Winners of Volvo SportsDesign “EcoDesign” Awards 2008 Announced
Ceremony for 4th annual Volvo SportsDesign Awards held at ispo_winter 08 / Theme: “EcoDesign – Form follows Sustainability” –

Munich, 30 January 2008 – The results for the 4th annual Volvo SportsDesign Awards are in. Winners hail from France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Sweden and the U.S. At a grand ceremony at the ICM centre in Munich, the honorees received the internationally acclaimed design awards as part of the Volvo SportsDesign Forum. The theme for the 2008 edition of the award is “EcoDesign – Form follows Sustainability.”

More than 300 internationally renowned companies and designers had submitted their works for consideration for the most acclaimed international awards in sports design. This year’s edition focused on innovative ideas in the eco design sector. Speaking on behalf of the entire jury, the head of the German Design Council, Andrej Kupetz, praised “all the submitted works for their internationality as well as their great amount of diversity that is unusual for a design award for sporting equipment. From an ecological perspective, the sports industry has made great progress. People are getting the message behind the EcoDesign theme. The blend of sustainability and design will continue to range high on the future agenda of designers and the entire industry.”
 
On 08 January 2008, the jury for the Volvo SportsDesign Awards had gathered in front of the idyllic rural backdrop of the Gut Herrmannsdorf country inn, run by the Schweisfurth family outside of Munich. Jury members narrowed the 300 plus submissions down to 35 nominees in seven categories, as well as a shortlist of favorites. The main criteria in judging sustainable design consisted of functionality, form, innovative step, ergonomics, shape and production, material, manufacturing, distribution, product life cycle, recyclability and usability.   


Winners of the Volvo SportsDesign Awards 2008 “EcoDesign”
o    Outdoor Equipment: Nextec srl., OutDry® membrane system for water-proofing footwear, Italy
o    Ski Equipment: Grown Skis, Wooden Skis, Germany
o    Board Equipment: Amer-Salomon, Salomon Snowboards, SickStick, France
o    Apparel: Klättermusen, Einride Jacket, Sweden
o    Wheelers: Essedum, CycleCaddy Waggon, Germany
o    Accessories: Plantaplast, BioGolfTee, Austria
o    Concepts: Max Koriath, “schöner bootfahren”, Weissensee School of Art Berlin, Germany
o    Special Award “EcoBrand of the Year”: Patagonia, USA


The jury consisting of experts in the fields of design, fashion, sports, industry and the environment:
o    Andrej Kupetz, Managing Director of the German Design Council, Frankfurt
o    Gerrit Terstiege, Editor in Chief „form“
o    Dr. Ali Ansari, Academy Director of AMD, Akademie Mode und Design, Munich
o    Dr. Kuno Prey, Designer, Professor and Dean at Bozen University, Italy
o    Reinhard Pascher, CEO Pascher+Heinz Sports Marketing, Munich
o    Peter Waeber, CEO bluesign technologies, Switzerland   
o    Ursula Tischner, CEO econcept, Cologne
o    Christian Hochfeld, Deputy Director Oeko-Institut, Freiburg
o    Mark Held, General Secretary EOG Association for conservation, Switzerland
o    Christoph Ebert, Professor for Sports Sciences, TU Munich
o    Petra Griesel, Community Manager, ispo Munich
o    Tobias Gröber, Group Director, ispo Munich
o    Niklas Gustavsson, Director Environmental Issues, Volvo Car Corporation Goeteborg, Sweden
o    Jonathan Disley, Program Chief Designer Volvo Car Corporation, Goeteborg, Sweden
o    Anna Rosen, Designer, Volvo Car Corporation, Goeteborg, Sweden


The organizers are very pleased with this year’s edition of the awards. “The awards were much more sophisticated this time around compared to last year, to a great extend due to the EcoDesign theme. We are hoping that the whole theme will give an impulse to the industry to push for more products in this direction. And more than 300 submissions for an award based on sustainability and design are an absolutely record-breaking response. This shows that sustainability is highly relevant for the sports industry. We have received great feedback from the entire industry,” said Tobias Gröber, Managing Director, ispo Munich.

 
I. Category Outdoor Equipment
Nextec srl., OutDry®, Footwear Waterproofing Technology
With the OutDry® membrane system, Italian company Nextec Srl has succeeded in developing a completely new waterproofing method for footwear. The OutDry® membrane is directly connected to the upper inner side of the shoe with a patented, one-step lamination technology. Due to this 3-D-lamination technology, there is no need for adding and fitting an expensive inside shoe in a second step. Instead of connecting the waterproof and breathable membrane in a “flat,” two-dimensional lamination process, it is integrated three-dimensionally in a specifically developed production unit on three-dimensional shoe lasts. The result is a perfect seal of the upper shoe section.

