Higg Index, facilitated opportunities to learn about chemicals of concern and pending legislation and become the go-to place to engage with peers in the industry who are working on the same issues.
“I’m very grateful to OIA for this recognition. The time I spend working with the Chemicals Management Working Group is really rewarding in itself,” said Copeland, “I am constantly learning from the members and I’m inspired by how many companies are constantly pushing the envelope to solve the chemical challenges we face as an industry.”
Jason Duncan, Technical Apparel Product Manager at Outdoor Research in Seattle, has been a member of the CMWG Steering Committee, the leadership team that drives the strategy and activities of the broader group, since 2013. He has recently been spearheading an important effort to integrate the work of the CMWG, including the CMM, into education and training opportunities, including the curriculum at key academic institutions, providing the next generation of product designers and developers with the opportunity to learn about the tools being adopted by the industry.
“This award may be for individual contribution, but it certainly serves to recognize smaller brands like Outdoor Research that are a vital constituent in the community of practice that OIA is quickly building,” said Duncan. “OIA has provided a much needed pre-competitive space for us to all work together to solve some of these persistent chemistry problems in our respective supply chains. I’m deeply honored to have received the award and believe it validates what all of our individual organizations are trying to accomplish under the banner of OIA SWG.”
“The OIA Sustainability Working Group Individual Contribution Award was created in 2013 to recognize those individuals who have gone the extra mile to advance the efforts of the SWG. Todd and Jason certainly both exemplify this commitment,” said Beth Jensen, director of corporate responsibility for OIA. “OIA is delighted to recognize their exceptional work to further the efforts of the Chemicals Management Working Group.”
Outdoor Industry Association
Based in Boulder, CO, with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association is the leading trade association for the outdoor industry and the title sponsor of Outdoor Retailer. OIA supports the growth and success of more than 4,000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers of outdoor recreation apparel, footwear, equipment and services. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.
