{"id":162962,"date":"2020-09-24T07:00:37","date_gmt":"2020-09-24T14:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=162962"},"modified":"2020-10-20T14:17:11","modified_gmt":"2020-10-20T21:17:11","slug":"reis-climate-commitment-halve-carbon-footprint-by-2030","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/news\/reis-climate-commitment-halve-carbon-footprint-by-2030","title":{"rendered":"REI\u2019s New Climate Commitment Includes Pledge to Halve its Carbon Footprint by\u202f2030\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

For decades, REI Co-op has woven sustainability into the fabric of its business. It\u2019s seen in the co-op’s decision to source 100% renewable energy to power its stores, to implement sustainability standards for all brands it sells and to partner with organizations committed to protecting the planet, among other things.<\/p>\n

Today, REI announced its most ambitious commitment to date: to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 55 percent by 2030 and offset emissions for its brand and operations starting with 2020.<\/p>\n

To meet this goal, the co-op will cut emissions throughout its business\u2014particularly within its supply chain, which contributed more than half of the co-op’s total emissions in 2019\u2014targeting everything from manufacturing to transportation to waste. As the co-op works\u00a0to\u00a0shrink\u00a0its footprint (it emitted more than 1 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2019),\u00a0it will also invest in and advocate\u00a0for other climate solutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe climate crisis is the greatest threat to the future of life outdoors and to REI\u2019s business. The science is clear about what we, as a society, need to do to change that future,\u201d said REI President and CEO Eric Artz. \u201cThe world must halve its greenhouse gasses emissions by 2030, so that\u2019s where REI\u2014and the broader outdoor community\u2014must lead. Going forward, we\u2019re embedding the impact of doing business, and the cost, into our business model.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Co-op\u2019s Reduction Commitments\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The co-op\u00a0has\u00a0dedicated itself to\u00a0protecting the outdoors\u00a0for more than eight decades.\u00a0Its earliest efforts centered on\u00a0cleaning up\u00a0trails\u00a0and donating\u00a0to environmental groups.\u00a0In the 1970s, the co-op founded\u00a0community service and annual giving programs.<\/p>\n

As the co-op grew, so did its commitments\u00a0around\u00a0climate change and\u00a0the co-op\u2019s\u00a0environmental impact. In\u00a01996, the co-op\u00a0opened\u00a0its Seattle flagship store\u00a0with green building features that were later incorporated into LEED certification\u00a0standards.\u00a0In\u00a02006, the co-op\u00a0measured and\u00a0reported its greenhouse gas emissions for the first time, making\u00a0it\u00a0one of the first retailers to do so.\u00a0That same year, it\u00a0pledged to become\u00a0carbon\u00a0neutral by 2020, which REI is on track to do; the new commitments announced\u00a0Thursday\u00a0build upon this work.\u00a0Since\u00a02013, the co-op\u00a0has powered\u00a0its\u00a0entire\u00a0operations\u00a0with 100 percent renewable energy\u00a0through a combination of on-site solar, utility green tariffs and renewable energy certificates.<\/p>\n

But\u00a0its\u00a0latest commitment is much bigger, and more\u00a0challenging.\u00a0In\u00a0order to\u00a0make the\u00a0changes\u00a0needed to meet\u00a0the\u00a0new\u00a0goal,\u00a0the co-op will have to rethink\u00a0many\u00a0of the ways it\u00a0operates,\u00a0according to Andrew Dempsey, senior sustainability manager at REI.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will need to evolve and reimagine existing business models in order to be successful,\u201d\u00a0he said.<\/p>\n

Through its comprehensive greenhouse gas accounting, the co-op knows where carbon emissions reside in its multifaceted business\u00a0model. The challenge ahead is to tackle reductions, particularly deep in the supply chain, to achieve its goal of 55 percent reduction\u00a0from a 2019 baseline\u2014the guidance from the UN and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur supply chain emissions are not under our direct control, which means we will have to work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders in order to achieve reductions,\u201d Dempsey said.<\/p>\n