OutDry® is an innovative membrane technology allowing for waterproofing footwear without the use of solvent-based glue. With OutDry®, moisture is stopped from penetrating the fabric at the shoe’s outer surface, while the efficient use of a reduced amount of materials adds to the waterproofing capability. The OutDry® lamination process is based on hot-melt glue mesh technology without any need for solvent-based glues used for waterproofing in conventional methods. The direct fusion of upper shoe material with the waterproof membrane effectively stops the water right at the outside of the shoe, before it can penetrate the inside layer. As a result, the shoe offers an extremely dry overall performance, while altogether eliminating the possibility of moisture build-up between the outer layer and membrane. The OutDry® membrane is also highly breathable, with excellent capabilities for absorbing moisture. Technically speaking, OutDry® is a polyurethane membrane that is hydrophilic without being microporous, all the while highly elastic and resilient to the long-term effects of constant bending and flexing. Conventional methods for a waterproof and breathable function in footwear requires a combination of many different kinds of materials (membranes), chemical substances and cements. The standard system is actually based on a sock-shaped waterproof lining that is completely separated from the external shoe layer, leaving room for water to penetrate the shoe. As a result, the shoe may soak up water, making it damp and heavy. To compensate for this lack, conventional shoe upper materials are heavily impregnated with perfluorinated chemicals.

“This new method for the environmentally safe production of waterproof and breathable footwear through a combination of the innovative OutDry® membrane system together with 3D-lamination technology will revolutionize the footwear industry,” explained Jonathan Disley, jury member and Program Chief Designer at Volvo Car Corporation in Goeteborg. “By entirely replacing solvent-based glues and other chemicals used in conventional methods of producing waterproof shoes, the OutDry® technology has proven a clear winner,” added jury member and environmental expert Ursula Tischner.
 

II. Ski Equipment
Grown Skis, Wooden Skis, Germany
German brand Grown Skis produces equipment locally with an extremely low-energy intensive process using 100% green energy sources. Grown Skis are combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting edge virtual development methods, minimizing the use of non-natural materials while producing high performance free-ride skis. Grown Skis use as little carbon as possible and have entirely eliminated fiberglass, plastic top sheet or sidewalls, foil with prints or varnish from the production process.

Grown Skis offer a unique combination of wood with carbon as a high-tech material in a timeless, pure and simple design, together with an oiled wooden top sheet. About 80 percent of the ski is made from locally grown and produced wood. A recycling program promotes the reuse of old skis as raw material for bed frames, while wood scraps left behind in the process are used to build ski clips. In terms of distribution, the company partners with ski areas that show an active commitment to sustainability. Grown Skis aims to minimize their environmental footprint by reducing materials to a minimum, all the while maximizing the joy of riding by focusing on high-tech performance products.

“This product is making a strong statement. The development of skis in past decades has always been towards higher and higher tech in terms of design and materials. This wooden ski by Grown is a re-discovery and a return to the quality offered by traditional material from renewable resources, which had been the material of choice for skis in the past anyhow,” said Andrej Kupetz, Managing Director of the German Design Council. “The sustainable production method for Grown Skis should lead the way for the entire ski industry.”

 
III. Board Equipment
Amer-Salomon, Salomon Snowboards, SickStick, France
The Sick Stick by Salomon Snowboards is direct reflection of Salomon’s brand philosophy as well as team-member Wolle Nyvelt’s riding style on natural terrain: “Ignore the boundaries of established tradition, take the best of everything and refine it with your own style.” This formula is accompanied by the principle of sustainability. The sustainable construction of the SickStick is the result of a three-year development process, driven by Salomon’s goal to improve the performance of their products while significantly reducing the ecological cost of snowboard production. The choice of material for this new backcountry kicker board is bamboo. After all, bamboo is the fastest-regenerating plant in the world, and it can absorb more carbon dioxide while producing more oxygen than most plants on earth.

In terms of design, the SickStick is based on an entirely re-usable bamboo core. The top sheet is made with significantly less acrylic, plastics, fiberglass and resin than conventional boards. Even the resin in the sidewalls could be entirely replaced with durable, waterproof bamboo rods. In each board, 400 grams of bamboo are used to replace 300 grams of plastic, 100 grams of resin and 200 grams of fiberglass. The Sick Stick is packaged in a cotton-bamboo knit bag instead of a PVC sleeve, while the hangtags are printed on recycled paper instead of coated stickers. In terms of performance, the boards are about 10 percent more resilient at the same stability and flex as conventional boards.

