128. An Inside Look at Sawyer's Clean Water Projects with Katie "Oats" Houston
In episode 128 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, I chatted with Katie Houston about Sawyer's clean water projects. Sawyer is a pioneering water filtration company with a rich history spanning over three decades, dedicated to providing innovative solutions for clean water access worldwide. Established in 1984, Sawyer has continuously evolved its product line, offering a range of advanced filtration systems designed for outdoor adventures, emergency preparedness, and humanitarian aid. From portable water bottles to high-flow gravity systems, Sawyer's commitment to quality and sustainability has made it a trusted name in ensuring safe drinking water in any environment. Katie has called the southern Appalachians home most of her life, from sleeping in her tree house to earning an earth science degree from UNC-Asheville. After a deep dive into the hiking community via an Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2019, she pivoted her future to meet her passion and started working freelance in the outdoor industry. Now, she's living her dream and managing Sawyer Product's stellar community, and learning more about their incredible support of clean water projects around the world. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book GOFUNDME: Fund the Forever Chemicals 10-Part Podcast LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976 --------------- Sawyer Products and Resources Website: https://www.sawyer.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sawyerproducts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sawyer-products/ Youtube: @SawyerProducts Miranda Goes Outside (in Honduras!) Sawyer’s Women-Led Charity Partners that Shine United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 The Sawyer Foundation Sawyer and Clean Water for All Katie "Oats" Houston Website: https://oatshikes.com/contact Instagram: @oatshikes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oatshikes/ --------------- Related Episodes 45. Zero Landfill Initiative: How It Started and Where It's Going with Patrice and Justin La Vigne 80. Inclusive and Mindful Product Design with Charlotte Young Bowens 98. How Not to Die in the Wilderness with Andrea Lankford 117. How Smartwool Prioritizes Circularity in Their Design with Alicia Chin and Sue Jesch
8 Apr 202426min
FOREVER CHEMICALS: European Companies Are Far Ahead
The goal of this series is to provide useful information for consumers regarding PFAS, specifically within the outdoor industry, but also for those of us working in the industry. I learned from every single person that I interviewed and talked to about the topic of PFAS, and one of the patterns I noticed during production was that most of the European brands like Jack Wolfskin, Fjallraven, and Houdini Sportswear were early adopters of phasing PFAS out of their products. As early as 2009, some of these brands had already begun or, at the very least, made the decision to remove harmful chemicals from their product line. This begs the question, what took the rest of the industry so long to catch up when there were several examples of success just across the ocean? Guests featured in this episode: - Eva Karlsson, Houdini Sportswear - Kevin Myette, Bluesign - Regina Goller, Jack Wolfskin - Donna Bruns, Fjallraven - Martin Axelhed, Fjallraven - Arlene Blum, Green Science Policy Institute - Kirsten Blackburn, Keen Footwear If you want to learn more about what PFAS are, where they are found, the proven health effects, how you can limit your exposure, up to date news on PFAS, and how to get involved in PFAS regulatory efforts visit Toxicfreefuture.org Foodandwaterwatch.org Or Pfascentral.org INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist Fund the Forever Chemicals 10-Part Podcast: https://gofund.me/77aac225 ----------------------- Snaplinc Consulting provided expert fact checking and guidance for the creation of this podcast. Snaplinc Consulting provides corporate sustainability strategies and ESG support across a broad range of industries including apparel, footwear, home furnishings, software, cosmetics, professional services and more. Head to snaplincconsulting.com to learn more and contact the experts to guide you through complex topics like CSRD, PFAS, greenhouse gas assessments, SBTi, CDP, EcoVadis, B Corp and many more compliance and certification frameworks. ----------------------- Sources Greenpeace Romania. (n.d.). Chemistry for any weather (Wayback Machine Archive No. 9650). Retrieved from https://wayback.archive-it.org/9650/20200429191052/http://p3-raw.greenpeace.org/romania/Global/romania/detox/Chemistry%20for%20any%20weather.pdf Stockholm Resilience Centre. (n.d.). Planetary boundaries. Retrieved from https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries.html
3 Apr 202428min
127. A Call to the Outdoor Industry: We Need to do More and Make Less with Rick Saez
Episode 127 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast is an open letter to the outdoor industry—a call to action to do more and make less. If you’ve followed this podcast for a while, you know we are all about environmental action. While I believe individuals can make a difference to achieve more significant impacts, we need the industry to lead the way and decide to do better for the future of our planet and the younger generations. I had a blast chatting with Rick Saez for this episode. While it is a bit different from other conversations we’ve had on the show, it is one that I think will resonate with how many of us feel about sustainability and the need for broader systemic change. Rick has worked as a Guide and in Sales & Product Development for many of the leading Outdoor and Adventure Travel Brands. He shares advice and insights about working in the Outdoor Industry from his experience and interviews from his popular Outdoor Biz Podcast. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book GOFUNDME: Fund the Forever Chemicals 10-Part Podcast LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976 --------------- Rick Saez Outdoor Biz Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-outdoor-biz-podcast/id1244919639 Website: https://ricksaez.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricksaez/ Instagram: @outdoorbizpod --------------- Related Episodes 21. Are We Loving the Land to Death? with Tom Sadler 24. Identifying Your Needs: Adventure, Gear, and Safety with Moose Mutlow 35. Tips for Making More Ethical Gear Purchases with Marie Wilson 54. Why We Need Nature with Kenny Peavy 84. Take Ownership of Your Influence Through Action with Sensi Graves
1 Apr 202426min
FOREVER CHEMICALS: Did We Ever Need PFAS in Our Outdoor Gear?
