Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging is no longer a future concern—it’s here, and 2026 will be a defining year for brands selling products in the U.S. With seven states already passing EPR laws and additional states actively developing programs, producers are entering a new era of mandatory registration, data reporting, lifecycle assessments (LCAs), and…
Category: Sustainability
If REI, Walmart, or Target Asked for Your Sustainability Data Tomorrow—Could You Actually Deliver?
By the time most brands start thinking seriously about sustainability data, a retailer has already started asking for it. And the question rarely comes with much warning. It shows up as a supplier questionnaire. A portal invite.A line item buried in a contract renewal. Or a buyer email that reads something like: “Can you share…
Why “Doing Sustainability” Isn’t Enough Anymore for Outdoor Brands
Fishing & outdoor brands have always cared about the places and communities that make their products possible. But in today’s market, good intentions and scattered sustainability efforts are no longer enough. Retailers, regulators, and consumers are raising the bar—and brands that can’t clearly prove their sustainability performance risk being left behind. The Sustainability Shift: From…
The Compliance-Ready Brand Blueprint: How Fishing & Outdoor Brands Get Their Sustainability House in Order—Without Hiring a Full-Time Team
Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have” for fishing and outdoor brands—it’s a requirement for doing business with today’s largest retailers, distributors, and increasingly informed consumers. From Walmart and REI to Amazon and specialty retailers, expectations around sustainability, transparency, and regulatory compliance are accelerating. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting, chemical restrictions,…
2025 Impact: How Emerger Strategies Helped Fishing & Outdoor Brands Turn Sustainability Into a Competitive Advantage
2025 was an interesting year for sustainability as some companies pulled back on their sustainability efforts, while others embraced sustainability and clearly made the business case. We also saw an attack on our public lands, the rollback of the Inflation Reduction Act, and outright climate denial by the Trump administration. Three clear takeaways from 2025…
3 Reasons Brands Should Double Down on Sustainability in 2026
Sustainability is not going away in 2026. In fact, it’s accelerating—driven by sustainability-related regulations, escalating retailer expectations, and consumers demand that no brand can afford to ignore. The companies that treat sustainability as optional are already falling behind. Those that double down now will capture competitive advantages that compound for years. Here are the three…
