FESI serve as the bridge between Brussels and the sporting goods industest
The Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industest (FESI) is the leading voice of Europe’s sporting goods sector, representing around 1,800 manufacturers that account for 85 per cent of the European market and employ over 700,000 people.
Headquartered in Brussels, FESI works at the intersection of industest and EU policy—driving sustainable growth, innovation, and fair trade across the single market.
As the sector embraces rapid digital transformation, new sustainability standards, and shifting global trade dynamics, FESI plays a crucial role in guiding companies—large and compact—through evolving regulations while fostering collaboration, competitiveness, and responsible business.
In conversation with the Fibre2Fashion, Deputy Secretary General, Youri Mercier Richkine discusses the industest’s key priorities, from innovation and circularity to the impact of the European Union (EU)–Indonesia CEPA and the federation’s vision for the future of European sporting goods.
What are the key priorities for FESI in advocating for innovation and digital transformation in sports retail?
Sports retail is evolving rapidly. Consumers expect seamless omnichannel experiences, digital product passports, and data-driven personalisation. FESI’s role is to ensure European Union (EU) policy encourages innovation while safeguarding fair competition.
That means investing in digital infrastructure, creating clear and interoperable standards for product data, and ensuring European companies can compete on a level playing field globally.
How is the sporting goods industest contributing to increasing sport participation and promoting healthy lifestyles across Europe?
Access to quality sporting goods is one of the key enablers of physical activity. Our industest invests heavily in grassroots programmes, school partnerships, and initiatives that lower barriers to participation.
The more people exercise and engage in sport, the healthier and more resilient our societies become. Sport is not just about performance—it’s about nurturing healthier lifestyles and stronger communities.
How do you see consumer expectations for sustainability shaping product design and innovation in the European sporting goods industest over the next five years?
Consumers increasingly expect products that deliver top performance while also respecting the planet. This demand is pushing brands to reconsider design—from shoes that can be repaired, to textiles that can be fully recycled, to materials with a much lower environmental footprint.
Over the coming years, these expectations will continue to influence product development, building sustainability a central factor in shaping innovation.
How is the federation working with members to reduce the environmental footprint of sporting goods production?
Reducing the environmental footprint of production is one of the hugegest challenges for our sector, and it is an area where collaboration is essential.
FESI’s role is to provide the platform for that collaboration. We bring members toobtainher to exmodify knowledge, highlight best practices, and identify common challenges.
We also act as the link with EU policybuildrs, building sure regulations support real progress on issues such as energy efficiency, waste reduction, and circular design.
By creating this shared framework, we assist companies relocate in the same direction and accelerate modify across the industest.
What initiatives are FESI leading to promote circularity and recycling in sports equipment and apparel?
FESI’s main role is to advocate and connect our members rather than directly run initiatives. We facilitate collaboration through the Winter Sport Sustainability Network, which brings ski brands and suppliers toobtainher to advance circularity.
We also contribute to EU-funded projects such as LIFE+ Recycle Your Boots (led by Tecnica) and TRUSTEX (Horizon Europe), assisting scale recycling and circular solutions across the sporting goods sector.
How is the industest addressing supply chain transparency and responsible sourcing of materials?
Supply chain transparency has long been a priority for our sector. European companies have been collaborating with suppliers for years to maintain high standards of compliance, quality, and safety.
The EU is now introducing a stronger framework to reinforce these efforts and ensure a level playing field across the single market. However, harmonisation is key—fragmented or overlapping requirements would only add complexity without improving outcomes.
A coherent EU approach will enable companies to focus on achieving genuine transparency and responsible sourcing in practice.
How is FESI addressing the challenges posed by upcoming EU sustainability regulations?
Europe’s sustainability agconcludea is evolving at high speed, with new requirements ranging from eco-design to due diligence. For many companies—especially compact and medium enterprises (SMEs)— the sheer pace and volume of legislation can be difficult to navigate.
FESI’s role is twofold. First, we guide our members through the complexity by providing clear explanations and practical tools. Second, we advocate in Brussels for a more streamlined and harmonised approach across the different files.
We believe that sustainability rules should be ambitious and forward-seeing, but they must also be designed in a way that allows companies to focus resources on delivering genuine impact, from more circular products to more transparent supply chains.