As more regulations come into play, many outdoor brands have moved the needle and promised to phase PFAS out of their products and apparel by 2025. While this is great news, what’s curious as a consumer is that alternative chemistry has existed for quite some time. Brands like Nikwax never needed to use harmful chemicals to achieve waterproof capabilities, and now Nikwax is one brand leading the charge with industry-wide innovations with cleaner chemistry. In later episodes, we will explore how both European and US brands have moved to phase out PFAS in their product lines, but before we get to that, it is worth noting that there have always been alternatives. Guests featured in this episode: - Kevin Myette, Bluesign - Brian Davidson, Nikwax - Alex Lauver, Outdoor Research - Kris Cody, PAKA Apparel - Mike Schade, Toxic Free Future If you want to learn more about what PFAS are, where they are found, the proven health effects, how you can limit your exposure, up to date news on PFAS, and how to get involved in PFAS regulatory efforts visit Toxicfreefuture.org Foodandwaterwatch.org Or Pfascentral.org INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist Fund the Forever Chemicals 10-Part Podcast: https://gofund.me/77aac225 ----------------------- Snaplinc Consulting provided expert fact checking and guidance for the creation of this podcast. Snaplinc Consulting provides corporate sustainability strategies and ESG support across a broad range of industries including apparel, footwear, home furnishings, software, cosmetics, professional services and more. Head to snaplincconsulting.com to learn more and contact the experts to guide you through complex topics like CSRD, PFAS, greenhouse gas assessments, SBTi, CDP, EcoVadis, B Corp and many more compliance and certification frameworks.
25 Mars 202426min
FOREVER CHEMICALS: The Rise and Limitations of PFAS Regulations
Regulatory efforts across the globe have been pushing for removing certain types of PFAS in specific product categories. Still, there are many limitations, and regulators often receive pushback from chemical companies. In episode four of the Forever Chemicals ten-part podcast series, we break down the increase of PFAS regulation in the US and the EU, along with the limitations we face in the pursuit of cleaner chemistry. Subscribe to the Forever Chemicals Podcast to hear the full series: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forever-chemicals/id1724693010 Guests featured in this episode: - James Pollock, Marten Law LLP - Arlene Blum, Green Science Policy Institute - Kevin Myette, Bluesign - Kyla Bennett, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility - Natalie Balbuena, Food and Water Watch - Mike Schade, Toxic Free Future - Stefan Posner, textile and polymer chemist - Alex Lauver, Outdoor Research - Philippe Grandjean, environmental epidemiologist - Eva Karlsson, Houdini Sportswear - Scott Wilson, Regenesis Environmental Remediation If you want to learn more about what PFAS are, where they are found, the proven health effects, how you can limit your exposure, up to date news on PFAS, and how to get involved in PFAS regulatory efforts visit Toxicfreefuture.org Foodandwaterwatch.org Or Pfascentral.org INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist Fund the Forever Chemicals 10-Part Podcast: https://gofund.me/77aac225 ----------------------- Snaplinc Consulting provided expert fact checking and guidance for the creation of this podcast. Snaplinc Consulting provides corporate sustainability strategies and ESG support across a broad range of industries including apparel, footwear, home furnishings, software, cosmetics, professional services and more. Head to snaplincconsulting.com to learn more and contact the experts to guide you through complex topics like CSRD, PFAS, greenhouse gas assessments, SBTi, CDP, EcoVadis, B Corp and many more compliance and certification frameworks. ------------------------- Sources Food and Water Watch. (Nov 15, 2023). PFAS: The “Forever Chemicals” Contaminating Our Water [Livable Future LIVE] [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/27k7Tki5xsU?si=WqEA0W9b1E-0iyQ1 Greenpeace. (2012). Chemistry for Any Weather [PDF]. Greenpeace. Retrieved from https://wayback.archive-it.org/9650/20200429191052/http://p3-raw.greenpeace.org/romania/Global/romania/detox/Chemistry%20for%20any%20weather.pdf Lerner, Sharon. The Intercept. (n.d.). The Teflon Toxin. Retrieved from https://theintercept.com/series/the-teflon-toxin/
18 Mars 202444min
FOREVER CHEMICALS: PFAS in the Outdoor Industry: A Performance Chemistry
