We represent your voice at the federal and state levels advocating in Washington for smart trade, public lands, and policies that strengthen the outdoor economy.
ADVOCACY & POLICY
OIA’s Six-Step Roadmap for Chemicals Management
The outdoor industry thrives on innovation, performance, and a commitment to sustainability. Yet, as awareness of the environmental impact of business grows, companies are facing increasing pressure to align their products and supply chains with sustainable practices that prioritize safety and transparency.
Chemicals used in outdoor recreation products—from waterproof coatings to durable textiles —play a critical role in performance. However, many traditional formulations contain substances that pose risks to human health and ecosystems. Governments worldwide are implementing stricter regulations, and consumers are demanding greater accountability from brands.
Recognizing this shifting landscape, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), through its Clean Chemistry and Materials Coalition (CCMC), is equipping outdoor businesses like yours with the tools and strategies you need to take proactive steps toward safer, cleaner product development.
New OIA Resources: A Roadmap for Safer Products
To help organizations navigate chemical safety, compliance, and innovation, OIA is releasing two new resources to guide planning and implementation to reach sustainability goals.
- Chemicals Management Getting Started Guide – Available to all OIA members, this six-step framework outlines a clear roadmap for building safer, more responsible products.
- CCMC Guidebook – A comprehensive, 73-page resource for Support+ and Leadership members, featuring detailed checklists, case studies, and technical guidance on building a robust chemicals management program.
Both guides center around OIA’s six-step CCMC Pathway, which provides you with a structured approach to eliminating harmful chemicals, adopting safer alternatives, and integrating supply chain sustainability into long-term strategies.
Let’s explore these six steps and how your company can leverage them to build a safer, more sustainable business.
1. Discover: Map Your Chemistry Footprint
Before businesses can improve chemical safety, they need to understand their starting point. The first step in chemicals management is gaining visibility into your supply chain, materials, and potential chemical hazards.
Key actions:
- Map your supplier network – Understand where and how your products are made, including Tier 1 and upstream suppliers.
- Build a material inventory – Track what’s in your products, from base materials to performance treatments.
- Identify high-risk chemicals – Review industry-standard Restricted Substances Lists (RSLs) and emerging regulations, such as PFAS bans.
- Monitor evolving regulations – Stay ahead of national and international compliance requirements to avoid risks like product recalls.
Why this matters: Businesses that take a proactive approach to understanding their chemical footprint will reduce regulatory risks and build consumer trust.
2. Plan: Set Goals and Build a Strategy
Once a company understands its chemical risks, the next step is to set clear objectives and create an action plan for safer chemistry.
Key actions:
- Define internal and external goals – Set measurable targets for eliminating harmful chemicals and adopting safer alternatives.
- Assign responsible teams – Ensure cross-functional collaboration across product development, compliance, and sourcing teams.
- Develop a phased action plan – Outline short-term compliance goals and long-term innovation strategies.
- Ensure supplier accountability – Work with manufacturers to implement clear, enforceable chemical policies.
Why this matters: A strategic plan keeps businesses on track, ensuring chemicals management efforts align with business sustainability goals.
3. Act: Implement Safer Practices
With a plan in place, companies must now take action to integrate safer chemistry into product development and supply chain management.
Key actions:
- Adopt a Restricted Substances List (RSL) – Align with industry standards to ensure compliance across product lines.
- Implement a robust testing program – Establish procedures for monitoring chemicals at various stages of production.
- Communicate expectations with suppliers – Clearly define what materials and formulations are acceptable.
- Phase out high-risk chemicals – Proactively replace harmful substances with verified safer alternatives.
Why this matters: Companies that act now to implement safer chemicals management will be better positioned for future regulations and market demands.
4. Accelerate: Strengthen Supplier Partnerships & Drive Innovation
Once the foundation of a chemicals management program is in place, the next step is to scale impact through continuous improvement and innovation.
Key actions:
- Move beyond compliance – Establish Manufacturing Restricted Substances Lists (MRSLs) to control chemical inputs, not just finished products.