“The unique combination of design and the choice of material make the SickStick snowboard a clear winner in the boards category. After all, 400 grams of bamboo are single-handedly replacing 300 grams of plastic. All that with less use of resin and fiberglass. The SickStick is a real showcase product for the entire industry,” said jury member and environmental expert Ursula Tischner.

 
IV. Apparel
Klättermusen, Einride Jackets, Sweden
Klättermusen is a small Swedish company with a strong commitment to environmental interests, while carefully aligning their manufacturing processes and designs according to the principles of sustainability. The Etap-cotton in the Einride Jacket is made from organic cotton, grown according to the EU’s organic agricultural guidelines and is controlled internationally by independent organization Skal International. Growing cotton without the use of pesticides, insecticides and artificial fertilizers tremendously reduces harmful impact on local ecosystems. At the same time, growers and harvesters of cotton are exposed to lowered health risks. The fabrics are dyed in a closed system to prevent chemicals from entering the water supply. The weatherproof lamination of the jacket free of fluorocarbons, which means it does not contain the hazardous PFOA, a hormone-like substance that has been shown in recent studies to affect the reproduction systems of animals and humans.

The award-winning Einride jacket is densely woven from organic cotton and highly windproof, keeping you dry in light rain for several hours at a time. The jacket’s water resistance is achieved through its construction; the fabric swells upon getting wet. Asymmetrical, water-repellant zippers provide additional protection. The jacket can also be folded into a stuff bag. A compass and whistle are attached to the belt along the waistline. Klättermusen have set out to create products that are as durable as possible in timelessly elegant colorways. Since summer 2007, Klättermusen has been donating 1 percent of their turnover to environmental projects.

“The Einride jacket is an honest, purist and functional product in a pretty and timeless design. It is very Scandinavian overall and effortlessly fulfills the criteria of EcoDesign and sustainable production processes with its choice of materials and manufacturing,” said Jonathan Disley, jury member and Program Chief Designer at Volvo Car Corporation in Gothenborg. 


V. Wheelers   
Essedum, CycleCaddy “StreitWagen”, Germany
Since they need to lug around a cumbersome bag full of clubs, tees and other essential equipment, golfers are forced to use a car to get to the golf course. Addressing the problem with an eye towards the environment, upcoming German company Essedum created the first-ever golf trolley that is compatible for use with a bicycle. Now golfers can get to the first tee just as easily by bike. But most of all, the “StreitWagen” CycleCaddy is a golf trolley. The overall balance, weight and handling of the smooth-running aluminum trolley are primarily geared towards being pulled by hand. The easily foldable frame is made from oversized aluminum rods that offer tremendous stability at only 4.3kg weight. An extendable towing bar is indispensable for bicycle use, but also adds comfort to operation by hand. No matter how much equipment you’re pulling around the course, you can always find the perfect balance thanks to the towing bar.

There are many bike trailers on the market, but none of them works well as a golf trolley. At the same time, there are many golf trolleys – but none of them attaches to a bike. The idea blending both functions into one device posed a great design challenge: A golf trolley needs to be lightweight and easy to handle. A bike trailer needs to hold up at high speeds and maintain its stability. On top of that, the product design should be well balanced towards both functions – walking and biking. Blending the best of both worlds, the Streitwagen by Essedum excels both as a conventional golf trolley and as a bike trailer.

“Being able to ride your bike together with your gold equipment out to the course and then using the CycleCaddy as a golf trolley while you play is an extremely unusual and highly environment-friendly concept that is absolutely worthy of winning first place in this category,” said Jonathan Disley, jury member and Program Chief Designer at Volvo Car Corporation in Goeteborg about the jury’s decision. 

 
VI. Accessories
Plantaplast, BioGolfTee, Austria
A revolutionary idea by Austrian company Plantaplast is shaking up the golf industry. With the BioGolfTee, Plantaplast has created the first-ever 100 percent biodegradable golf tee, made from entirely natural wheat starch combined with a combination of other natural polymers.

Sustainability ranges high in the entire product cycle, with quickly regenerating wheat as the main material and guaranteed biodegradability of the golf tee. BioGolfTees are available in two sizes and six different colors, while the coloring ink is also environment-friendly. At the same time, BioGolfTees bring more joy to the game by lasting longer than conventional tees for that perfect tee-off. For a more personal note, each BioGolfTee can be customized with individual prints and colorways. 

