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May 6, 2008 
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REI’s Carbon Footprint Surprise
What would happen if a company publicly committed to carbon neutrality - only to be shocked by the results of its carbon footprint assessment? REI found out the hard way when, after pledging to go carbon neutral 2020, it discovered that its eco-travel business – not its retail operation – is the company’s biggest carbon-emissions culprit.
It’s one thing to have a significant portion of your carbon footprint in an aspect of your business that you influence, as opposed to control. A quick scan of REI’s most recent sustainability report shows that its retail activities are steadily moving toward a lower carbon footprint. If you actually control a significant portion of the carbon footprint (in this case, the number of tourist flights to far-flung locations), well, you’ve got a bit more of a public-relations challenge. With eco-tourism booming, it’s unlikely REI will cut its travel business loose. The company’s current strategy is to posit that its eco-travel unit does more good than harm – and then, for good measure, to offset the emissions from all those air miles by purchasing renewable energy certificates. This is a good start, but let’s go back to that “does more harm than good” claim for a moment. Wouldn’t REI’s position be that much stronger if it actually tried to prove that statement? Employing a true whole-systems approach to evaluating the impacts (and benefits) of its eco-travel operations may provide REI with the means to demonstrate – quantitatively - that the business does in fact more harm than good. If the carbon footprint of the eco-travel unit is outweighed by its other environmental and social benefits, perhaps the carbon emissions are just the inevitable downside to a net-positive endeavor. A final quick word of advice, though: Best to do the research first - and make the big announcements later. ~Will Sarni, SLM Advisor What do you think? Post Your Comment Here! Also This Week... Changing Weather Must Precipitate New Business Models, Execs Say 
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Major British retailers including Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Tesco, and The Body Shop, have made a string of new commitments to reducing their climate impact. Read more...
96% of Global Suppliers See Climate Regs As Potential Risk 
In an overwhelming majority, suppliers to major corporations including Nestle, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever say looming regulations on greenhouse gas emissions pose significant risk to their business, according to initial findings from a new global survey. Read more...
Phillies Make Biggest Carbon-Offset Buy in Pro Sports to Date 
The Philadelphia Phillies have purchased 20 million kilowatt-hours' worth of renewable energy certificates to offset the team's electricity use at Citizens Bank Park. Read more...
Waste Management to Fuel Garbage Trucks with Landfill Gas 
Waste Management has announced plans to power its California trash-collection fleet with cleaner-burning fuel made from landfill gas, Reuters reports. Read more...
REI Eco-Travel Unit Leaves Company's Biggest Carbon Footprint 
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. Read more...
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