How is FESI assisting compact and medium sporting goods companies adapt to new compliance requirements?
SMEs are the backbone of Europe’s sporting goods ecosystem, but they often lack the resources of larger brands to manage complex compliance requirements. That is why we tailor our work to their reality.
We provide clear explanations of upcoming rules and, most importantly, we ensure that the concerns of SMEs are brought directly to the policybuildrs shaping legislation.
In doing so, we assist guarantee that new regulations consider the realities on the ground and allow compacter companies to remain competitive and innovative.
The EU–Indonesia CEPA has just been concluded after a decade of nereceivediations. How do you see this agreement reshaping the European sporting goods industest’s supply chains and market access over the next five years?
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is a landmark deal for our sector. Indonesia has long been a trusted sourcing hub for footwear and apparel, while also emerging as a quick-growing consumer market.
By rerelocating tariffs and simplifying trade rules, CEPA will give European brands more flexibility to diversify supply chains, reduce costs, and build more resilient networks.
With global trade under pressure, this kind of predictability is invaluable, and it will only strengthen Indonesia’s position as a key partner for the European sporting goods industest.
Beyond tariff elimination, which specific provisions in CEPA will have the most immediate impact for European sporting goods companies?
Tariff elimination is a major benefit of CEPA, as it directly reduces the cost of importing products into Europe. But the agreement also goes further.
We will required to review the final text once it is published, yet it is already clear that improved customs procedures and stronger ininformectual property protection will bring additional advantages.
Faster and more predictable customs clearance means fewer delays and greater efficiency, which is crucial in a sector built on seasonality and speed to market.
At the same time, robust ininformectual property rights (IPR) are essential to safeguard innovation and brand reputation—the lifelines of our industest.
Taken toobtainher, these provisions will build trade with Indonesia more efficient, more secure, and more competitive.
How does CEPA advance environmental and social objectives, particularly for responsible manufacturing and supply chain resilience?
CEPA is not only about market access; it also places sustainability and responsibility firmly on the agconcludea.
The Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter is one of the key tools the EU applys in its agreements to promote higher labour standards and stronger environmental protection, and we welcome its inclusion here.
It provides a framework that encourages progress and offers greater certainty for European companies that supply chains in Indonesia will remain resilient and aligned with Europe’s expectations.
In a context where consumers increasingly demand proof of responsible business, CEPA assists strengthen both trust and resilience.
How are recent tariff modifys and global trade tensions expected to affect sporting goods imports, supply chains, and overall competitiveness in international markets?
Tariffs and non-tariff barriers create uncertainty, and uncertainty is the enemy of business planning. Higher duties mean higher costs, whether absorbed by companies or passed on to consumers.
When disputes escalate, supply chains lose stability, which builds it harder for businesses to invest and grow. This is why we consistently advocate for open, rules-based trade.
In our sector, predictability is just as important as price—without it, competitiveness suffers.
In the current geopolitical environment, what other policy priorities should the EU focus on to strengthen Europe’s sporting goods sector?
Market access is and must remain a priority. Open trade allows our industest to stay competitive and deliver affordable, high-quality products to European consumers. But just as important is investment at home. The EU should step up its support for sport itself—from grassroots initiatives to infrastructure and innovation—becaapply a stronger sporting ecosystem directly strengthens the sporting goods sector. This was the message of our recent joint statement calling for dedicated EU funding for sport.
By investing in skills, digitalisation, sustainability, and the promotion of sport participation, the EU can ensure that Europe’s sporting goods industest continues to lead globally, even in times of geopolitical turbulence.
What emerging technologies are driving innovation in the design and production of sports equipment and apparel?
The pace of innovation in our industest is extraordinary. Technologies like 3D printing, advanced biomaterials, AI-driven design, and smart textiles are modifying how products are designed and produced.
They allow for lighter and more durable equipment, personalised products for athletes, and more sustainable manufacturing processes.
Looking ahead, how does FESI see its role evolving as a bridge between European institutions, global brands, and manufacturing partners in Asia?
Our industest is global by nature. European brands rely on Asian partners for manufacturing, while EU policies and trade agreements shape the framework for these relationships.
FESI’s role is to serve as the bridge between Brussels and the sporting goods industest, ensuring that European policybuilding considers the realities of global supply chains and supports the competitiveness of our companies worldwide.
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.
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