Bluesign Technologies AG has named former REI director of product integrity Kevin Myette as its director of customer relationship management for North America. 
 
 
In his new role, Myette will oversee all Bluesign operations in North America with a goal of providing services to the important segment of the Bluesign system partner base. Further, he will be the conduit and catalyst to unite brand system partners worldwide to meet their complex needs vis-à-vis chemicals management and resource efficiency. His deep understanding of how brand organization research, design and source products globally will be a key asset in this role.


The appointment comes as many outdoor apparel brands are specifying Bluesign-certified factories to ensure minimal environmental impact amid increasing scrutiny from Greenpeace and other NGOs focused on reducing water pollution by textile plants 

Myette oversaw REI’s product quality, research and testing, private brands information systems, and ultimately the organization’s product sustainability programs. In product development he was instrumental in the reengineering the company’s private brand organization. He worked at REI for over 26 years.
 

He was the co-founder of the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Sustainability Working Group which led to the creation of the Eco Index and ultimately the Higg Index under the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC). He has chaired the work of the SWG and serves on the Advisory Council.
 


He has also served on the inaugural board of directors for the SAC.
 

Since its founding in 2000, Swiss-based Bluesign  has been adopted by different worldwide leading textile manufacturers. Various significant key players of the chemical and machine industry rely on the “bluesign system” to manage their sustainability efforts and obtain certifications demonstrating they follow its standards. Finally well-known brands of the sporting clothing and fashion industry rely on the extensive knowledge base of bluesign technologies. SGS, a global standards and factory auditing service, holds an 80 percent stake in Bluesign