REI and the Eco-travel Movement: A Commitment to Sustainable Adventure

Imagine embarking on an adventure, the thrill of the quest gripping you – all while knowing your footprints simply fade, leaving no trace on the beautiful landscapes you’ve crossed. This might sound like a dream to many intrepid travelers, but it’s a reality that REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) has been fostering for years in the hearts of adventure lovers and nature preservation advocates around the globe. Championing eco-travel initiatives while constantly striving for sustainable practices in the adventure gear industry, REI is more than an outfitter – it’s an ethos, a way of life and a partner in the quest for a greener future. 

From nurturing responsible outdoor recreation and conservation efforts, to fostering partnerships with sustainable manufacturers, there’s much to delve into when it comes to REI’s commitment and contribution towards a sustainable eco-travel landscape. As you dive into this exploration of REI’s trailblazing efforts and initiatives: 

• Discover how REI paves the way in eco-friendly practices in a bustling industry.
• Engage with REI’s distinct perspective on the broad-reaching eco-travel movement.
• Recognize the role REI has played in amplifying conservation efforts, from iconic trails to vast oceans.
• Understand the benefits and importance of REI’s eco-friendly adventure gear.

“At REI, we inspire, educate and outfit for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship.” – REI’s Co-op Creed

The journey ahead unfolds REI’s commitment to nature and a deeper look into how it’s fast becoming a benchmark for sustainable practice within the adventure gear industry. Are you ready for the adventure? Let’s dive in.

Understanding REI’s Vision for Sustainable Travel

Perhaps you’ve heard of REI Co-op, the specialty outdoor retailer, known for its high-quality, durable gear for all types of adventurers. Based near Seattle, REI boasts a staggering 23 million members, all benefiting from their outstanding customer service and expert outdoor knowledge. But its vision extends beyond just selling top-notch gear. REI has laid out a bold and forward-thinking vision for sustainable travel, one of eco-consciousness and responsibility to our planet. 

The co-op’s outreach isn’t just limited to the customers; it extends to their brand partners too. In just one year, 2021, REI’s brand partners, who together represent over $3.8 billion in annual sales, took a deep dive into their own sustainability practices and shared their progress. Through such collaborations, REI wants to influence the whole industry, advocating for eco-friendly practices in the creation of adventure gear and beyond. 

Of course, it all circles back to its climate target – reducing its carbon footprint by 55% by 2030. As a step towards this goal, REI has put in great efforts to cut emissions across the business, invest in climate solutions, offset emissions and focus on improvements in its supply chain. Sustainability isn’t just another buzzword for REI. Instead, it’s an integral part of the co-op’s mission and a necessary step in ensuring our outdoor adventures for generations to come.

Promoting Eco-friendly Practices: REI’s Pioneering Role

There’s no denying it—you, as an adventure enthusiast, play a crucial role in the sustainable movement. But beyond these personal actions, corporate responsibility also matters. The positive decisions companies make can have a cascading impact on our planet. That’s where REI steps in. 

REI is not just any company; it’s a trailblazer within the industry, actively battling the climate crisis. In 2021, REI took a significant step forward in ensuring sustainability practices within its brand partnerships. This move alone represented over $3.8 billion in annual sales. But the goal was not merely financial gains. By encouraging better practices among these brands, REI hopes to hit their climate target: a reduction of their carbon footprint by 55% by 2030. 

The commitment seems lofty, but REI already has a well-defined roadmap. How are they achieving it? Primarily, by cutting emissions throughout its business, investing in climate solutions, and offsetting emissions. The focus isn’t limited to their operations alone. They are also actively targeting improvements in their supply chain. 

What’s unique about REI’s approach, you ask? They go beyond the expectations – setting high product impact standards. This includes all brands and products sold at the co-op, outlining a clear expectation for managing environmental, social, and animal welfare impacts. This dedication to quality and sustainability defines REI’s integral contribution to a greener, healthier planet. 

As consumer support grows for such initiatives, REI is only becoming stronger. Stay tuned in this journey with them, as they aim to transition to a green economy, advocate for policies that accelerate greenhouse gas reductions, and empower you to make impactful choices.