- Implement supplier chemicals management systems – Work directly with manufacturers to improve chemical safety practices.
- Explore green chemistry innovations – Invest in safer material alternatives that enhance product durability and performance.
- Leverage data-driven decision-making – Use testing insights and supplier audits to refine chemical safety strategies.
Why this matters: Forward-thinking organizations go beyond compliance—they lead with innovation and corporate environmental responsibility.
5. Advocate: Shape the Future of Safer Chemistry
The outdoor industry must work collaboratively to drive systemic change. Businesses that engage in policy advocacy and industry partnerships can help shape a greener future for outdoor products.
Key actions:
- Support public policies that promote safer alternatives and sustainability in business.
- Engage with policymakers to influence chemical safety regulations.
- Collaborate with industry groups – Join coalitions like OIA’s CCMC to share best practices and research.
- Invest in sustainable chemistry startups to accelerate eco-friendly business solutions.
Why this matters: Companies that take an active role in shaping the future of chemicals management will help set industry standards, rather than simply reacting to them.
6. Share: Build Trust Through Transparency
Consumers expect companies to be honest and transparent about their sustainability efforts. Clear communication about chemicals management builds credibility and loyalty.
Key actions:
- Provide verifiable data – Back up environmental claims with testing results and certifications.
- Educate consumers – Help customers understand why safer chemistry matters and how it enhances product performance.
- Avoid misleading green claims – Ensure all sustainability messaging is accurate and compliant with greenwashing laws.
- Report progress publicly – Share chemicals management milestones in sustainability reports and marketing materials.
Why this matters: Transparent organizations build stronger consumer relationships while staying ahead of corporate sustainability regulations.
Taking the First Step Toward Safer, Smarter Products
Adopting robust chemicals management practices is no longer optional — it’s a business imperative. Companies that fail to act risk regulatory penalties, supply chain disruptions, and consumer backlash.
By following OIA’s six-step roadmap, your company can:
- Reduce regulatory risk and stay ahead of evolving laws.
- Enhance brand trust through credible sustainability efforts.
- Leverage sustainable innovation to create high-performance, low-impact products.
- Strengthen supplier relationships for a resilient, responsible supply chain.
The Clean Chemistry and Materials Coalition (CCMC) is here to help. Whether you’re just getting started or refining an existing program, OIA’s new Chemicals Management Getting Started Guide and CCMC Guidebook provide the tools and resources you need.
Learn more and access the resources at outdoorindustry.org.
What Does Retail Growth Look Like In 2025?
By Kyle Frost
The latest Outdoor Industry Association Retail Trends Report shows a market in transition. Participation is at an all-time high, retail dollars are moving, and outdoor gear has officially crossed over into the fashion and lifestyle world. On the surface, things look alright, but when we dig a little deeper, things get far more complicated.
We’re seeing more and more casual consumers getting outside, and they’re buying differently. That shift isn’t inherently bad; more people outside is something everyone has been pushing for. But here’s the tension: despite growth in participation, fewer consumers are leveling up into committed, gear-hungry outdoorists. Casual users tend to buy less and buy on sale. And the more we condition them to expect discounts, the harder it becomes to maintain pricing power or build long-term brand equity.
Discount addiction
Sales numbers may look relatively stable, but unit sales have plateaued. The post-COVID discount cycle, with prevalent blanket promotions and endless markdowns, has trained customers to wait for the next deal.. This undermines specialty retail, devalues premium products, and creates a dangerous dependence on discounting to move inventory.
To break that cycle, brands will need more than just a better pricing strategy. They’ll need better engagement through loyalty programs that reward activity, not just spending; educational content that builds confidence; and in-store and online experiences that create an emotional connection. In a flat market, market share is won not with less expensive products, but with more reasons to care about your brand vs others.
