Avoiding the Spaghetti Approach to Sustainability

Innovators Insight with

Alex Lauver

Senior Director of Materials, Innovation, and Sustainability at Outdoor Research

24 May, 17:00 CEST/11am EDT/8am PDT

Would you like to attend this session as part of Innov8rs Learning Lab on Climate & SDG's, 23-24 May 2023? Register for the program here.

Contact us for any questions about the program or our application process. If you are a member of Innov8rs Community, participation to this program is included in your membership.

About the session

2030 is swiftly approaching and the science is clear regarding our urgent need to act. While signatory nations are legally bound to develop plans via Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) the trickle down to organizational/corporation level goals is still mostly lacking.

Outside high GHG emitting industries like the energy sector and transportation there is little government incentives or pressure to act. For many SME (Small to Medium Enterprises) the concept of sustainability is still rooted mostly in consumer interest and marketing. Yet SDG #13 is generally regarded as the most critical in the Paris Agreement. Here's one strategy to get started if you haven't.

- Pressure to act on GHG reduction is lacking and so is guidance on how to get started.
- There is emerging legislation (in many industries) requiring action; at a minimum you need to be aware of the business implications of poor action.
- Avoid the spaghetti approach to sustainability by focusing on climate goals first, much will fall into place after.

About the speaker

Alex’s career has been in the Outdoor Industry from day one and is currently Senior Director of Materials, Innovation, and Sustainability at Outdoor Research where he specializes in advanced waterproof breathable materials, sustainability, and innovation strategy.

Past experiences include Eastern Mountain Sports, Eddie Bauer, Farbank Enterprises, and Cabela’s. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Apparel Merchandising, Design, and Production from Iowa State University with a heavy emphasis in International Trade and Business.

Would you like to attend this session as part of Innov8rs Learning Lab on Climate & SDG's, 23-24 May 2023? Register for the program here.

Contact us for any questions about the program or our application process. If you are a member of Innov8rs Community, participation to this program is included in your membership.

Any questions? Start a chat via the blue button bottom right and we'll get back to you asap.