Behind-the-scenes work pays off as REI launches new standards
11/04/2018
As well as its own products, REI sells goods from more than 1,000 brands in its stores and online. It has now made available to consumers information it has gathered on each brand and each product in terms of how well they do against standards on raw material origin, fairness, the environment, animal welfare, social responsibility and so on.
“One of the most exciting things we’ve done in the past year was done completely behind the scenes,” said chief executive, Jerry Stritzke, on making the announcement. “We’re collaborating with partners across industries to advance sustainable business practices, and as a result are completely changing the conversation around sustainability for the outdoor industry.”
REI praised its partners’ “spirit of collaboration” and said the standards will help its suppliers “deepen their own sustainability efforts”. It intends to make the standards available to any competitor retailers who wish to use them.
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