“What we have here is a strikingly groundbreaking and simple idea: From now on, golfers won’t have to worry about lost or forgotten golf tees on the course. BioGolfTees are made from natural wheat starch and decompose entirely within six to twelve weeks without damage to the environment,” said professor Ursula Tischner, jury member and environmental expert.


VII. Concepts
Max Koriath, “Schoener Boot Fahren” Wooden Boat, Weissensee Kunsthochschule Berlin
Max Koriath, a student from the Weissensee School of Art in Berlin, came up with the idea of combining the look of a known traditional material with a shape usually found in industrially manufactured products. So he went and interpreted a classic wooden boat and with an entirely new manufacturing process.

Modern production techniques and manufacturing processes can help raise the attraction of wooden boats in the boat industry. After all, wooden boats have their very own charms. In terms of material, wood offers a number of advantages, especially when it comes to sustainability. Wood is by nature a regenerative resource that is not only completely biodegradable, but also comes with a positive Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA). On top of that, damaged parts can easily be replaced. In principle, the production process for wooden boats is comparable to that of plastic boats reinforced with fiberglass. The concept is modular, with the boat produced in composite parts instead of as a whole hull. Throughout the entire process, there are no chemical emissions and accordingly less health risk to assembly workers.

The entire boat is made of beech wood, a type of wood native to Germany and other countries. The beech wood is processed in an industrial process that can achieve three-dimensional rounded freeform surfaces. Processed in this distinct way, beech wood may even be able to altogether substitute for commonly used reinforced fiberglass plastic materials that are currently the main choice in boat construction. In an additional process, the wood is made resistant to mildew and maneuverable on the water. Thereby, all the unique features and benefits of wood as a material are fully retained and put to optimal use.


Special Award “EcoBrand of the Year 2008”: Patagonia, USA
“The Volvo SportsDesign Awards are an internationally renowned reward for excellence in the sports fashion and design scene. Patagonia is among the leading companies in the field of outdoor clothing, while operating on an environmentally conscious company concept that clearly emphasizes the reduction of environmental impact over cost savings in the production process,” said Jonathan Disley, Program Chief Designer at Volvo Car Corporation in Goeteborg, co-organizer and jury member at the Volvo SportsDesign Awards about awarding the special price to Patagonia. Over the past 12 months, Patagonia has supported environmental activist groups around the world with a total of US$2.5 million. This amount adds up to the “earth tax,” which the founder and owner of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, committed himself to pay. Since 1984, Patagonia has been actively saving the environment by attributing one percent of the company’s annual profit to projects in the fields of natural preservation and re-naturalization. As part of the program, Patagonia so far has contributed more than US$25 million to environmental causes. From day one, the commitment towards the environment had been a fundamental part of Patagonia’s company philosophy. For over ten years now, Patagonia has exclusively used organic cotton for their clothing. At the same time, they have inspired and motivated a significant number of other manufacturers to follow their lead. The main aim is to keep the impact on the environment as low as possible, both in the manufacturing of the actual product, as well as in growing the necessary resources behind it. The same goes for dyes, bleaches and chemical treatment of surfaces. Patagonia’s mid-range goal is to make all products recyclable. When it comes to design, Patagonia’s philosophy is based on a quote by French pilot and author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: “Perfection is not reached when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing more to take away.”


About the VOLVO SportsDesign AWARD
In 2005, the VOLVO Car Corporation in Goeteborg and ISPO Munich, the world’s largest sports-specific trade fair for sports equipment and fashion, created the VOLVO SportsDesign AWARD. The award is given in recognition of products that stand out from the rest of the industry either through their innovative step or their design. Since then, the VOLVO SportsDesign AWARD has advanced to become one of the most renowned honors among companies, designers and students. This year, the awards are handed out for the fourth consecutive time. For all award winners and nominated products, the specifically installed AWARD exhibition at ispo winter 08 and ispo sport & style 08 provides the perfect showcase. All winners receive an exclusive awards sculpture as well as a two-page feature presentation of their products in the VOLVO SportsDesign Award yearbook. Additionally, plans are underway to present the winning products at further VOLVO SportsDesign Award exhibitions, e.g. at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.


Organisation: Pascher+Heinz GmbH SportsMarketing Sigmund-Riefler-Bogen 2
D - 81829 München
Tel. +49 (0)89-9441960
jakob@pascher-heinz.com
www.ispo-sportsdesign.com

Public Relations: brand.new.taste.
Anja Meisel
Schulterblatt 124
D - 20357 Hamburg
Tel.: +49 (0)40-507 11 33 6
Anja.Meisel@brandnewtaste.de