Brent Kawamura’s path to sustainability wasn’t a straight line — it started with an Environmental Science degree, wound through LEED-certified building projects, and landed him in Product Sustainability at REI. Along the way, fishing has remained the thread that keeps it all grounded.
In this episode, I interview Brent to pull back the curtain on REI’s Product Impact Standards and explore why the retail giant is pushing its brand partners to cut their carbon footprint. We dig into how customer demand is reshaping the shelf — with shoppers increasingly seeking out products carrying The Climate Label, Fair Trade certification, and other preferred attributes — and what that shift means for brands trying to keep pace.
We also step away from sustainable business and onto the water, talking about the responsibility anglers carry to understand the history of the places we fish, and how the choices we make ripple out to affect those fisheries for the long haul, and Brent’s involvement with fisheries nonprofit, Long Live the Kings.
If your brand is aiming to land a spot on REI’s shelves, this episode is a must-listen — packed with insight into what REI is actually looking for from its partners.
In this episode:
- Brent Kawamura’s journey from Environmental Science to LEED buildings to REI Product Sustainability
- REI Impact Report findings
- What REI’s Product Impact Standards require from brand partners
- Why REI is pushing suppliers to reduce carbon footprint
- How consumer demand for The Climate Label, Fair Trade, and other preferred attributes is reshaping retail
- What brands need to know to get their products on REI’s shelves
- An angler’s responsibility to understand fishery history and protect the places we fish
How Emerger Strategies Can Help
If your brand is aiming to land a spot on REI’s shelves, this episode is a must-listen — packed with insight into what REI is actually looking for from its partners, and if your brand needs guidance, Emerger Strategies can help your brand achieve The Climate Label certification, improve your REI Product Impact assessment scores, and more.
“Working with Emerger Strategies has delivered measurable business and sustainability results for Crazy Creek. Their team helped us reduce our energy costs by 8% while simultaneously lowering our Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 26%. Beyond operational improvements, Emerger Strategies also helped us improve our REI Product Impact Standards score by over 40% compared to the previous year.” – Karson Bagby, Co-owner of Crazy Creek Products
Check out our Sustainability Consulting Services to learn more.
Sponsors:
This episode is brought you by: A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging, Emerger Strategies, and Ecolytics (don’t forget to mention The Sustainable Angler for a discount off your first year’s subscription!)