REI – Megan Parker – 2019

Goals 

REI Co-op, the US’s largest member-owned outdoor co-op, is committed to promoting a life outdoors and supporting the environment. To better understand and reduce the environmental impact of its full value chain, REI Co-op enlisted EDF Climate Corps fellow Megan Parker to expand the company’s understanding of their climate impact. Parker was tasked with quantifying the environmental benefits of circular business models and advising leadership on key sustainability goals and strategies.

Solutions

Parker connected with stakeholders across the co-op to understand the business processes that contribute to the Scope 3 footprint. She analyzed the impact of the retail product portfolio across the company’s wholesale and private label brands. Parker then helped to develop REI Co-op’s strategy for reporting Scope 3 emissions by mapping them against the GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard and identifying improvement opportunities. She also worked with REI Co-op’s circular business model teams to quantify the environmental benefits of the rental and used gear businesses.

Potential Impact

Parker’s project gives REI Co-op a better understanding of its full climate impact throughout the value chain and highlights areas to target for future reductions. Internal stakeholders now have data and insights to target Scope 3 emissions reductions. Additionally, the company can better assess circular business models to give customers the best outdoor gear and apparel with minimal environmental impact. The business model assessment will help inform the industry’s ability to measure and assess circular business model benefits in comparison to traditional models.