Breaking Down the Eco-travel Movement: REI’s Perspective

REI has adopted a comprehensive approach to support the eco-travel movement, a vision that extends beyond merely selling eco-friendly products. This is reflected in their Three-Prong Strategy, a comprehensive plan targeting not only eco-friendly business leadership and innovation, but also active advocacy on a governmental level, as well as empowering customers to make sustainable choices. 

Fundamentally, REI’s perspective on eco-travel is rooted in the belief that sustainability can and should be a competitive advantage. It’s a perspective that aims for a shift towards a greener economy. They are working relentlessly to defy the conventional business model, demonstrating that a corporation can ensure profitability while also prioritizing the environment. Taking a pioneering role, REI is advocating for policies that result in substantial greenhouse gas emission reductions. 

Further, enriching its role as an eco-travel movement leader, REI recognizes the importance of empowering its customers. Through countless informative and engaging articles and videos, REI provides expert knowledge on various outdoor subjects. Thus, they aid customers in learning essential skills, choosing the right gear, and preparing for eco-travels. This knowledge forms an integral part of encouraging sustainable actions, making consumers active participants in the eco-travel movement. In this way, REI lays a strong emphasis on the connection between making informed choices and conserving our planet.

With a clear understanding that the journey towards sustainability is incredibly complex, REI reminds us that every action counts. The spirit of eco-travel is deeply embedded in their approach, guiding their decisions and reaffirming their commitment to tread lightly on our planet as they dive headfirst into this transformative journey.

Conservation Efforts Championed by REI: From Trails to Oceans

As a leading light in the conservation movement, REI’s work extends across a wide-reaching and diverse spectrum. From protecting trails in the heart of America’s wilderness to safeguarding vast expanses of oceans, the scope of its efforts is noteworthy. After all, preserving these natural environments is indispensable and forms a part of REI’s broad objective to make sustainable travel the norm, not an exception.

REI’s advocacy efforts don’t stop at just promoting sustainable practices within its operations or among its brand partners. The co-op actively gets involved in tackling the climate crisis head-on. Take, for instance, its Cooperative Action Network. This platform aims to galvanize its employees, members, and customers in advocating for essential environment-friendly policies. This active involvement in climate action greatly underscores REI’s commitment to the sustainability movement. 

What’s more? REI’s conservation efforts aren’t limited to home. The co-op extends its impact by also working with global brand partners to achieve shared climate targets. The co-op knows that institutionalizing sustainability in outdoor gear industry isn’t a one-organization show and calls for collective action – a clarion call that REI is proud to champion. 

When it comes to sustainable travel and adventure, the winding trails, rushing rivers, and vast oceans aren’t just the backdrop. They are at the heart of the adventure – and REI is determined to ensure that they will stay there, indefinitely.

Celebrating Eco-Conscious Brands: REI’s Partnership with Sustainable Manufacturers

Leading the charge towards a more sustainable future, REI has established strong alliances with numerous brand partners. These partnerships encompass a network representing over $3.8 billion in annual sales, all of whom collectively assessed their sustainability practices and shared their progress with the cooperative in 2021. This disclosure initiative echoes REI’s commitment to transparency and collaboration in advancing industry-specific sustainable practices. 

In an innovative move, REI started rewarding brand partners in 2022 based on the sustainability actions they took. These actions include measurable steps like delineating their greenhouse gas footprint, setting ambitious reduction goals, compensating for emissions, and becoming Climate Neutral certified. This paradigm shift in sales rewards underscores REI’s determined pursuit of embedding sustainable practices within the adventure gear industry. 

Additionally, REI is part of the founding team of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and utilizes the comprehensive Higg Index suite of sustainability tools. This includes analyzing various aspects of the product lifecycle and environmental impacts of materials in REI Co-op brand products. Working alongside their brand partners in the sustainable journey, REI aims to achieve mutually agreed climate targets, further reinforcing the industry’s pivot towards sustainability and environmental stewardship. 

Indeed, REI Co-op has taken a pioneering role by setting new Product Impact Standards, aimed at promoting more sustainable, inclusive, and conscientious business practices across the retail sector. The REI Product Impact Standards establish a pathway for all brands and products sold at the cooperative, outlining the necessity of managing environmental, social, and, not least, animal welfare impacts. This represents a bold statement of REI’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and sets the bar high for the entire industry. 

