Outdoor Research Outlines Climate-Action Goals

Following an internal audit of Outdoor Research’s ESG structure and sustainability initiatives, the company outlined its goals to address climate change. It focused on curbing emissions using 100 percent renewable energy for its North American Operations.

OR’s climate-action goals stem from work performed in 2022 to develop an inaugural Annual Impact Report, with its full Annual Impact Report, soon to be posted on its website. 

To reduce its emissions and carbon footprint while increasing its output, OR measured its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) using the following three scopes, using Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) guidance:

• Scope 1: All direct GHG emissions. Natural gas, company-owned vehicles, refrigeration, and A/C.
• Scope 2: Indirect GHG emissions from consumption of purchased electricity.
• Scope 3: Other indirect emissions, including the extraction and production of purchased materials, finished goods production, business travel, employee commuting, upstream and downstream transportation and distribution, waste generated, capital goods, etc.

By examining emissions and overall footprint using SBTi three scopes, Outdoor Research developed the following goals: 

• ​​Transition to renewable energy, including wind and solar power. Commit to 100-percent renewable energy sourcing for North American operations through 2030, satisfying science-aligned targets for combined Scope 1 and 2 emission reduction;
• Reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions by 48 percent per unit of value added by 2030 (from a 2021 base year), including raw-materials creation and finished goods production, to aligns with SBTi emission-reduction targets and the latest climate science and to be consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement; 
• Increase the use of recycled and eco-friendly materials, where possible, and work to reduce the company’s carbon footprint of its products throughout their lifecycle; and
• Educate employees, customers and the outdoor community about the importance of taking action on climate change.

“Setting targets around climate action first requires that we measure OR’s impacts,” said Alex Lauver, senior director of Materials, Innovation and Sustainability. “Today is an exciting day because we’re moving beyond measuring and into the reduction phase of addressing climate change. We’re immensely proud of this moment.”