Archives: Press Releases

Typically, warmer springtime temperatures across the country would mean the beginning of backyard barbeque parties and get-togethers. While the coronavirus makes those gatherings irresponsible right now, PK Grills believes we need to celebrate a good barbeque with friends now more than ever.  PK has rallied some of the world’s most renowned barbeque chefs and pitmasters for the first-ever Stay In & Cook Out Day on Saturday, March 28. The virtual barbeque will be open to everyone to participate via the #StayInCookOut hashtag.

“We’ve seen the success of virtual cocktail hours and dance parties, and we figured a virtual backyard cookout would be another great opportunity to bring people together and provide a distraction from current events,” said Scott Moody, co-owner at PK Grills. “We hope people dish out their favorite recipes, learn some new grilling techniques and share their love for cooking outdoors.”

Details are still being finalized, but the company expects participation from top barbeque pros, pitmasters, chefs, cookbook authors and online personalities, all sharing barbeque content, on Saturday.

All barbeque enthusiasts are encouraged to join in the fun by tagging #StayInCookOut.

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About PK

Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, the first Portable Kitchen Grill was designed and produced in the 1950s in Texas by an inventor who sold them across the south from the back of his car. The PK Grill, as the product came to be known, quickly made a name for itself as an easy-going, reliable and long-lasting option for grilling and smoking.

In 2014 a couple young telecom executives with no manufacturing experience bought in and officially re-launched the nascent grill brand carving out a niche for the unique, high-end, aluminum charcoal grill. PK Grills is based out of Little Rock, Arkansas. 

https://www.pkgrills.com/

Eddie Bauer is shifting portions of its production capacity to make N95 and surgical masks to help meet the high demand for personal protective equipment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eddie Bauer will donate masks to the State of Washington through the Department of Enterprise Services as early as next week. Some the brand’s vendor partners have also donated masks to aid in the US effort to fight the virus. N95 and surgical masks are essential for healthcare workers who now face shortages of masks and other crucial medical supplies.

“With our production capabilities and supply-chain resources, Eddie Bauer is working with our vendors to shift apparel production to make the masks our healthcare workers so urgently need,” said Damien Huang, Eddie Bauer President. “Our neighbors here in Washington state and the greater Seattle area have been seriously impacted by COVID-19. We’ve been a part of this community for 100 years, and we take our responsibility to our community seriously. While as a retailer we have been hit hard by the circumstances, we will do what we can to support healthcare workers and facilities in our own backyard.”

The first shipment of 5,000 N95 masks will arrive at Eddie Bauer’s distribution center later this week, followed by an additional shipment of 15,000 masks arriving in early-April. Eddie Bauer will donate masks to the Department of Enterprise Services who will ensure they are distributed to the counties and facilities with the greatest need, based on the guidelines provided by the Washington State Department of Health. Washington state is currently experiencing one of the most severe outbreaks in the country, generating shortages of masks and other personal protective equipment. Eddie Bauer is thrilled to be able to produce even a small number of masks to aid in the effort. Knowing the number of masks and personal protective equipment needed now and in the future will continue to grow, we encourage other companies, who are able to do so, to also join the cause.

“We are inspired by people across the country making sacrifices small and large to help their neighbors and we hope to encourage others in the outdoor industry to take similar steps,” said Huang. “Our industry faces enormous challenges ahead, but none as consequential as the health of our communities.”

About Eddie Bauer      

Eddie Bauer is an outdoor brand offering performance outerwear, apparel, footwear, accessories, and gear. For 100 years, Eddie Bauer has been inspiring and enabling people to live their adventure. Eddie Bauer products are built to last and are available online at www.eddiebauer.com, and at more than 400 stores in the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan, and other international markets.

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Last week, EcoVessel announced the launch of their new Retail Partnership Program to help support struggling retailers in the wake of COVID-19. Now the Boulder-based drinkware company has taken their efforts a step further to invite non-profit organizations to apply to the profit-sharing program as well.

The new program offers retailers and non-profits a 30% revenue share of all sales generated through their efforts. Each retailer or non-profit will receive a unique referral link to share and track their sales. They can share the link through email marketing programs or on their social media platforms. All independent retailers and nonprofits can apply to participate in the program.

“COVID-19 has had an unprecedented effect on the world and has most of us concerned about the health and financial impact of our friends and families. In addition to supporting our retail partners through this difficult time, we’d like to open this program up to non-profits as well. said EcoVessel CEO, Jon Fox. “Through discussions with our non-profit partners, we realize that their donations are drying up and that they need some extra support right now too. We remain committed to giving back and supporting non-profits who continue to shape our industry through their good work.”

Retailers and non-profits can apply to join the Partnership Program here: https://ecov.refersion.com.

