April 29, 2008 - Outdoor gear retailer REI, which hopes to go carbon-neutral by 2020, is set to release figures indicating that its REI Adventures eco-travel business accounts for nearly a third of the company's total carbon footprint - more than electricity use, employee commuting, or product transport, Seattle Times reports.

The company has concluded, however, that despite the emissions from air travel to far-flung destinations, its eco-travel unit does more good than harm. For example, travel to endangered rainforests makes such areas a "tourist destination as opposed to a source for timber," says Kevin Hagen, head of REI's social responsibility programs. "We hope people who go to these wonderful places come away as stewards."

Greenhouse emissions from REI Adventures operations were up 23% in 2007 compared to the year before, when REI first began tracking its carbon footprint. "My suspicion is that it was just more people traveling," says Hagen.

To meet its companywide carbon-neutral goal, REI is targeting emissions reduction and green-energy sourcing first, with carbon offsets as a last resort. (Much of its efforts have focused on building greener stores.) REI's latest report on its carbon footprint will be posted on the company website this week.