The epitome of REI’s sustainable vision lies within its own products. REI Co-op brand and Co-op Cycles products are more than just gear; they are an expression of the company’s core values and a testament to promoting more sustainable practices within the adventure gear industry. These products are made in alignment with the high standards set by REI, functioning as persuasive evidence of how significant strides towards sustainability can be made without compromising on quality or performance.

FAQ’S

Wondering about the details and seeking some more clarity? We’ve got you covered. In this section, we will delve into some of the most frequently asked questions. These questions will help you have a deeper understanding of REI’s impact on sustainable adventure gear practices and eco-travel, covering everything from the eco-friendly product range to REI’s unique strategy.

Why is REI’s commitment to the eco-travel movement important?

REI’s commitment to the eco-travel movement is not simply important; it’s essential. Living in a world where climate change threatens our native ecosystems, REI understands this urgency and contributes to its deterrence. The company’s steadfast commitment to eco-travel reflects its understanding of the direct impact outdoor activities can have on the environment. By stepping into the realm of advocacy, they are playing an active role in driving change within their industry and beyond. 

This dedication extends to their customers as well, empowering them with the tools, knowledge, and products to support eco-conscious travel. REI’s steadfastness in this cause helps to aid the ongoing fight against environmental degradation and paves the way for greater sustainability within the adventure gear industry. In doing so, they highlight that a love for adventure doesn’t have to come at the expense of the planet. 

To quantify their commitment, REI’s goal to reduce its carbon footprint by 55% by 2030 offers a tangible target for the company’s sustainability initiative. This is being achieved through a multi-pronged approach that includes emissions reduction, investment in climate solutions, and continuous improvement within its supply chain. 

REI’s commitment also sets the bar for other companies, encouraging them to assess their own practices and work towards sustainability. By establishing the REI Product Impact Standards, they are defining what it means to be sustainable and setting expectations for all businesses they work with. Furthermore, their position as a founding member of The Outdoor Industry Association Climate Action Corps amplifies their pledge and invites others to join the movement. In all these ways and more, REI is sparking a sustainability revolution within the adventure travel industry.

In a nutshell, REI’s commitment is not just about improving their own practices; it’s about inspiring change on a larger scale and leading the charge towards a more sustainable world. Now, every trip you take, and every product you purchase from REI, contributes to preserving the landscapes and natural wonders we all love and want to protect for future generations. Indeed, it’s clear that with REI’s commitment, our collective journey towards sustainability becomes easier and more rewarding. 

How does REI promote sustainable practices in the adventure gear industry?

REI actively promotes sustainable practices within the adventure gear industry via a multi-faceted strategy. At the heart of this approach are the REI Product Impact Standards. These guidelines set clear and actionable expectations for handling environmental, social, and animal welfare impacts. By administering these standards, REI collaboratively fosters a cooperative effect for setting sustainability benchmarks industry-wide. 

In furtherance of this strategic goal, REI has also partaken in the foundation of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC). By leveraging the Higg Index suite of sustainability tools, they assess various facets of the product lifecycle, gauging the environmental ramifications of raw materials utilized for creating REI Co-op brand products. These moments of cross-industry collaboration alongside rigorous assessment underscore REI’s commitment to blending efficacy with sustainability. 

Perhaps the most tangible illustration of REI’s eco-ambitions lie in their Co-op brand and Co-op Cycles products. These product lines greatly embody the company’s values, aiding in the promotion of sustainable mechanisms within the industry. Making sure that when leather is integral to a product, suppliers rated by the Leather Working Group are prioritized. This way, REI confirms a strong commitment to responsible environmental practices, encapsulated in each piece of gear. 

Moreover, REI enhances transparency for their customers too. On their official website REI.com, shoppers have the possibility to filter products based on sustainability attributes. These include Animal Welfare, Fair Trade, Organically grown cotton, bluesign certified, products having Recycled materials, and those abiding by the Forest Stewardship Council standards. 

In essence, REI carries their pledge of promoting sustainable practices actively and consistently within the sector. All while ensuring that, as a manufacturer and retailer, they’re producing durable, high-quality gear for outdoor adventures.

What are the key elements of REI’s eco-travel strategy?

Taking a closer look at REI’s eco-travel strategy, it essentially revolves around three key aspects: advocating for a green economy, encouraging customers to make eco-friendly choices, and implementing internal sustainable practices. These core elements work in harmony to address the global issue of climate change. 

