Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) presented its Chairman’s Award to five individuals who have been instrumental in solidifying the outdoor industry’s global leadership in corporate responsibility. OIA Chair and former EMS CEO Will Manzer presented the award to five of the founding members of the OIA Sustainability Working Group: Jamie Bainbridge of nau; Betsy Blaisdell of Timberland; Kevin Myette, formerly of REI; Greg Scott of Mountain Equipment Co-op; and Jill Dumain of Patagonia.
The OIA Chairman’s Award is granted to individuals who have provided exemplary contribution to the outdoor industry.
“This award is a tremendous honor. OIA has awarded it to only eight individuals in the eight years since its inception,” said Manzer. “The people receiving this award today have been leaders since the early days of the Sustainability Working Group and have steadily continued their leadership and extraordinary commitment throughout the years.”
The Outdoor Industry Association Sustainability Working Group (OIA SWG) is a volunteer collaboration among more than 250 outdoor industry brands, retailers, suppliers and other stakeholders working to identify and improve the environmental and social impacts of their shared global supply chains.
Bainbridge was chair of the early Eco Index Materials Working Group, currently serves on the Chemicals Management Working Group Steering Committee, and is also the current chair of the Sustainability Advisory Council.
Blaisdell was a co-founder of the SWG and has served as chair of both the Facilities and Footwear working groups.
Myette was also a co-founder of the SWG and over the years has served as the main point of contact for all SWG system needs, including content development for two complex online working group platforms. He is a member of the Chemicals Management Working Group Steering Committee.
Scott has played a key “connector” role in the SWG, participating in nearly every Index content-related working group and ensuring consistency among the Index tools. He is also a member of the Chemicals Management Working Group Steering Committee.
Dumain was the Sustainability Advisory Council chair from 2009 to 2011 – a critical period for building the SWG and the Index work. She is currently chair of the Metrics Working Group.
“These individuals have contributed thousands of hours to building and growing the SWG over the last six years,” said Beth Jensen, OIA’s director of corporate responsibility. “They have provided invaluable support for the working groups and have guided the strategic direction for the SWG. It is through their tireless service and dedication that the SWG is developing groundbreaking tools for measuring sustainability and making the outdoor industry’s collaboration a role model for other industries.”
The OIA SWG is a volunteer collaboration among more than 250 outdoor industry brands, retailers, suppliers and other stakeholders working to identify and improve the environmental and social impacts of their shared global supply chains. The OIA SWG is currently focusing on four key areas: 1) index development for apparel, footwear and equipment, 2) responsible chemicals management, 3) materials traceability throughout the supply chain, and 4) social responsibility and fair labor issues. Through the OIA SWG, the outdoor industry is demonstrating that it is possible to effect meaningful, scalable change through pre-competitive, business-driven collaboration.
