Higg Index in the Supply Chain
Columbia employs a team that is dedicated to assessing environmental impacts from manufacturing. Our objective is to measure, track and improve the energy, waste, water and chemical impacts associated with manufacturing our products. We use the Higg Index Facility Environmental Module to assess supplier performance and identify overall strengths and weaknesses in our supply chain. We have been using the Higg Index framework with our finished goods facilities since 2013 and have been seeing consistently positive improvements, such as increased energy measurement and target-setting at a supplier level. See our most recent Corporate Responsibility Report for further details on our progress.
Our Impacts
After completing two consecutive years of global greenhouse gas emissions reporting, impact trends are beginning to emerge for Columbia Sportswear Company. Product manufacturing is the primary contributor to our emissions. Material inputs (77%) and material processing (15%) are the primary contributors to our GHG emissions, followed by product assembly (6%) and finally owned and operated facilities accounting for less than 2% of emissions. Please see the Corporate Responsibility Report for further details.
NOTE: Includes all brands (Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, SOREL, prAna)
Clean by Design
In 2019, we partnered with the Apparel Impact Institutes’ (Aii) Clean by Design program and one of our key manufacturing partners, Formosa Taffeta Co., Ltd., to roll out Clean by Design in three of their facilities – one in Chinese Taipei, and two in China. The Clean by Design program focuses on facility energy and water efficiency optimization. Results are expected in August 2020 and, based on progress thus far, we expect to see significant improvements in all areas.