In episode three of the Forever Chemicals ten-part podcast series, we give an overview of how PFAS is used in modern-day production, and get an inside look at why it became a performance chemistry in the outdoor industry. Subscribe to the Forever Chemicals Podcast to hear the full series: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forever-chemicals/id1724693010 Guests featured in this episode: - Mike Schade, Toxic Free Future - Ammi Borenstein, Snaplinc Consulting - Arlene Blum, Green Science Policy Institute - Stefan Posner, textile and polymer chemist - Alex Lauver, Outdoor Research - James Pollock, Marten Law LLP - Philippe Grandjean, environmental epidemiologist If you want to learn more about what PFAS are, where they are found, the proven health effects, how you can limit your exposure, up to date news on PFAS, and how to get involved in PFAS regulatory efforts visit Toxicfreefuture.org Foodandwaterwatch.org Or Pfascentral.org INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist Fund the Forever Chemicals 10-Part Podcast: https://gofund.me/77aac225 ----------------------- Snaplinc Consulting provided expert fact checking and guidance for the creation of this podcast. Snaplinc Consulting provides corporate sustainability strategies and ESG support across a broad range of industries including apparel, footwear, home furnishings, software, cosmetics, professional services and more. Head to snaplincconsulting.com to learn more and contact the experts to guide you through complex topics like CSRD, PFAS, greenhouse gas assessments, SBTi, CDP, EcoVadis, B Corp and many more compliance and certification frameworks. ------------------------- Sources Bloomberg Originals. (Nov 16, 2023). Why 'Forever Chemicals' Are Still Spreading [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/a-Hu4HQvA_U?si=LEfQeRCczWvAsgr3 Henry, B. J., Carlin, J. P., Hammerschmidt, J. A., Buck, R. C., Buxton, L. W., Fiedler, H., Seed, J., & Hernandez, O. (2018). A critical review of the application of polymer of low concern and regulatory criteria to fluoropolymers. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 14(3), 301-306. https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4035 Inhance Technologies. (n.d.). Inhance Technologies Launches Commercial Process to Eliminate PFAS from Fluoropolymers. Retrieved from https://www.inhancetechnologies.com/news/inhance-technologies-launches-commercial-process-to-eliminate-pfas-from-fluoropolymers-1 Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC). (2020, August). Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): History and Use [PDF]. Retrieved from https://pfas-1.itrcweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/history_and_use_508_2020Aug_Final.pdf Natural Resources Defense Council. (n.d.). PFAS Scorecard. Retrieved from https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/pfas_scorecard_r_22-04-b_03_locked.pdf U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). EPA Orders Issued to Inhance Technologies. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/reviewing-new-chemicals-under-toxic-substances-control-act-tsca/epa-orders-issued-inhance U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2022, January). Preliminary risk evaluation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in ski wax [PDF]. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-01/pfasskiwax.pdf
11 Mars 202431min
FOREVER CHEMICALS: A Brief History of How PFAS Poisoned the World
PFAS are a large class of chemicals that have been used since the late 1930s. What makes them particularly hazardous is that they are persistent and difficult to break down. That means all the PFAS that have even been created still exist today. In the first episode of this ten-part series, we learned the history of how PFAS was created. In episode two, we get a better understanding of just how dangerous PFAS chemicals are and how a series of lawsuits brought these health hazards to light. Subscribe to the Forever Chemicals Podcast to hear the full series: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forever-chemicals/id1724693010 Guests featured in this episode: - Arlene Blum, Green Science Policy Institute - Mike Schade, Toxic Free Future - Stefan Posner, textile and polymer chemist - Scott Wilson, Regenesis Environmental Remediation - James Pollock, Marten Law LLP - Philippe Grandjean, environmental epidemiologist If you want to learn more about what PFAS are, where they are found, the proven health effects, how you can limit your exposure, up to date news on PFAS, and how to get involved in PFAS regulatory efforts visit Toxicfreefuture.org Foodandwaterwatch.org Or Pfascentral.org INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist Fund the Forever Chemicals 10-Part Podcast: https://gofund.me/77aac225 ----------------------- Snaplinc Consulting provided expert fact checking and guidance for the creation of this podcast. Snaplinc Consulting provides corporate sustainability strategies and ESG support across a broad range of industries including apparel, footwear, home furnishings, software, cosmetics, professional services and more. Head to snaplincconsulting.com to learn more and contact the experts to guide you through complex topics like CSRD, PFAS, greenhouse gas assessments, SBTi, CDP, EcoVadis, B Corp and many more compliance and certification frameworks. ------------------------- Sources Belisle, John. 1978. Central Analytical Laboratory Report 6867. Contributed by Sharon Lerner (The Intercept). Retrieved from https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4575547-1978-PFOS-monkey-study Environmental Working Group. (n.d.). For Decades, Polluters Knew PFAS Chemicals Were Dangerous But Hid Risks From Public. Retrieved from https://www.ewg.org/research/decades-polluters-knew-pfas-chemicals-were-dangerous-hid-risks-public Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (n.d.). Industrial wastewater treatment technology. Retrieved from https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/gp3-06.pdf The Intercept. (2015, August 11). The Teflon Toxin: DuPont and the Chemistry of Deception. Retrieved from https://theintercept.com/2015/08/11/dupont-chemistry-deception/ Toxic-Free Future. (n.d.). Breast Milk Study. Retrieved from https://toxicfreefuture.org/research/breast-milk-study/
10 Mars 202433min
FOREVER CHEMICALS: From Atomic Bombs to Teflon Pans, How the PFAS Controversy Began
In the first episode of this ten-part series, we explore where PFAS came from and how it became a prevalent part of our consumer products. While the innovation of this class of chemicals has been astoundingly effective in applications like firefighting foams, waterproof rain jackets, and Teflon pans, our appetite for convenience created a toxic chemistry we may have to live with forever. In the next episode of Forever Chemicals, we dive deeper into how the controversy surrounding PFAS grew into a global health crisis and how it has persisted in manufacturing to this day. Subscribe to the Forever Chemicals Podcast to hear the full series: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forever-chemicals/id1724693010 Guests featured in this episode: - Arlene Blum, Green Science Policy Institute - Mike Schade, Toxic Free Future - Stefan Posner, textile and polymer chemist - Scott Wilson, Regenesis Environmental Remediation - James Pollock, Marten Law LLP If you want to learn more about what PFAS are, where they are found, the proven health effects, how you can limit your exposure, up to date news on PFAS, and how to get involved in PFAS regulatory efforts, visit Toxicfreefuture.org Foodandwaterwatch.org Or Pfascentral.org INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist Fund the Forever Chemicals 10-Part Podcast: https://gofund.me/77aac225 ----------------------- Snaplinc Consulting provided expert fact checking and guidance for the creation of this podcast. Snaplinc Consulting provides corporate sustainability strategies and ESG support across a broad range of industries including apparel, footwear, home furnishings, software, cosmetics, professional services and more. Head to snaplincconsulting.com to learn more and contact the experts to guide you through complex topics like CSRD, PFAS, greenhouse gas assessments, SBTi, CDP, EcoVadis, B Corp and many more compliance and certification frameworks. ------------------------- Sources 1. Manufacturing Dive. (n.d.). The history behind 'forever chemicals': PFAS. Retrieved from https://www.manufacturingdive.com/news/the-history-behind-forever-chemicals-pfas-3m-dupont-pfte-pfoa-pfos/698254/ 2. Plunkett, R.J. (1986). The History of Polytetrafluoroethylene: Discovery and Development. In: Seymour, R.B., Kirshenbaum, G.S. (eds) High Performance Polymers: Their Origin and Development. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7073-4_25 3. Teflon II commercials: Historical Reel 2, 1960-70, FILM_1995300_FC43, FC 43, DuPont Company films and commercials (Accession 1995.300), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, DE 19807 http://findingaids.hagley.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/1995_300.xml 4. W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. (n.d.). The Gore Story. Retrieved from https://www.gore.com/about/the-gore-story#section2
4 Mars 202424min
