The outdoor industry is broken – here's how we can fix it
The question of power in global trade
The outdoor industry has a problem. While companies throw around sustainability promises, one crucial point is often overlooked: the distribution of power between capital and production . Global trade is not bad per se - but it is often unfair . Sustainable outdoor brands advertise recycled materials or climate-neutral shipping, but the real problem lies much deeper: who has control over the value chain?
Large outdoor brands have their products manufactured in countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh or Vietnam - often under fairer conditions than fast fashion companies. But in the end they determine prices, wages and margins . Even certified "fair" supply chains do little to change the fact that the majority of the profits remain in the hands of a few companies.
How KAEMP 8848 makes the difference
We want to do things differently. Instead of just relying on sustainable materials, we are changing the structures:
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Fair production at eye level: KAEMP 8848 in Nepal are not anonymous suppliers , but they are the company, the founders, the history
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Capital stays in the region: profits not only flow to Europe, but also support local structures, e.g. through better working conditions and fair wages.
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Sustainability as a holistic approach: We repair instead of replacing. Our textile patches extend the lifespan of clothing - this reduces waste and creates local jobs.
The outdoor industry needs to rethink
Sustainability should not just mean producing "less badly". It is about distributing power more fairly so that those who produce do not remain dependent. The outdoor industry is broken because it often uses sustainability only for marketing purposes. We at KAEMP 8848 show that there is a better way.