Maria Ries is responsible for CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) at Sport Conrad and met with us for a conversation along the Philosopher’s Path in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. We talked about responsibility, optimism, how we can move forward together – and how, on June 1, 2025, we’ll plant trees together in Oberammergau.

 

Along the winding path of the Philosopher’s Way, numerous benches invite passersby to pause, reflect, and enjoy the view of the Ammer Mountains. We meet Maria Ries, CSR Officer at Sport Conrad, for a walk – to literally get moving and talk about a topic that demands exactly that from us: sustainability.

 

Maria Ries, CSR manager at Sport Conrad. Photo: Sport Conrad

 

Why is the Philosopher’s Path a good place to talk about sustainability?

This is my running route. The path begins at the respiratory trail and offers many benches for resting, marveling, and exchanging ideas. I especially love that you can see the Zugspitze clearly from here. That grounds me. First, take a deep breath, connect with your surroundings and – on the move – learn from nature.

The trail is easily accessible, so you meet all kinds of people: young and old, visitors and locals. Everyone can walk it. And that’s what I think is crucial when it comes to sustainability: it’s up to each and every one of us. And just like in sports: “Walk the talk.” It takes energy, endurance, and sometimes perseverance. Step by step.

 

What does sustainability have to do with movement?

This decade will determine how we live in this century. That requires a lot of movement – literally. It’s not enough to talk about solutions – we have to implement them.

That’s why I like to translate sustainability as “future.” It requires the head, heart, and hands alike. And we need to mobilize as many people as possible to join us on the journey. Sustainability is not a solo sprint – it’s a team expedition.

Places like this help us focus on what really matters – to move away from being overwhelmed and toward small, everyday actions. Anyone walking here on the Philosopher’s Path sees firsthand: Nature always finds a way. We should take that as our inspiration.

 

Transformation can only succeed together

 

Where does Sport Conrad currently stand on the path to sustainability?

Sport Conrad made a crucial move back in 2018 with our “Wir denken um” initiative. The guiding question has been: How can we, as a fourth-generation family business, operate economically in a way that remains viable for future generations?

We’ve defined a clear roadmap with concrete goals. Then come the EU requirements for sustainability reporting. But it’s not just about compliance. It’s about responsibility and future viability. We set goals – and back them up with tangible measures.

To me, the “Wir ”  in “Wir denken um”  is key. Transformation doesn’t work top-down – only through collaboration. It’s important to me to listen: What’s on the team’s mind? Where can I help? How can we improve as an industry? It’s like being here on the Philosopher’s Path: You listen to each other – and then keep walking together.

 

Anyone walking along the Philosophenweg can see it right in front of them: nature always finds a way. Photo: Sport Conrad

 

How do these goals look in your day-to-day work? How can we imagine your work area in concrete terms?

Together with my CSR team, I make sure sustainability becomes part of our daily business. Our foundation is the “Wir denken um” roadmap, with four clear goals: empower people, promote sustainable products, protect nature, and operate responsibly.

On a daily basis, that means working with the purchasing team to expand our sustainable product range. With logistics, we look at how to reduce CO₂ – for example through more efficient processes, optimized packaging, or switching completely to LED lighting. In HR, we focus on raising awareness through internal training or apprentice workshops, like the one on the Zugspitze. And with marketing, we organize initiatives like our Community Days, where we bring colleagues, customers, and partners together to plant trees or collect litter.

 

Positive images of the future as a driver for sustainable development

 

What does cooperation mean to you in the context of sustainability?

To me, cooperation is key. The magic happens at the interfaces – when different perspectives come together, not judged but heard and discussed in a solution-oriented way.

The outdoor industry, in particular, has a lot of opportunities here. There are already great examples of best practices – from sustainable product cycles to alternative business models to regional value creation. When these examples become visible, the demand for future-proof solutions grows.

Cooperation means putting competition aside to some extent and pulling together – for shared goals within the planet’s boundaries.

 

How can we talk about sustainability in a way that motivates people?

By creating positive visions of the future – and not just naming problems. People need to feel: I really can make a difference – here and now, in small and big ways.

Fear paralyzes. What we need is a sense of agency. The realization that: I can spark change. Maybe I can’t change everything on my own, but I can influence my environment. Instead of spreading frustration, we should share courage and optimism. And: we need to allow mistakes, fall down, get back up – as long as the direction is right.

 

‘Magic is created at interfaces,’ explains Maria Ries in an interview. Photo: Sport Conrad

 

And how can people take action in concrete terms?

A great example is our tree-planting event with the PWG Oberammergau. Under the motto “Plant trees and grow together,” we organize annual Community Days where Sport Conrad employees join with customers, friends, and partners to head into nature and plant trees. Around 50 volunteers take part in each event, including rangers from the Ammergau Alps Nature Park, who share fascinating insights into the local flora and fauna.

This year, there will be two Community Days again. The first one is scheduled for June 1, 2025.

More about the event and registration: To the Sport Conrad Community Day

 

Tree planting for sustainability – simple but effective?

We believe: There is beauty in simplicity. It’s not always about “higher, faster, further” – but about a new awareness of what already exists. About sharing, repairing, lending. Initiatives like our secondhand program NOMOI, our repair services, and rental offerings are exactly focused on this.

 

Is this spirit of cooperation and future focus what led you to work in sustainability?

Yes, the question of how companies take responsibility and help shape the future has always fascinated me. I studied biology and business – two fields that often seem to conflict. That tension between economy and ecology is what intrigued me: How can we combine the two?

Professionally, I’ve often worked at the intersections – between teams, topics, and interests. That’s where I see the greatest potential: when people listen, mediate, and think ahead together.

With that perspective, I started working in sustainability right after graduation.

 

How do we manage to think ecology and economy together? Photo: Sport Conrad

 

Do you have any final thoughts for our readers?

Change begins with ourselves. You can’t change anyone else – only yourself. But that’s also our biggest lever. And: it can start gently. Maybe with a walk. Maybe along the Philosopher’s Path.

Take a deep breath – and get started.

 

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