Outdoor Drinkware Brands Join Forces to Drive Supply Chain Sustainability

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.”

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.”