 

About EcoVessel

 

EcoVessel creates premium hydration bottles, mugs, and tumblers that blend style and performance with a mission to reduce single-use plastics. Their products are designed with industry leading TriMax® Triple Insulation and can be found in over 20 countries. EcoVessel is committed to sustainability and is a proud member of 1% for the Planet that donates 5% of online sales to various environmental charities. Learn more at www.ecovessel.com

 

 

 

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the country and place immense strain on the already overextended US healthcare system, Superfeet has opened their doors to help those needing immediate access to 3D printers and/or production facilities to shore up short-term medical supply demand.

While business as usual takes a pause, Superfeet and their sister company Flowbuilt Manufacturing are hoping to contribute to the safety of our medical professionals and first responders: They’re opening up capacity on their HP MultiJet Fusion printers and setting up a manufacturing line for producing life-saving medical equipment.

Superfeet is asking anyone in need of supplies to combat COVID-19 to reach out to covidresponse@superfeet.com to determine if they can be of assistance.

“The men and women who are our first line of defense when it comes to fighting COVID-19 are facing shortages of the protective gear necessary to keep them safe. We immediately looked at our machines and our team and knew we could do more to help,” says John Rauvola, CEO and President at Superfeet. “We’ve already started the process of prototyping several pieces for medical equipment with our 3D printers and are ready to help create solutions for those in need.”

Superfeet, headquartered in Ferndale, WA (approximately 1.5 hour drive north of Seattle), is 100% employee-owned, and consists of individuals who recognize the power of the greater good. Harnessing the company’s ability to quickly produce custom insoles for customers, Superfeet is now channeling that power to fight the spread of COVID-19.

ABOUT SUPERFEET: For more than 40 years, Pacific Northwest-based Superfeet has been creating innovative products featuring the Superfeet® shape, helping millions of people worldwide experience unparalleled comfort, pain relief and performance. Today, through Fitstation and the latest advancements in 3D-printing technology, Superfeet is taking insoles and footwear from mass-produced products to personalized, made-for-you solutions. A 100% employee-owned company, Superfeet gives 1% of sales and countless volunteer hours to help others shape a strong foundation for a healthy future. For more, visit superfeet.com.

ABOUT FLOWBUILT: Flowbuilt Manufacturing is the only USA based full-service footwear manufacturing facility to offer mass-customization through proprietary multi-section injection technology. Clearing the way for brands to design and deliver the future before anyone else can, the Flowbuilt facility boasts cutting-edge 3D-printers and innovative machinery that flexes easily between creating a single custom pair of shoes to efficiently manufacturing thousands of pairs. At Flowbuilt, ideas flow from design to prototype through products built for today’s consumers, all under one roof. Learn more about Flowbuilt Manufacturing at: https://www.flowbuiltmfg.com/

• First fiber producer to have an approved science-based target – CO₂ neutrality by 2050
• Breakthrough in REFIBRA™ technology – worn textiles can also be used as fiber raw material
• Pioneer in the introduction of blockchain technology for fiber recognition
• On track to meet all sustainability targets

Lenzing – Just ahead of the “Day of Forests” on March 21, which the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations) introduced in the 1970s in response to global deforestation, the Lenzing Group presents its Sustainability Report 2019. This sets out how the company is actively dealing with the global challenges.

Lenzing produces fibers from the renewable raw material wood and is well known among its customers and partners in the global textile and nonwoven fabric industry for the clear position it takes as a sustainable producer. It is no accident that the new report is appearing on the International Day of Forests. Lenzing’s sustainable practices in procurement, especially for wood and pulp, were once again ranked as leading in the 2019 reporting year (Hot Button Report).

“Stand up! Against business as usual”

Under the motto “Stand up! Against business as usual”, Lenzing emphasizes its wider responsibilities over and above its products. Business-as-usual scenarios have to be overcome, in particular for climate protection. With a science-based target, Lenzing is taking action to master the problems caused by climate change. The Lenzing Group is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions per ton of product by 50 percent by 2030 (baseline: 2017). The Science Based Targets initiative has approved Lenzing’s climate target as science-based.

“Climate change is the most daunting challenge humanity faces. By making the strategic commitment to be climate-neutral by 2050, we will contribute to reducing the speed of global warming and to accomplishing the targets of the Paris climate agreement. Despite the substantial investment that is necessary, we are convinced that this is not only a very responsible step but that it will also be a value-generating move”, says Stefan Doboczky, Chief Executive Officer of the Lenzing Group. “The big challenges of our day demand new answers. Lenzing is at the forefront in being part of the solution.”