Where the spending is
So where are people still spending? Accessories are one of the few bright spots where lifestyle trends and healthy margins still align. They’re convenient entry points and impulse buys and often satisfy the ‘multi-use’ desires of casual participants. But, they can also be trend-driven, which means that pace and ‘taste’ matter. Think fast-turn, lower-volume SKUs that are sustainable, stylish, and versatile.
Meanwhile, big-ticket technical gear is a tougher sell. Fewer consumers are dropping $1,000 on kayaks. Instead, they’re birding, backyard lounging, or wrapping up overlanding trips at a brewery. These types of big purchases are a harder sell in a market built around comfort and convenience. This doesn’t mean the hardcore segment is gone, but it might mean that the demand isn’t there right now.
And we can’t ignore running. It’s still booming, reshaping how brands and buyers approach footwear and apparel and shows no signs of slowing. If your brand doesn’t have a strategy to engage runners—either through product or positioning—you’re missing one of the biggest growth opportunities in the space.
Demographics matter as well, and the industry is still missing the mark with nearly half its audience. Women make up nearly half of outdoor participants and consistently outspend men on apparel, yet men’s categories continue to lead in overall sales. This feels like old news, but it seems like most progress in this vein has been made outside the core outdoor industry. Legacy outdoor brands continue to lag behind more athleisure-forward competitors (both in and outside the “core” outdoor space) who have been able to successfully tap into branding and marketing approaches that resonate more strongly with women outdoorists.
The elephant in the room
While not yet reflected in the data, rising import costs threaten to push prices beyond key psychological thresholds, particularly in categories where demand has been driven by casual, discretionary purchases. Tariffs may be designed to incentivize domestic production, but for many outdoor brands, that’s not realistic. OIA recently hosted a webinar on the new tariffs, and I’ve previously written about how even “Made in the USA” labels often mask a deeper global dependence: zippers from Japan, membranes from Taiwan, stitching in Vietnam, etc. While some brands assemble products domestically or run small-scale production operations, the vast majority of outdoor gear manufacturing still happens in Asia. Brands can’t simply swap in domestic factories without losing access to innovation, capacity, and speed.
When those prices inch up, consumers may hesitate to buy accessories that currently feel like impulse buys. Will the ‘drinkware’ category survive a 20-30% price increase? Running is a hot market, but shoes creeping from $170 to $200 (or more) could slow growth. And big-ticket technical gear? Even tougher to move. Depending on overall economic trends, seasonal or infrequent users may simply drop out of the funnel.
The outdoor market is deeply tied to emotionally driven spending. Customers don’t always “need” gear—they want to feel inspired by it (or look good in the newest styles). As prices inch up, the balance between that emotional and financial value could start to tip in the wrong direction. As prices increase, casual consumers who don’t carry “the outdoors” as part of their core identity will likely spend less.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Consumers have grown price-sensitive, and the industry has trained them in recent years to expect discounts. As tariffs push MSRPs higher, retailers may struggle to maintain margins without deepening discounts, which cuts against their ability to grow or even survive. It’s a Catch-22: raise prices and lose customers, or discount and destroy margin.
Can circularity move more mainstream?
This is where circularity becomes more than a sustainability talking point. It’s likely that rising prices will push more consumers toward secondhand platforms, whether that’s peer-to-peer marketplaces, local consignment, or white-label resale programs. Some brands have already invested in resale infrastructure, largely in the name of sustainability. But 2025 might be the year where circularity becomes a core part of more business strategies. Not just to meet ESG goals, but to offer consumers more price-accessible options (and sustain brand relationships and revenue) in a market where the price points of new gear feel out of reach, or at least make consumers more apprehensive.
The smartest brands will integrate resale more directly into their digital and retail ecosystems, as well as their overall brand story. Circularity isn’t just a defense against pricing pressure. It can be a way to extend the product lifecycle, capture value from second sales, and keep customers in your ecosystem longer.
Where does that leave us?
