Seattle — Over the past year, REI Co-op took meaningful steps to reduce its impact on the planet. This work reflects REI’s climate strategy, bringing cooperative action together to drive change with speed and scale.
“When companies come together, climate action becomes more real and more lasting,” says Andrew Dempsey, director of sustainability, REI Co-op. “We’re grateful for the partners who’ve helped make this work possible. We’re focused on continuing this work and backing solutions that make a real difference for communities and help keep the outdoors healthy for the future.”
A key part of the co-op’s efforts in 2025 supported local clean energy projects in the communities where REI operates. Over the past year, REI Co-op worked with partners to help develop several new renewable energy initiatives, including:
• A new 2.5MW community solar project in Woodbury, Minn., being developed by US Solar. This initiative will enable nearly 500 low-to moderate-income households to subscribe to renewable energy, reducing utility bills and adding clean power to the grid near REI’s Bloomington, Minn., store.
• An aggregated Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) with Carhartt and other partners, helping to accelerate renewable energy development in Texas by adding 18.5 MW of solar energy to the grid.
Alongside new clean energy projects, REI also marked progress on work already underway. In South Carolina, the co-op celebrated the launch of a renewable energy project with Ever.green, adding more clean power to the grid and building on earlier investments.
Over the past year, REI extended its partnership with Sol Systems and Nester Hosiery, one of its largest U.S. manufacturing partners, through a new 3-year renewable energy certificate purchase.
REI’s partnership with Sol Systems also expanded beyond energy. In 2025, the two entities worked together to support environmental education at Florida Atlantic University’s Pine Jog Center. Through the Community Impact Program, up to 48 high school students will participate in immersive, college-credit-bearing residential programs focused on climate resilience and ecosystem science. Students will gain hands-on field experience studying South Florida’s wetlands, rivers and coastal ecosystems, connect with environmental scientists and return to their communities as ambassadors for climate resilience. The program builds on REI’s renewable energy investments across Florida.
Over the past year, REI also took steps to support climate solutions that work with nature. REI became the first retail company to join the Symbiosis Coalition, a group working to accelerate the deployment of nature-based carbon removal like reforestation and agroforestry projects. These efforts help support healthy ecosystems while expanding access to climate solutions for organizations of all sizes.
In addition to energy and climate solutions, REI made progress on reducing the impact of the materials it uses in REI Co-op brand products. REI signed a 3-year agreement with Ambercycle to purchase 200 tons per year of its innovative cycora® regenerated polyester that uses recycled textile waste as a feedstock to make new, high-quality materials. This step will help REI cut emissions, reduce waste and move toward a more “circular” lifecycle for the products it makes.
For more information, visit www.rei.com/impact.
REI is a specialty outdoor retailer headquartered near Seattle. In addition to the co-op’s many stores across the country, outdoor enthusiasts can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app.
SOURCE: REI Co-op