Breakthrough in REFIBRA™ technology

One of Lenzing’s strategic principles under its “Naturally positive” sustainability strategy and a focus in the 2019 Sustainability Report is the circular economy – an area in which Lenzing makes significant contributions. To address the enormous textile waste challenges of industry and society, Lenzing has developed a unique recycling technology branded REFIBRA™. This technology enables garment production waste to be reprocessed into fibers. By recycling worn garments for the first time in the production of
TENCEL™ x REFIBRA™ fibers, Lenzing achieved a further milestone in 2019 in establishing this pioneering technology in the global market.

“REFIBRA™ combines the production technology of lyocell fibers, which are widely recognized as being the most environmentally responsible wood-based cellulosic fibers, with a closed-loop production process and the recycling of cotton materials”, says Robert van de Kerkhof, Chief Commercial Officer of the Lenzing Group. “Lenzing’s vision is to turn the recycling of textile waste into a common standard process like paper recycling. This includes recycling fabrics and garments made from Lenzing materials. We want Lenzing fibers produced with REFIBRA™ technology to contain up to 50 percent of recycled materials”, states van de Kerkhof.

Transparency as the basis for transformation

Aside from climate protection and the efficient use of raw materials, transparency along the value chain also represents a huge challenge and, at the same time, forms the basis for greening the industry. Lenzing offers an innovative solution based on blockchain technology in cooperation with TextileGenesis™. This enables customers and consumers to trace the production of a garment back to the raw material by simply scanning a barcode. In 2019, Lenzing presented its first pilot project at the Hong Kong Fashion Summit.

Sustainability targets

In its sustainability strategy, Lenzing has defined seven core areas in which it makes significant direct contributions to the attainment of several Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (SDGs). In those areas, Lenzing has set concrete, ambitious targets, and the Lenzing Group continued to work hard to achieve them in the reporting year.

Significant improvements were achieved in the following areas:

• 9 percent saving in specific primary energy consumption and 8 percent reduction in specific greenhouse gas emissions (base year in both cases: 2014)
• Reduction of about 30 percent in sulfur emissions from production
• Reduction of about 30 percent in sulfur dioxide emissions from energy production
• 7 percent reduction in specific water consumption compared to the baseline 2014
• Reduction in other waste water effluents

Parents, looking for fun things to do with the family while practicing social distancing? Here are ways  to stay entertained and engage with the outdoors. We at Titus Adventure Company have created a trail map of activities for your family to prepare for when it’s time to go camping.  It is a way for your kid to understand the responsibilities they will have on your family camping trips. Think of it like the responsibility test parents give kids before adopting a dog. This checklist will keep your kids engaged and show that they are ready to join the family on camping trips.  We know camping can feel like a lot of work but it can be easier if the family can chip in to lessen the load on the parents.

We have created a list of about 40 tasks that are laid out on our printable board game. By the end you will be officially ready for a camping trip AND, if you send us a photo of your family’s completed map, your kids will get an official Titus Adventure Company Certificate of Readiness! Have fun, happy camping and stay healthy.

Learn more and download the map here:

https://www.tacrentals.com/blog/2020/3/18/beat-the-boredom-get-your-family-camping-ready

Wedge Brands LLC, a new company formed between a group of Colorado outdoor enthusiasts and a contingent of passionate surfers in Southern California, in addition to The Pearl Fund, announces the acquisition of Xcel Wetsuits and ZG Holdings LLC’s assets and brand portfolio.

Founded in 1982 by Ed D’Ascoli on Oahu and winner of the 2020 SIMA Wetsuit of the Year award, Xcel Wetsuits was most recently owned and operated by Boardriders Inc. 

Based in Aspen, Colorado, and founded by Jarka Duba in 2015, ZG Holdings LLC, managed and distributed Elevenate Apparel, Level Gloves, Briko Helmets and Goggles, Northwave Cycling Shoes, KODA Nutrition, and YNIQ eyewear in regions of North America.

Wedge Brands LLC’s acquisition of Xcel Wetsuits allows the company to once again operate as an independent surf brand, while utilizing the North American distribution and shared services platform that ZG Holdings had built over the last five years, including warehousing, ERP/CRM (Netsuite), customer service, and accounting.

“Everyone at Wedge is very excited about the merging of these iconic global active lifestyle brands,” says Wedge Brands LLC President, Jarka Duba. “We’ve been in discussions with Greg Wade and his team at Xcel for the last six months and are extremely excited to collaborate and help them continue to produce and distribute the best wetsuits in the world.”

Silverpeak Capital Partners provided financing and Goodspeed & Merrill served as the legal counsel to Wedge Brands LLC.

About Wedge Brands LLC

Founded in 2020 by a group of outdoor and surf enthusiasts, Wedge Brands LLC builds, buys, and grows brands it believes in. Its focus is to acquire brands, help them cultivate, and share services to provide best in class systems for each company. Wedge Brands believe in local retailers, core brands, and passionate end users. 

