Columbia Sportswear Company isn’t just saying it cares; it’s demonstrating it.

Last year, the global maker of apparel, outerwear and footwear, whose products sell extensively in the promo products industry, partnered with the Planet Water Foundation to build two new water towers in supply chain locations in order to bring clean water to the employees of its manufacturing partners and their children.

Overall, Columbia has now built 24 water towers for such humane purposes.

The construction of the towers was just one of the highlights from Columbia’s just released 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance Report (ESG). The document details progress CSC has made on further building the three main pillars of its corporate responsibility strategy – empowering people, sustaining places and responsible practices.

“We are committed to responsible practices throughout our business,” said Peter Bragdon, CSC’s executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel.

Other highlights of the ESG report include that CSC finalized one Carbon Leadership Project program and one Clean by Design program with two cohorts of manufacturing partners at the Tier 1 and Tier 2 levels to help the partners reduce their environmental impact.

Reduction in emissions by the company’s manufacturing vendors will help CSC to meet its target of a 30% reduction in manufacturing emissions by 2030, as compared to a 2019 baseline.

Meanwhile, CSC noted that shipping boxes across all its brands contain 100% recycled content. CSC also became a member of the Leather Working Group, which works to minimize the environmental impact of leather production.

“Now, more than ever, we have to do our part to ensure the outdoors is for everyone,” said Abel Navarrete, CSC’s vice president of sustainability and community impact. “That’s why we, together with our employees, community partners, customers and the wider industry, are leading initiatives to make sure people feel safe and welcomed in the outdoors.”

Corporate responsibility initiatives that aim to reduce environmental impact, ensure humane and equitable treatment of workers throughout a company’s supply chain, and deliver products made with more sustainable materials are gaining steam across a spectrum of industries, including apparel and the promotional products market. ASI Media has been documenting the evolution, particularly as it pertains to the branded merchandise industry, through Promo for the Planet.

The CSC report bears further evidence of the movement, which promo executives believe will accelerate in the space, driven in part by end-buyer demand. Getting greener is growing as both an operational focus and product material priority, they say.

“We get asked more than ever for products with a sustainability component or a giveback component,” Tammy Cernuska Hoth of Cotton Candy Global Marketing (asi/169186) said during a panel discussion at the recent ASI Show Chicago. 

Based in Portland, OR, Columbia Sportswear Company said it generated $3.1 billion in total global revenue across all its brands and business channels.

Promo for the Planet is your destination for the latest news, biggest trends and best ideas to help build a more sustainable and socially-responsible industry.