In today's increasingly global economy, retailers sell products manufactured around the world. A global approach to manufacturing can often provide benefits, including reduced production costs, different manufacturing technologies and exceptional product quality.

REI has adopted rigorous and responsible sourcing policies for our products. We seek to not only make the best products, but to enhance the lives of those who help us bring these products to our members.

REI Brand Gear & Apparel

We look around the world for the best factories to make REI brand gear and apparel. Our decisions are based on factories' technical expertise and capacity to deliver the highest quality products at competitive prices. While some of these factories are domestic, the largest volume of our products are produced overseas.

Because we recognize that rules, regulations and enforcement vary by country, we have contractual specifications and requirements in place to ensure manufacturing conditions meet our expectations and values.

We first developed our responsible sourcing policy for REI brand gear and apparel in 1993, in collaboration with industry groups such as Businesses for Social Responsibility and in accordance with accepted international standards. We have continuously refined and improved upon these guidelines since that time. Read more about REI's product sourcing policy.

Industry Leadership & the Fair Labor Toolkit

In January 2006, we introduced the Fair Labor Toolkit in partnership with the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA). Using REI's experience in the areas of ethical sourcing and manufacturing, the toolkit was designed to help other industry companies develop and implement responsible sourcing codes and integrate sustainability into their own manufacturing and purchasing practices. The Fair Labor Toolkit incorporates the OIA's Fair Labor Code of Conduct and is flexible and versatile, allowing companies to adapt it to their individual business needs, while still providing rigorous guidelines to protect the well-being of factory workers and the environment. Similar to REI's own sourcing guidelines, the Fair Labor Code of Conduct (59KB PDF) includes standards for workplace conditions, employment practices and the environment.

For factories, adopting these unified standards means they no longer need to pursue certification from dozens of different outdoor industry vendors or buyers, thus saving resources and providing consistency. For manufacturers and retailers, the toolkit means companies can work to ensure their products are produced in a responsible manner without needing to invest significant time, personnel and money to create their own unique sourcing guidelines. For the outdoor industry as a whole, the toolkit provides a way to raise awareness of important issues, collaborate on key social and environmental concerns, and ensure strong commitment throughout.

The Journey Ahead

We will continue to partner with others to share best practices and lead efforts to bring consistency across the industry. We know that improvements will come from collaboration, commitment and experience.

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