Tariffs, pricing pressure, and shifting behaviors will test every assumption. There’s no doubt that we’re entering the first months of 2025 with significant uncertainties about almost everything in the industry. But brands that stay nimble, invest in community and experience, and build for both the first purchase and long-term engagement? Those are the ones that may weather the uncertain waters ahead with the greatest stability.
Want to dive deeper into the data behind these trends? Download the 2025 Outdoor Industry Retail Trends Report Executive Summary. and join our free webinar Thursday April 17th at 1 pm MT. OIA members get access to the full report and 2024 data in the OIA Member Portal.
Webinar: Tariffs, Public Lands, and Outdoor Brands
In our May Policy Town Hall, experts provided updates on trade and tariff policies, highlighting ongoing negotiations with several countries and the impact of tariffs on small businesses.
Continue readingWebinar: 2025 Retail Sales Trends and Forecasts
April 17, 2025 Webinar Recording
Join industry experts for an in-depth look at the retail sales trends that shaped the outdoor industry in 2024 and what’s ahead in 2025.
Discover key insights from market data, hear predictions for the future, and learn how top outdoor brands and retailers are adapting to a rapidly evolving outdoor market. Gain actionable strategies to leverage retail data for smarter decision-making—whether for strategic planning, product development, new product launches, sales channels, or marketing. Don’t miss this opportunity to sharpen your competitive edge and position your outdoor business for success in the coming year.
Webinar: Trade Policy Town Hall
Watch OIA’s Trade Policy Town Hall as our trade experts help outdoor businesses understand and respond to the latest tariff updates.
The recent announcement of substantial global tariffs will have real and immediate impacts on outdoor businesses, from rising costs and supply chain disruptions to uncertainty in planning and operations. At OIA, we’re focused on what matters most: protecting your business and sustaining the outdoor industry’s economic strength.
Tariff policies that increase costs on outdoor products threaten the $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy, the more than 5 million American jobs it supports, and the 175.8 million Americans who love the outdoors and rely on access to affordable, high-quality outdoor gear.
What You Can Do:
- Share your story: Share your tariff impact stories with us to help drive policy change.
Advocate: Support the bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025, introduced by Senators Grassley and Cantwell, by sending a message to your Member of Congress today.
- Stay informed: Sign up for our Outdoorist newsletter to get the latest outdoor industry updates and trade information for your business.
Lean on us: From direct lobbying to one-on-one consultations, OIA offers expert policy resources and support to help you stay ahead of trade challenges and protect your bottom line. Get in touch with our team.
As we navigate what’s next, we’ll continue to tirelessly advocate for fair, balanced trade policies that put the outdoor industry first.
Watch the Webinar:
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
A Smarter Path to Cleaner, Safer Products: OIA’s Six-Step Roadmap for Chemicals Management
The outdoor industry thrives on innovation, performance, and a commitment to sustainability. Yet, as awareness of the environmental impact of business grows, companies are facing increasing pressure to align their products and supply chains with sustainable practices that prioritize safety and transparency.
Chemicals used in outdoor recreation products—from waterproof coatings to durable textiles —play a critical role in performance. However, many traditional formulations contain substances that pose risks to human health and ecosystems. Governments worldwide are implementing stricter regulations, and consumers are demanding greater accountability from brands.
Recognizing this shifting landscape, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), through its Clean Chemistry and Materials Coalition (CCMC), is equipping outdoor businesses like yours with the tools and strategies you need to take proactive steps toward safer, cleaner product development.
New OIA Resources: A Roadmap for Safer Products
To help organizations navigate chemical safety, compliance, and innovation, OIA is releasing two new resources to guide planning and implementation to reach sustainability goals.
- Chemicals Management Getting Started Guide – Available to all OIA members, this six-step framework outlines a clear roadmap for building safer, more responsible products.
- CCMC Guidebook – A comprehensive, 73-page resource for Support+ and Leadership members, featuring detailed checklists, case studies, and technical guidance on building a robust chemicals management program.
Both guides center around OIA’s six-step CCMC Pathway, which provides you with a structured approach to eliminating harmful chemicals, adopting safer alternatives, and integrating supply chain sustainability into long-term strategies.
