Bergans of Norway has announced a partnership with The Virgin STRIVE Challenge 2016. The outdoor clothing and ski brand will support Sir Richard Branson, Holly Branson, Sam Branson and Innocent drinks co-founder Richard Reed, among a team of 25,as they tackle a 30-day expedition from the base of the Matterhorn in Switzerland to the summit of Mount Etna in Sicily in aid of the Big Change charity.
The ultra-endurance challenge, which begins on September 1, 2016, will see up to 250 participants join the core team at various stages of the journey, as they hike, cycle, swim and run over 2,300 km to raise funds for the Big Change charity, established by Holly and Sam Branson to catalyse positive change for young people.
Bergans of Norway UK country manager, Andy Nicolson, said: “As a company, we believe in the power of the outdoors to inspire and educate, so we are very proud and privileged to have been involved with supporting Big Change since its inception in 2012.
“The Virgin Strive Challenge 2016 has a strong synergy with Bergans’ core values and to be associated with such a credible cause that combines a challenging expedition with raising funds to help young people in the UK is fantastic.”
Co-founder and director of The Virgin STRIVE Challenge, Noah Devereux, said: “Big Change is proud of the long-standing relationship with Bergans of Norway.
“Bergans is an important part of Big Change’s history, from supplying gear used to climb Mont Blanc in 2012 to launch the charity, through to supplying the Virgin STRIVE Challenges in 2014, 15 and 16.
“We chose Bergans because of the quality of gear, their environmental commitments and all the work they do with supplying vital survival gear to those affected by natural disasters.”
Going greener
Bergans of Norway’s support of The Virgin Strive Challenge 2016 comes at a time when the brand is embarking on its own ambitious four-year-long journey, to the metaphorical Expedition 2020, which will see the brand embark on a huge sustainability programme to achieve:
- 75% of Bergans of Norway products to be bluesign® approved.
- 70% of Bergans of Norway products to be made from more sustainable raw materials which will have a verified environmental footprint for products and operations.
- Help to reduce the industry’s dependency on fossil fuels.
Expedition 2020’s other goals include less than 2% of all shipments will be via airfreight, all packaging will be composed of sustainable sources, annual sustainable training will be required for Bergans of Norway staff and all buildings will be powered by renewable energy.
Bergans of Norway has been a leader in outdoor gear since Sir Edmund Hillary pioneered Everest with a Bergans carrying frame to transport oxygen, and the company continues to be as innovative today. Expedition 2020 sets an example not only for the outdoor industry, but for companies around the globe.