This week, four outdoor drinkware brands — Klean
Kanteen, MiiR,
Stanley and YETI —
announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to identify opportunities and actions
that will reduce carbon emissions across their shared manufacturing supply
chain. Deemed the Drinkware CoLab, the project supports the Outdoor
Industry Association (OIA)’s goal to become the
world’s first climate-positive industry by 2030. The four brands are
participating in the Drinkware CoLab as part of OIA’s Climate Action
Corps — a climate-positive
initiative that goes beyond net zero to create a net-positive benefit.
The four leading brands and OIA’s Climate Action Corps spearheaded this
collaboration to drive changes that will reduce the environmental impact of
manufacturing — one of the largest contributors to the environmental footprint
of durable food and beverage containers. The primary goals are to move suppliers
to 100 percent renewable electricity and to develop science-aligned
emissions-reduction targets for supplier
facilities.
“Stanley is proud to join forces with these esteemed drinkware brands to reduce
the collective environmental footprint of our products,” said Terence
Reilly, Global President of Stanley. “Collaborations like these — combined
with deep engagement with our suppliers — are critical to ensure that our shared
emissions-reduction goals are in reach and that we continuously improve the
sustainability of every bottle we design.”
“It has been such a pleasure getting to work with other drinkware brands in a
truly collaborative way,” said Devon Richardson, Giving and Sustainability
Manager at MiiR — which is already working to boost sustainability on the
product front with its Re:Claimed
program.
“The threats of climate change are real, impending and affecting our most
vulnerable
populations.
The only way we can make meaningful change is together, and we are so grateful
to be a part of this cohort.”
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The OIA has facilitated all aspects of the CoLab and provided project management
for the brands. The cost of the Climate Action Corps Drinkware CoLab is being
shared by the participating brands, suppliers, and third-party funding OIA
received for this specific project. A sustainability consulting agency has been
hired to identify and oversee areas of improvement, emission goals and progress;
it will assess each of the facilities and work to develop decarbonization
roadmaps. These strategies will outline the changes each supplier can undertake
to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by increasing energy efficiency,
shifting to renewable
energy,
implementing management systems and more.
“This project is enabling our drinkware brands to work together to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions in their supply chains with increased efficiency,” said
Sarah Rykal, senior manager of the OIA Climate Action Corps. “Many supply
chain problems are too grand for any individual company to address
single-handedly. We see these types of collaborations as a key puzzle piece in
reaching the Corps’ climate goals, as well as each brand’s individual goals; and
we ultimately plan to use this project as a model for future CoLabs to follow.”
“We love the outdoors and want to keep the wild, wild for generations to come,”
said Hannah Mara, VP of Product Management at YETI. “We hope to see this
type of collaboration expand across the industry, so we can continue making an
impact.”
Climate change is one of the most, if not the most, crucial issue facing the
outdoor
industry
— so, no one company should feel the burden of facing this ever-growing problem
alone. Collaborations of this kind will greatly impact the overall work being
done to become a climate-positive industry by 2030.
“The Drinkware CoLab truly embodies the concept of strength in numbers, and
Klean Kanteen is proud to link arms with fellow drinkware leaders on climate
action,” said Jeff Cresswell, co-owner of Klean Kanteen. “This project will
allow us to make meaningful progress together in a way that none of us could
accomplish on our own; and it exemplifies a core tenet of the outdoor industry
and its sustainability work: Together, we are a force.”
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Sustainable Brands Staff
Published Nov 3, 2022 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 12pm GMT / 1pm CET