Advocating for a Green Economy: Recognizing the collective impact businesses can make on the environment, REI is leaning into its position of influence in the adventure gear industry. The company is innovating and taking bold steps to transition to a green economy. It has set ambitious targets to reduce its carbon footprint by 55% by 2030, achieved through initiatives such as cutting emissions, investing in climate solutions, and making targeted improvements in the supply chain. 

Encouraging Customer Eco-friendly Choices: REI believes in the power of informed and conscious consumers. The company is committed to empowering their customers to make impactful choices by providing easy access to products that meet the REI Product Impact Standards. On REI.com, customers can select sustainability attributes such as Animal Welfare, Fair Trade, or products made of Recycled materials, providing a transparent shopping experience based on sustainability. 

Implementing Internal Sustainable Practices: More than just promoting better practices among associated brands, REI is taking substantial actions to make its own business operations more sustainable. This includes offsetting emissions, and branding partnerships work towards achieving climate targets. REI is committed to making all products on their shelf have a preferred attribute by 2030, supporting a healthier, cleaner, and more equitable planetary future. 

In summary, REI’s eco-travel strategy is a comprehensive, multi-level approach aiming to make the adventure gear industry more sustainable and contributing to the broader fight against climate change.

How does REI’s commitment to eco-travel reflect in its product range?

REI’s commitment to eco-travel is mirrored profoundly in the range of products it offers. The co-op actively embeds sustainable practices into the lifecycle of its products, from manufacturing to packaging, and even disposal. 

The REI Co-op brand, known for its durable and high-quality outdoor adventure gear, sets an industry benchmark for sustainability. REI exerts stringent control on its resources by enforcing the REI Product Impact Standards. It outlines expectations for managing environmental, social, and animal welfare impacts, essentially governing all brands and products sold at the co-op. 

The Co-op has made drastic efforts to promote responsible sourcing. Whenever the use of leather is necessary for any product, REI Co-op prioritizes suppliers who are highly rated by the Leather Working Group for adopting responsible environmental practices. This ensures that the co-op remains aligned with global sustainable standards. 

In a conscious attempt to encourage sustainable consumer behavior, REI.com offers its customers the option to select products based on sustainability attributes. Some of these include Animal Welfare, Fair Trade, Organically grown cotton, bluesign, Recycled materials, and Forest Stewardship Council. This has empowered shoppers to make eco-friendly choices while ensuring a seamless shopping experience. 

Impressively, REI avoids making hollow commitments. They have set an ambitious goal to feature 100% of their products with a preferred attribute by 2030. If achieved, REI will be significantly contributing to a healthier, cleaner, and more equitable planet. 

The innovative spirit at REI, combined with a relentless drive for a sustainable future, has seen the launch of numerous eco-friendly products. It’s this unwavering commitment towards sustainability that marks REI not just an adventure gear provider, but also a leader in eco-travel movement.

What are the benefits of REI’s eco-friendly adventure gear?

Firstly, the benefits of choosing REI’s eco-friendly adventure gear extend beyond simply getting high-quality equipment for your adventure. You’re essentially making a significant contribution to environmental conservation. By choosing their sustainable products like the REI Co-Op 650 Down Jacket, REI Co-op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag or the REI Co-Op Flexlite Air Chair, among others, you’re supporting responsible manufacturing practices that minimize harm to our planet. 

REI’s commitment to using suppliers rated by the Leather Working Group, for instance, ensures that any leather in their products is sourced from places that adopt environmentally-friendly practices. This approach sheds light on the importance they place on sustainability along every step of their supply chain. 

In addition, products from REI Co-op often come equipped with expert outdoor knowledge in the form of articles and videos. This wealth of knowledge can aid you in skill acquisition, gear selection, and trip preparation, all while adhering to the principles of eco-travel and sustainability. 

Moreover, REI provides the opportunity to make informed decisions when purchasing outdoor gear. The REI.com online platform allows you to select sustainability attributes such as Animal Welfare, Fair Trade, Organically Grown cotton, bluesign, Recycled materials, and Forest Stewardship Council. In short, you have the power to prioritize eco-conscious attributes that align with your beliefs. 

In essence, relying on REI’s eco-adventure gear doesn’t only fulfill your outdoor adventure needs but also allows you to be a part of a bigger narrative: reducing the environmental impact, promoting green manufacturing, and supporting the sustainable lifestyles of the future.