As an example,\u00a0one way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within REI\u2019s supply chain would be to switch to clean energy to power\u00a0the factories that produce\u00a0Co-op\u00a0Brand\u00a0products.\u00a0But\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0not as simple as asking a factory owner to switch to, say,\u00a0solar energy. This would\u00a0require\u00a0investment and\u00a0perhaps\u00a0collaboration\u00a0among other\u00a0brands\u00a0who use the same factories as the co-op.\u00a0National policy and infrastructure\u00a0that\u00a0impact\u00a0factory owners\u00a0further complicate the\u00a0situation. For instance,\u00a0the co-op works with\u00a0factories\u00a0in Vietnam\u00a0that\u00a0run\u00a0on\u00a0electricity\u00a0powered by carbon-intensive resources such as coal. And a switch to clean energy\u00a0can\u00a0come with costs for the factory owner, who may not have the financing to\u00a0make\u00a0the change.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a number of variables that have to be solved for, but the good news is there is tremendous enthusiasm and opportunity in this space,\u201d Dempsey said.<\/p>\n

Other reductions\u00a0in the co-op\u2019s supply chain\u00a0could come in the form of\u00a0using\u00a0low-carbon transportation\u00a0such as electric\u00a0vehicles\u00a0when moving product among factories, distribution centers, stores and homes; building stores more sustainably by using low-embodied-carbon\u00a0building materials; and expanding options for buying back or repairing\u00a0used gear<\/a>,\u00a0among many other things.<\/p>\n

Dempsey said hitting the target will be a\u00a0responsibility\u00a0for\u00a0every person who works at the co-op. It\u2019s also a\u00a0duty\u00a0among other\u00a0companies\u00a0in the retail industry\u2014which contributed\u00a02.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse-gas emissions in 2018<\/a>, or about 4 percent of the global total\u2014as well as the outdoor industry.<\/p>\n

In the\u00a0meantime, the co-op will invest in carbon credits to offset\u00a0the emissions that\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0be reduced, starting with those in 2020.\u00a0These credits will allow the co-op to\u00a0fund\u00a0natural climate solutions, such as reforestation,\u00a0that remove and sequester carbon from the atmosphere.\u00a0Beginning with 2020\u2019s emissions, the co-op is also formally joining\u00a0Climate Neutral<\/a>\u00a0and will hold itself financially accountable for each unit of carbon it emits in its own operations. It expects to emit a quarter million tons of carbon in 2020.<\/p>\n

In conjunction with its new climate target, REI has\u00a0also\u00a0committed to planting at least 1 million trees\u00a0over the next decade\u00a0in U.S.\u00a0national\u00a0forests\u00a0as part of the global 1 Trillion Trees initiative.\u00a0The\u00a0goal of the\u00a0initiative, led by the\u00a0World Economic Forum and American Forests,\u00a0is to conserve, restore and grow one trillion trees globally by 2030 to help combat climate change. To meet its goal,\u00a0REI plans to partner<\/a>\u00a0with the National Forest Foundation, a\u00a0conservation nonprofit,\u00a0and professional foresters annually to select reforestation projects in areas\u00a0impacted\u00a0by severe wildfires, pests,\u00a0disease\u00a0and other natural disturbances.\u00a0The\u00a0co-op is also committed to\u00a0advocating\u00a0at the state and federal level on policies that advance the\u00a0regreening of urban and suburban areas,\u00a0increase use of\u00a0natural climate solutions such as reforestation\u00a0and\u00a0support\u00a0low-carbon transportation\u00a0alternatives.<\/p>\n

In a letter to\u00a0co-op\u00a0members<\/a>\u00a0Thursday,\u00a0Artz\u00a0said that what the co-op has accomplished up until now\u00a0hasn’t been\u00a0enough to address climate change.\u00a0Reducing emissions\u00a0will\u00a0require\u00a0a collective effort among its brands and members,\u00a0and everyone has a role, he said. He also\u00a0called\u00a0on members\u00a0to use their buying power to invest in companies with clear climate commitments.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re setting out to reduce both our own greenhouse gas emissions and the emissions embedded in the products of the more than 1,000 brands we sell, and transparently sharing progress as we go,\u201d\u00a0Artz\u00a0said. \u201cNo retailer has yet accomplished this, but we know what needs to get done, and most importantly, we believe we can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Join\u00a0REI\u00a0in the fight for the future of the outdoors<\/h4>\n

