REI’s Climate Impact Slows While Sales Surge

REI recently released its 2010 Stewardship (corporate social responsibility, or CSR) report.  With its successes the last several years, REI offers a template for other companies, particularly retailers, which try to solve the riddle of increasing revenues while slowing the effects of its carbon footprint.  Overall it is an impressive report--not too surprising for an outdoor gear company.

Here's what I have to say about REI:

REI’s management has long used its greenhouse gas emissions to help them make strategic business decisions, and this year’s report is another such demonstration.  The company established its employee commuting policy, climate-neutral travel framework, and improved shipping procedures based on those metrics.  As a result, while 2010 sales increased 14% from 2009 to 2010, its total climate impact only increased 7.3%.  Meanwhile, despite adding four new stores and moving two locations to larger spaces, REI overall decreased its energy consumption by 2.4%.

Energy efficiency is saving the retailer money.

Read my overview of REI's report on Triple Pundit--this is my latest article.