Pursuing Sustainability at REI: Eliminating What Shoppers Don't See Delivers a Big Win
- 12 years ago
When thinking about the sustainability of REI's operations, the complexity of the task quickly becomes apparent. Where does a person start?
At REI, applying metrics against our environmental performance has helped us challenge conventional thinking (i.e., the way we've always done it)—often in areas of our business that customers never see.
Our annual stewardship report details one such area: our efforts to reduce REI's waste-to-landfill.
We reported on our waste in tons in our annual Stewardship Report. Then we conducted a retail waste audit to better understand the details. To paint a picture, imagine this: Our teams literally went dumpster diving to get a real behind-the-scenes look at our trash.
We confirmed what our retail employees had long assumed—plastic garment bags (also called polybags) were a major issue.
A long-time retail industry standard—or, the way it was always done—has been to protect clothing in plastic bags during transport to stores. For ex
At REI, applying metrics against our environmental performance has helped us challenge conventional thinking (i.e., the way we've always done it)—often in areas of our business that customers never see.
Our annual stewardship report details one such area: our efforts to reduce REI's waste-to-landfill.
We reported on our waste in tons in our annual Stewardship Report. Then we conducted a retail waste audit to better understand the details. To paint a picture, imagine this: Our teams literally went dumpster diving to get a real behind-the-scenes look at our trash.
We confirmed what our retail employees had long assumed—plastic garment bags (also called polybags) were a major issue.
A long-time retail industry standard—or, the way it was always done—has been to protect clothing in plastic bags during transport to stores. For ex