Environment on the Agenda at WFSGI Meeting

The environment was one of the topics discussed at the World Federation for the Sporting Goods Industry's (WFSGI) summer meeting in Munich on 2-3 July. In addition to topics affecting the industry, such as child welfare issues and intellectual property rights, the meetings recognized the importance of assessing the environmental impact of organizations within the industry.

The WFSGI is the world authoritative body for the sports industry with the goal of promoting sports activities and the development of the sporting goods industry in the world. With respect to the environment, the Environment Committee was established in order to coordinate the activities of the environmental problems related to the industry around the world, to promote WFSGI standards on the ecology within the Industry, and to gather all information with respects to the ecology regulations affecting the Industry.

A number of issues were discussed at this summer's meetings, including a presentation by Jochen Schaefer on current EU initiatives that could be beneficial to the environment. With the goal of being the most competitive world region by 2010, the EU has released an Action Plan that encourages innovation with positive external effects, such as less pollution and stresses the importance of such measures in securing consumer confidence - the problems in Europe over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) being a good example of the damage that consumer fears can cause.

Another EU Directive could see the future prevention of environmental damage by forcing industrial polluters to pay preventative and remedying costs on any damage caused by their activities to water, land and protected habitats and species. Such legislation would be a major step in holding industry accountable for polluting the environment. There are also calls within the EU for a stronger commitment to renewable energy, and better sustainable urban transport plans in towns and cities, as well as and management plans that could mean a greener urban environment.

Sadly, data shown at the meeting suggests that many small businesses still see no benefit in incorporating environmental considerations into their practices. Research in the UK shows that voluntary action by small and medium enterprises is unlikely as few companies believe the government's line that 'going green is good for business'.
Such is not the case for, Mizuno Corporation, which is widely recognized throughout the industry as a leader in incorporating environmental measures in its business operations. Company President, Masato Mizuno is coming to the end of a three-year term as WFSGI President, and he outlined his company's environmental program called Crew 21 (Conservation of Resources and Environment Wave 21).

Established in 1991, the program has analyzed the impact and developed initiatives in the areas of employees' activities, packaging and distribution, greener production and product development. He was also the recipient of the G-ForSE Prize for 'Sporting Goods and the Environment' at last year's G-ForSE Global Forum in Tokyo.

LINK :
World Federation for the Sporting Goods Industry's (WFSGI)