Let’s explore these six steps and how your company can leverage them to build a safer, more sustainable business.
1. Discover: Map Your Chemistry Footprint
Before businesses can improve chemical safety, they need to understand their starting point. The first step in chemicals management is gaining visibility into your supply chain, materials, and potential chemical hazards.
Key actions:
- Map your supplier network – Understand where and how your products are made, including Tier 1 and upstream suppliers.
- Build a material inventory – Track what’s in your products, from base materials to performance treatments.
- Identify high-risk chemicals – Review industry-standard Restricted Substances Lists (RSLs) and emerging regulations, such as PFAS bans.
- Monitor evolving regulations – Stay ahead of national and international compliance requirements to avoid risks like product recalls.
Why this matters: Businesses that take a proactive approach to understanding their chemical footprint will reduce regulatory risks and build consumer trust.
2. Plan: Set Goals and Build a Strategy
Once a company understands its chemical risks, the next step is to set clear objectives and create an action plan for safer chemistry.
Key actions:
- Define internal and external goals – Set measurable targets for eliminating harmful chemicals and adopting safer alternatives.
- Assign responsible teams – Ensure cross-functional collaboration across product development, compliance, and sourcing teams.
- Develop a phased action plan – Outline short-term compliance goals and long-term innovation strategies.
- Ensure supplier accountability – Work with manufacturers to implement clear, enforceable chemical policies.
Why this matters: A strategic plan keeps businesses on track, ensuring chemicals management efforts align with business sustainability goals.
3. Act: Implement Safer Practices
With a plan in place, companies must now take action to integrate safer chemistry into product development and supply chain management.
Key actions:
- Adopt a Restricted Substances List (RSL) – Align with industry standards to ensure compliance across product lines.
- Implement a robust testing program – Establish procedures for monitoring chemicals at various stages of production.
- Communicate expectations with suppliers – Clearly define what materials and formulations are acceptable.
- Phase out high-risk chemicals – Proactively replace harmful substances with verified safer alternatives.
Why this matters: Companies that act now to implement safer chemicals management will be better positioned for future regulations and market demands.
4. Accelerate: Strengthen Supplier Partnerships & Drive Innovation
Once the foundation of a chemicals management program is in place, the next step is to scale impact through continuous improvement and innovation.
Key actions:
- Move beyond compliance – Establish Manufacturing Restricted Substances Lists (MRSLs) to control chemical inputs, not just finished products.
- Implement supplier chemicals management systems – Work directly with manufacturers to improve chemical safety practices.
- Explore green chemistry innovations – Invest in safer material alternatives that enhance product durability and performance.
- Leverage data-driven decision-making – Use testing insights and supplier audits to refine chemical safety strategies.
Why this matters: Forward-thinking organizations go beyond compliance—they lead with innovation and corporate environmental responsibility.
5. Advocate: Shape the Future of Safer Chemistry
The outdoor industry must work collaboratively to drive systemic change. Businesses that engage in policy advocacy and industry partnerships can help shape a greener future for outdoor products.
Key actions:
- Support public policies that promote safer alternatives and sustainability in business.
- Engage with policymakers to influence chemical safety regulations.
- Collaborate with industry groups – Join coalitions like OIA’s CCMC to share best practices and research.
- Invest in sustainable chemistry startups to accelerate eco-friendly business solutions.
Why this matters: Companies that take an active role in shaping the future of chemicals management will help set industry standards, rather than simply reacting to them.
6. Share: Build Trust Through Transparency
Consumers expect companies to be honest and transparent about their sustainability efforts. Clear communication about chemicals management builds credibility and loyalty.
Key actions:
- Provide verifiable data – Back up environmental claims with testing results and certifications.
- Educate consumers – Help customers understand why safer chemistry matters and how it enhances product performance.
- Avoid misleading green claims – Ensure all sustainability messaging is accurate and compliant with greenwashing laws.
