Popup Forest Meets Concrete Jungle

BY JONATHAN EIDSE PHOTO KAT HARRIS

“WE DEFINE CITIES as the absence of nature,” says urban ecologist Mariellé Anzelone. And this is something she is bent on changing with the PopUP Forest project.

PopUP Forests began in 2018 when a small collection of native plant species was transported from Brooklyn directly to New Yorkers in Times Square by peddle power. It drew enthusiastic attention and many questions, but can such a small act really make a difference?

Mariellé Anzelone is convinced that it does, and points to the concept of “biophilia,” which refers to humanity’s essential relationship and need for a connection to nature.

“Even just the visible presence of nature matters: Postsurgery patients with tree-filled vistas experienced less pain, swifter recoveries, and shorter hospital stays. In Tokyo, walkable green space added years to the lives of senior citizens. Outdoor plantings in high-density areas were shown to reduce crime. This is all biophilia at work.”

Yet despite the growing evidence of the benefits of urban green spaces, Mariellé Anzelone notes that these same spaces have been under threat for a very long time. Alongside some successes, such as New York City’s commendable planting of 1 million trees over an eight-year period, countless others have been cut down to create parks and sports fields, and millions of Americans currently lack access to green spaces.

“We all depend on native plant species for a functioning ecosystem, and yet we never even think about it. This loss of biodiversity is so abstract, with charts and figures. But that’s not how you win people over. You do so by telling a really good story.”

For Mariellé Anzelone, preserving and increasing urban nature to replace “dead zones” with PopUP Forests’ biodiverse life oasis is one such story that can resonate with people emotionally.

“I don’t think nature should be a destination, it should be embedded in people’s daily lives. That’s why if it were up to me, a better definition of a city will one day be a place where nature is intertwined with urban. To get there, let’s protect the nature that we have and then let’s work harder to get nature out to where people are.”

Fair Welcomes Footwear

Performance Days is known as the leading platform for functional textiles. This year, it also invites the footwear market, and seeks to retain the title of the leading sustainability platform: The Performance Forum, for example, will specifically ensure that the appropriate criteria to promote sustainability are met. This entails that all submitted materials must, among other criteria, guarantee at least 50 percent recycled content (GRS-certified - Global Recycled Standard), and meet GOTS-, CSS-, OCS-, RDS- or RWS- standards, or ensure bio-based treatments and finishes.

In addition, the fair will place great importance on other areas of sustainability. The fair’s Focus Topics have long been heavily oriented towards environmental social awareness, with renowned industry experts regularly providing information on exciting developments as part of the “sustain & innovate” conference.

“We believe that the sportswear industry in particular has an important role to play in preserving the planet and in protecting nature, for which we develop our products," explains Lena Weimer, Senior Marketing Manager at Performance Days.

"Together we can bring about change.”

Outdoor Best In Resale

The latest Resale Report by ThredUp shows that outdoor products once again top resale demand in 2023, with products like Fjällräven backpacks, Patagonia vests, and SmartWool’s track jackets among the “hottest items.”

A "WIN-WIN-WIN"

Expanding outdoor recreation access while fighting climate change and preserving biodiversity are some of the key benefits of natural climate solutions, according to a new policy report titled "A Vision for Protecting Nature," released by Outdoor Alliance (OA). OA is a non-profit working on behalf of the human-powered outdoor recreation community to protect public lands and waters.

IN-STORE RECYCLING SERVICE NEAR YOU

Fans of Australian brand Kathmandu can now drop off their old garments in bins found at 24 participating stores. The initiative is a collaboration with the textile and recycling company Upparel. Once collected, the item's suitability for reuse or recycling is determined. Items fit for reuse are distributed to Upparel’s charity partners, while the rest are repurposed or shredded into new materials.

UK’s First World Surfing Reserve

May 12th saw the inauguration of the 12th World Surfing Reserve and the first to be found in the United Kingdom: The North Devon World Surfing Reserve. Spearheaded by Save the Waves Coalition, World Surfing Reserve seeks to preserve notable wave breaks and their surroundings for future generations, and protect unique environmental and cultural aspects of the coastal communities found there. North Devon joins the ranks of other surfing reserves in Malibu (US), Manly Beach (Australia), and Playa Hermosa (Costa Rica).

Is Green Hydrogen Part of the Solution?

Heat is used for a variety of textile finishing processes, and the source of this heat most often comes from the combustion of fossil fuels. A 3-year project known as the WasserStoff Project (“Water Fabric”) is exploring whether “green” hydrogen can provide an alternative. Green hydrogen is produced using zero-carbon renewables, and emits only water vapor when combusted.

MONTHLIES’ NEW BACKPACKING BFF

Last year, the Swedish brand Peak Performance ran a trial where it sent out 100 menstrual cups and containers to volunteer adventurers. The airtight and stainless-steel container is designed to enable proper menstrual cup sterilization on multi-day trips into the backcountry, and was made in cooperation with Klean Kanteen. A carabiner keeps it close at hand. Following feedback from the volunteers, Peak Performance has decided to offer both the menstrual cup and container to the public.

"THE NEW ERA - BUSINESS AND BEYOND"

Is the motto to the 2023 annual European Outdoor Summit, scheduled on the 28-29th of September in Berlin. Through a mix of presentations and social events, the aim is to stimulate debate, discussion, and ultimately improve business practices and promote sustainable growth and innovation.

Textile Exchange Conference 2023

The Textile Exchange Conference is a platform for sustainability-focused discussions among textile industry leaders, promoting responsible production and highlighting innovations in low-impact materials and processes. This year's conference will take place in London October 23-27th.