Dear Participants of the VOLVO SportsDesign Forum,

What exactly is the cost of a pair of jogging pants, some sneakers or a fleece jacket for hiking in the mountains? Who ever attempts to give an answer in Eurosand Cents is missing the point of this year’s Eco Forum. How about estimating the true price of commodities in different currencies? In currencies such as energy usage,carbon dioxide emissions and impact on the environment.

For the first time ever, a panel of manufacturers will discuss with industry insiders from the fields of sports and design, politics, society and the media about realizing the concepts of sustainability in the production of sports attire and equipment. The ongoing debate on global warming has created a sense of awareness among manufacturers and consumers alike. Everyone seems to agree that we simply cannot “go on like we used to.” Protecting the world’s climate has become a moral obligation. In an era marked by climate change and efforts for saving the planet’s resources, our main theme “EcoDesign - Form follows Sustainability“ resonates well with the signs of the times. And sustainability will without a doubt continue to play an increasingly strong role in the design, choice of materials and overall production of sports equipment in the future.

Out of all industry conventions, ispo as the world’s largest sports-specific trade fair provides the ultimate platform for inspiring a broad international audience topractice environmental protection in the sporting goods industry. As a resident of Munich and as Bavarian Federal Minister of the Environment, it gives megreat pleasure to see that these impulses reaching the entire world areoriginating right here in this city.

"Form follows function" was the motto of the Bauhaus movement at the onset of the 20th Century. Their maxim became a guiding principle for architects around the globe. In my position as the Bavarian Federal Minister of the Environment and for Consumer Protection, I can only express my sincere hope that the similarmotto "Form follows Sustainability" – and all the related concepts itimplies – will prove equally successful around the entire world.

Dr. Otmar Bernhard

Bavarian Federal Minister of the Environment, Health and for Consumer Protection