KAYSVILLE, Utah- March 19, 2020- Klymit, a comfort innovator in advanced outdoor technology, debuts the Klymaloft™ sleeping pad. The Klymaloft™ is an all-new revolutionary air and foam sleeping pad designed for maximum comfort. The sleeping pad marks the beginning of Klymit’s third sleeping pad line, joining the Inertia and Static series. 

The Klymaloft features a patent pending innovative foam and air design. A plush foam topper conforms to support the body and eliminate pressure points, while underlying I-beam air chambers create loft and stabilize the sleeping pad. Perfect for three-seasons, the sleeping pad’s stretch polyester fabric is soft and quiet for a comfortable night’s rest. Air and foam strike the perfect balance between comfort, pack size, and weight. 

Inflating the Klymaloft sleeping pad is fast and easy. The pad is compatible with Klymit’s Rapid Air Pump and Electric Pump. The Klymaloft weighs 38.5 oz, packs down to 11.5” x 8”, and has an ASTM R-value of 2.1. 

“We know that an uncomfortable night’s rest can ruin the outdoor sleep experience,” says Klymit President, Cory Tholl. “With the Klymaloft, we believe we’ve delivered an exceptionally comfortable pad that will make you forget you’re away from your bed at home. You won’t ever consider another self-inflate or other foam pad ever again.”

The Klymit Klymaloft is available now exclusively on Klymit.com. 

Klymit Klymaloft 

MSRP: $149.95

Weight: 38.5 oz

Dimensions: 72 x 23 x 2.5 in. 

Pack size: 11.5 x 8 in. 

Fabric: 75D polyester 

R-value: 2.1 ASTM F3340-18

Klymit is a company based in Kaysville, Utah that challenges traditional approaches to the conception and fabrications of outdoor goods. Klymit was conceived under the idea that the experience of sleeping outside can be enhanced with new technologies that produce comfortable, lightweight, and rugged products through comfort innovation.

https://www.klymit.com/

www.facebook.com/KlymitNobleTek

https://twitter.com/klymit

https://instagram.com/klymit/

https://www.pinterest.com/klymit/

The impacts of climate change are only going to become more apparent. Intensified weather and rising sea levels are the most well-known consequences of negative human activity, but perhaps the most crippling side effect of prolonged human degradation of the environment concerns the global economy.

In short, human pollution leading to an acceleration of climate change will cost us. Big time. According to a report from the Universal Ecological Fund, “In the coming decade, economic losses from extreme weather combined with the health costs of air pollution spiral upward to at least $360 billion annually, potentially crippling U.S. economic growth” (Leahy). The world economy has already felt these effects. Increased widespread droughts, wildfires, and floods have depleted entire regions across the globe. “Billion Dollar Disasters” have also seen a spike in prevalence throughout the last few decades. In 2016 alone, fifteen natural disasters were recorded to cost over a billion dollars in recovery. Hurricane Irma and Harvey required a combined $200 billion in recovery efforts in 2017. As these natural disasters become more apparent and more intense, they will drag an exponentially greater toll among the U.S. and global economies. Global markets will undoubtedly feel the strain of disaster relief, but as pollution of air and water continue, economic loss resulting from increased health problems of workers will increase, too.

Economic growth has a foundation based on workers’ ability to, well, work. A proposed warming of the surface temperature by 8 degrees Fahrenheit (RCP8.5) as opposed to 5 degrees (RCP4.5) by the year 2090 offers two drastic future strains on the economy. In relation to labor, “The projected warming will lead also to 910 million more lost labor hours per year in 2090 in RCP8.5 than in RCP4.5 – a difference worth about $75 billion per year” (Nucitelli). Billions lost to health effects caused by climate change presents an opportunity to act now. Adapting our economy and our policies regarding climate change is essential to the economic viability of future generations.

What are some things we can do to adapt to the pressures of accelerated climate change? Well, we can start by focusing on different aspects of industry that have been identified as key contributors to the climate crisis. For us, we have identified a climate killer in the backpack and outerwear industry. Solvent-based PU (Fossil Fuel) coatings have been used for decades to increase abrasion resistance on fabrics. The use of these coatings releases volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere which is depleting our ozone layer letting in harmful ultra violet rays. The compounds, then, accelerated the process of global warming by aiding greenhouse effects.

Our mission at PolyCore™ is to replace the use of solvent-based coatings that suffocate our planet and replace them with sustainable, water-based options. Investing in the adaptation of different areas of the market to combat climate change is just one way to avoid climate and economic catastrophe. Investing today in the future of our planet is essential. If everyone chose just one area of their business or lives to invest time, energy, and/or money into helping reduce their impact on the environment, we could all make a substantial impact on our world.

 

 

Earth Day Network Announces Shift to Global Digital Mobilizations for 50^th Anniversary