- Report progress publicly – Share chemicals management milestones in sustainability reports and marketing materials.
Why this matters: Transparent organizations build stronger consumer relationships while staying ahead of corporate sustainability regulations.
Taking the First Step Toward Safer, Smarter Products
Adopting robust chemicals management practices is no longer optional — it’s a business imperative. Companies that fail to act risk regulatory penalties, supply chain disruptions, and consumer backlash.
By following OIA’s six-step roadmap, your company can:
- Reduce regulatory risk and stay ahead of evolving laws.
- Enhance brand trust through credible sustainability efforts.
- Leverage sustainable innovation to create high-performance, low-impact products.
- Strengthen supplier relationships for a resilient, responsible supply chain.
The Clean Chemistry and Materials Coalition (CCMC) is here to help. Whether you’re just getting started or refining an existing program, OIA’s new Chemicals Management Getting Started Guide and CCMC Guidebook provide the tools and resources you need.
Learn more and access the resources at outdoorindustry.org.
How Outdoor Brands Are Reducing Textile Emissions with Smarter Energy Solutions
Reducing emissions in textile production isn’t just an environmental responsibility—it’s a business necessity. Consumers expect brands to take meaningful action on sustainability, and regulations are pushing companies to reduce their carbon footprints. One of the biggest challenges? The fossil fuel-based heating systems used in textile manufacturing.
Traditional heating methods rely on coal, gas, or oil, making them a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The textile and apparel industry alone contributes about 2% of global emissions, and with demand increasing, that number will only grow. If your brand is committed to lowering emissions, tackling the energy sources used in textile mills is a critical step.
A Practical Solution to Help You Reduce Emissions
To support this transition, Outdoor Industry Association, in partnership with Global Efficiency Intelligence and OIA member brands like Cotopaxi, L.L. Bean, New Balance, Patagonia, REI Co-op, and W.L. Gore & Associates, have launched the Textile Heating Electrification Tool. This open-source resource helps mills and brands transition from fossil fuels to electric heating by providing data on energy use, cost savings, and emissions reduction. It supports sustainability goals, regulatory compliance, and long-term efficiency.
Why This Matters for Your Brand
Sustainability goals can’t be met without action at the manufacturing level. The heating systems used in textile mills account for a significant share of supply chain emissions, and electrification is one of the most effective ways to lower them.
This tool provides clear, actionable insights to help businesses:
- Understand their current heating systems and identify where fossil fuel use can be reduced.
- Evaluate electric alternatives that work for different textile processes.
- Make informed investment decisions with data on costs, feasibility, and emissions reductions.
Andrew Dempsey, Director of Climate at REI Co-op, explained the importance of this issue:
“At REI, we believe progress on climate solutions happens through collaboration. Our goal is to cut emissions in half by 2030, but we can’t get there without working closely with our brand and manufacturing partners. Electric heat technologies are essential for decarbonizing textile manufacturing, and this tool gives us the data we need to move forward with confidence.”
Collaboration Makes Sustainability More Achievable
Developed under OIA’s Clean Heat CoLab, this tool embodies a collaborative approach to tackling industry challenges. OIA Impact CoLabs help brands and suppliers work closely, advancing sustainability goals more efficiently while lowering costs.
Julie Brown, Director of Sustainable Business Innovation at Outdoor Industry Association, highlighted the significance of this initiative:
“The launch of the Textile Heating Electrification Tool marks a major step in our industry’s collective effort to cut emissions in textile manufacturing. This tool combines expertise from across the outdoor industry to provide mills with the insights they need to transition to cleaner, more sustainable heating technologies.”
How to Get Started
This tool is designed to help businesses like yours take meaningful steps toward emissions reductions. If your brand works with textile suppliers, this is a resource that can drive real change.
Watch the webinar recording below and download our one-pager to start using this tool for smarter decision-making in your business.
Want to go further? Contact sustainability@outdoorindustry.org to get involved in OIA’s sustainability programs and work toward a lower-carbon future.