A select number of members of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) have underlined their increasing commitment to the growth of the Association by becoming its first ‘Sustaining Members’. Seven member companies have signed a declaration at the OutDoor international press conference pledging to support the Association from January 2015 to the tune of an extra €10,000 per year for the next three years, over and above their annual membership fee. This money will be used to finance the running of the Association and support its sustainable growth.
This huge commitment will benefit not only EOCA, but also the entire industry in several ways. EOCA’s enormous growth of over 53% over the last 18 months will be managed in order that it can be continued sustainably. EOCA will be able to continue to promise that 100% of all membership fees will be put directly into conservation projects. Finally, and perhaps most excitingly, is the move to 2 funding rounds per year, increasing the amount of money put back into the environment each year.
The seven EOCA Sustaining Members are: OutDoor (Messe Friedrichshafen), Pertex, KEEN Footwear, Nikwax, ISPO (Messe München), Patagonia and the European Outdoor Group (EOG).
Mark Held, General Secretary of the EOG said “As the organisation that founded EOCA, we are immensely proud to have seen the idea grow so successfully, proud of the work that is being done and proud of the team who have made it all happen. We are no longer involved in the day to day running of the organisation as it is fully independent of the EOG, but we are firmly committed to supporting its development wherever we can and are delighted to become a Sustaining Member”
Steve Laycock, General Manager of Pertex added, ”Pertex is bound by directives, its owners and brand partners to adopt clean(er) manufacturing processes and best practices in traceability etc. As a key ingredient in the outdoor world, we believe that Pertex should also demonstrate its commitment to the protection of the environment by becoming a Sustaining Member of EOCA, so we can support the great work it does on behalf of the industry”.
Stefan Reisinger, Head of OutDoor and Eurobike stated “As a friend and partner of the outdoor industry, we are delighted to be able to support an organisation that makes a real difference and ensures that conservation remains a priority for the great wild places of the world.”
Over the last 8 years, EOCA has raised and funded conservation projects to the tune of €1.5 million. Tanya Bascombe, Joint General Manager of the Association commented, “With this new category of membership, our aim is that EOCA can continue to grow: in membership, in outputs and ultimately in the level of funds we can to put into on-the-ground conservation to look after the wild spaces we all depend on. As a substantial industry working together, so much more can be achieved and we are absolutely thrilled with the support these members have shown us.”.
(Attached to this press release is the declaration the Sustaining Members have signed up to).
To find out more about the Association please go to: www.outdoorconservation.eu