While\u00a0absolute progress on this issue requires government action, it\u2019s also true that businesses and individuals alike need to work together.\u00a0The co-op is asking its\u00a0more than\u00a019\u00a0million\u00a0members and the outdoor community to\u00a0join in collective action\u00a0to\u00a0address the climate crisis.\u00a0Here are some steps\u00a0the co-op suggests people\u00a0can take:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Vote for the\u00a0future of the\u00a0outdoors<\/strong>.\u00a0As our nation faces pressing issues, including\u00a0the\u00a0climate\u00a0crisis, voting is one of the most important ways we can hold our government accountable and influence change.\u202fRegister to vote, if you haven\u2019t already, and learn more about\u00a0ways to\u00a0take action\u00a0ahead of the election\u00a0through the co-op\u2019s\u00a0Gear Up to Vote<\/a>\u00a0effort.\u00a0Ask\u00a0your family and friends\u00a0if they\u2019re\u00a0registered,\u00a0too.<\/li>\n
  2. Hold\u00a0REI\u00a0and other businesses accountable<\/strong>.\u00a0Shop with your values by purchasing products from companies that prioritize sustainability and have made clear climate commitments.\u00a0New to\u00a0buying\u00a0sustainably?\u00a0This\u00a0Expert Advice\u00a0guide<\/a>\u00a0outlines some key\u00a0sustainability attributes and\u00a0labels to look for the next time you\u2019re shopping.<\/li>\n
  3. Reduce your personal carbon footprint.\u00a0<\/strong>The first step to reducing your personal footprint is to understand what areas of your life are\u00a0contributing\u00a0the most\u00a0carbon.\u00a0Calculate your footprint using an online calculator (we like this one<\/a>), then pinpoint areas\u00a0where\u00a0you can make reductions. For instance, you could\u00a0start\u00a0biking\u00a0or walking more, or\u00a0begin\u00a0composting your waste.\u00a0For additional inspiration, check out the co-op’s\u00a0Opt\u00a0to Act plan<\/a>,\u00a0which\u00a0includes\u00a0weekly challenges\u00a0to\u00a0reduce\u00a0your impact, get active and leave the world better than you found it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n
  4. Set\u00a0your own ambitious target.\u00a0<\/strong>Once you\u2019ve made the small steps toward reducing your personal carbon footprint, consider creating a more ambitious goal.\u00a0Perhaps you decide to only shop with retailers that have clear climate\u00a0targets,\u00a0or\u00a0you commit\u00a0to\u00a0an annual\u00a0donation goal to your preferred environmental organization. Whatever it is, get specific.<\/li>\n
  5. Spread the word.<\/strong>\u00a0Talk to your\u00a0community\u00a0about the ways you\u2019re\u00a0reducing your carbon footprint, the leaders you support based on their climate platforms or\u00a0the\u00a0importance of\u00a0taking action\u00a0against climate change.\u00a0These important conversations are meaningful.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Read more from REI President and CEO Eric\u00a0Artz\u00a0about the co-op\u2019s\u00a0new climate\u00a0plan.<\/em>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    For decades, REI Co-op has woven sustainability into the fabric of its business. It\u2019s seen in the co-op’s decision to source 100% renewable energy to power its stores, to implement sustainability standards for all brands it sells and to partner with organizations committed to protecting the planet, among other things. Today, REI announced its most […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14208,"featured_media":163017,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[685],"tags":[795,727,682,1484],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-162962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-climate-change","tag-latest-posts","tag-rei-news","tag-staff-society"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/news\/reis-climate-commitment-halve-carbon-footprint-by-2030","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"REI\u2019s New Climate Commitment Includes Pledge to Halve its Carbon Footprint by\u202f2030\u00a0","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/news\/reis-climate-commitment-halve-carbon-footprint-by-2030","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/news\/reis-climate-commitment-halve-carbon-footprint-by-2030"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/09\/Climate_Hero.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/09\/Climate_Hero.jpg?fit=2000%2C1000"},"articleSection":"News","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sarah Grothjan"}],"creator":["Sarah Grothjan"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["climate change","latest posts","rei news","staff society"],"dateCreated":"2020-09-24T14:00:37Z","datePublished":"2020-09-24T14:00:37Z","dateModified":"2020-10-20T21:17:11Z"},"rendered":"