Page 7 - The Tent Handbook 2017

“
Even more importantly, we choose ma-
terial suppliers whom we know can work
within our requirements and that t into
our Responsibility Code. Our pole supplier,
DAC, is a good example. The most environ-
mentally harmful part of aluminum tent
pole production is the anodizing process,
which historically has used highly toxic
nitric and phosphoric acids. DAC spent
many years perfecting their Green Anod-
izing process, which eliminates both chemicals. They have designed and built their own equipment to keep their process as clean as pos- sible, and they pride themselves on far exceeding any governmental requirements. They have also incorporated a “Green Atmosphere” into their facilities, complete with dedicated green space and water features, built to inspire people to think more about the natural world and their place in it.
Cultivating partnerships
Essential to our responsibility ethos are the long term relationships we build in all parts of our business. We have worked with DAC poles for 17 years, and we are close friends with Jake Lah, the founder and owner. We have also worked with our main fabric supplier for at least as long, and with whom we have a similarly close relationship.
For nearly 20 years, we have worked together closely with DAC, who makes our poles. Dur- ing that time, we have become close friends as well as close business partners. Here Petra Hilleberg and Jake Lah, DAC’s founder, take a moment during a recent visit to South Korea.
Leave No Trace
With all our suppliers, we are in constant communication, and we push each other to be better in both function and processes. The resulting relationships, built over time on both loyalty and trust, allow each side to achieve more, to do so in a positive way, and with less negative impact on the world around us.
We rmly believe that our customers are our greatest asset. While many of our customers are true professionals, who do expeditions and exploring for their livelihood, most are simply people who love to be outdoors. All have purposefully chosen our tents, so all are a part of “Hilleberg.” We prioritize customer service, which, for us, means having customer relationships, preferably long term ones. A big piece of that is our repair capability. From full repairs to xing minor damage, we have both in-house repair cra smen as well as a network of Hilleberg- trained repair contractors. We o en hear from long-term customers who simply want their vintage but still fully functional Hilleberg tent (some are 30 years old) revitalized. This service not only reduces impact on the environment, but it also fosters the climate of mutual trust, respect, and loyalty that we strive for in all our relationships.
We have built a very strong relationship with Mid Sweden University, in Östersund, only a few minutes away from our offices in Frösön. We can test fabrics and other materials, and work with material scientists. Here Hilleberg’s Lisa Nilsson is using the tear strength testing system at the University’s SportsTech lab.
I do know that an outdoor life’s simplicity is what is most compelling: while it is – and
always has been – a revelation to me to ar- rive at a beautiful place and camp, it has always been at lea”st as important to leave that spot the next day looking as though I’d never been there.
– Bo Hilleberg
In everything we do do, we are guided by Bo Hilleberg’s words (see above) about the compelling nature of the outdoor experience and the
necessity of leaving as little impact on the wilderness as possible. This fundamental concept has been an essential part of our company from
the beginning, and it explains exactly why we have long been a corporate partner with Leave No Trace. Leave No Trace was originally created
by the US Forest Service in the 1960’s and then incorporated into its own nonprofit organization, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor
Ethics, in 1994. Leave No Trace’s philosophy is simple: leave the places you enjoy in as good or better condition than you found them. Their
mission is to educate people how to achieve this through minimum impact training, educational tools and related information, and they work
with everyone from individuals to government land management agencies. They are guided by the idea that outdoor resource conservation is possible when all who enjoy the outdoors know how to respect and prevent impacts from their activities, and that it is every person’s responsibility to protect the natural heritage for the future. Their ethical philosophy – and their mission –is spreading worldwide, and Leave No Trace partners with organizations in dozens of countries, reaching both millions of Americans and many more in other countries. Learn more about Leave No Trace at LNT.org.
7