Rebel with a Cause - Field Notes

Annie Nyborg here, Head of Environmental and Social Impact at Peak Design. Over the last year, a couple ruminations have guided how I approach Peak’s environmental and social work. While not revelations, I feel they warrant some air time and reflection: Outdoor brands are falling short of their political potential and that needs to change.  Outdoor brands should lead in engaging conservatives and pursuing compromises in earnest.  Outdoor companies have come a long way in understanding how to run a responsible business: use sustainable materials, ensure good working conditions in factories, treat employees equitably and inclusively, reduce carbon emissions. We’ve got our playbook and we’re busy doing our small part as individual businesses. But now what? How do we pursue change on a bigger scale outside the confines of our own operations?The answer is political advocacy. And specifically, collective political advocacy. If you’re not sure what that means exactly, it’s pretty simple: it means telling your local, state, and federal representatives what you care about. Despite what you think, it works. And if a group of businesses is asking for the same things, it really works. Especially when that group of businesses - the outdoor industry - is worth $860+ billion to the U.S. economy and represents constituents in officials’ districts. Our potential to drive decision-making is large and largely untapped.