Design and Merchandising Outfitting Tomorrow Sustainable products for the outdoor industry

With a focus on material innovations, circular economy principles, entrepreneurship, and the connection between health and the outdoors, the project team at Colorado State University aims to develop an industry-informed, interdisciplinary Sustainable Outdoor Product Design and Development certificate. The program will equip learners with the tools to thrive in the evolving outdoor industry through education pathways designed to foster industry-ready skills to create sustainable and circular outdoor products.

The project team at Colorado State University hosted a half-day Outdoor Industry Networking & Innovation Summit at the CSU Spur campus in Denver. This event brought together industry professionals, CSU students, faculty, and staff for a unique opportunity to connect and engage with diverse outdoor recreation businesses.

This networking event was a crucial first step in understanding the workforce needs of the outdoor industry and establishing connections with a variety of Colorado’s outdoor companies. It will serve as a foundation for the development of industry-informed education, workshops, and the Certificate in Sustainable Outdoor Product Design. Additionally, the summit aimed to build a comprehensive education roadmap for the future of the outdoor recreation economy and sustainable product development at Colorado State University.

Panel 1 – Toward a Circular Future: Outdoor Product Innovation with Sustainable Materials and PFAS Alternatives

Panel 2 – Reskilling for Circularity: Preparing Climate-Smart Outdoor Businesses

Panelists include:

• Conor Hall – Director, Colorado Office of Outdoor Recreation
• Jonathan Asher – Director, Governor’s Office of Climate Preparedness & Disaster Recovery
• Ryan Perry – Product Developer, Obermeyer
• David Dani – Emerging Contaminants Coordinator, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
• Doug Kobold – Executive Director, California Product Stewardship Council
• Peter Girard – Co-founder and CEO of Toxnot, Managing Director, Supply Chain and Sustainability – 3E
• Christy Bailey – Vice President – Product, Topo Designs

This event is sponsored in part by funding from the Colorado State Outdoor Recreation Grant program through the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office and Colorado State University System – Spur funding program.

This outdoor industry roundtable event brought together outdoor industry leaders and CSU faculty to collaboratively define the competencies essential for the new Certificate in Sustainable Outdoor Product Design that meets the industry’s changing needs.

Industry leaders from around Colorado joined us at CSU Fort Collins for a dynamic day of collaboration, industry insights, and innovation. The event showcased CSU’s cutting-edge programs, state-of-the-art facilities, and research labs, providing industry partners with a firsthand look at the university’s resources for advancing outdoor product design, particularly in materials, sustainability, and conservation.

Sustainability, innovation, and outdoor leadership – the day’s keynote conversation took place at the Lory Student Center with Luis Benitez and CSU President Amy Parsons.

Luis Benitez is the VP of Global Affairs at Lululemon, a mountaineer, outdoor industry executive, sustainability leader, and author. Luis Benitez has summited the Seven Summits 32 times, reported from Mt. Everest for ABC News, and filmed segments for National Geographic. As a global change-maker, Luis has worked with iconic outdoor brands like The North Face, Supreme, Smartwool, and Timberland through his work at VF Corporation and VF Foundation.

He also made history as the first State Director of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office in the United States, helping shape policy and economic development in Colorado under Governor Hickenlooper.

The event was free and open to the public. Attendees learned about the future of sustainable outdoor business, the role of ethical innovation in today’s global economy, and how CSU students can lead the way in building resilient inclusive outdoor industries.