Customs & Border Protection Will Pay Tariff Refunds

Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) remains under court-order to refund importers the monies paid (plus interest) and have stopped collecting tariffs levied under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”). Refund timing and the process is still not certain but could start in as few as 45 days (est. April 20). 

While CBP figures out the refund process, it is critically important that importers, especially those of you who only import once or twice a year, enroll immediately with CBP to receive electronic refunds via Automated Clearing House (“ACH”). Instructions can be found HERE. CBP estimates that only 6% of the 330,000 importers who paid IEEPA tariffs have completed this step. Importers should also ensure they are actively tracking liquidation dates of impacted entries and deadlines for filing protests. 

Beyond the procedural unknowns, there are still other important questions that remain unanswered, including: 

  • Who is eligible to participate? 
  • What will importers need to do to participate? and, 
  • What will happen to impacted customs entries that: 
  • Have not been protested and are past their 180-day protest deadline; and, 
  • Are past their 90-day liquidation date but within the 180-day protest deadline. 

SSA’s affiliated customs counsel Neville Peterson advises the safest option for importers wanting full refunds to mitigate the risk of falling into one of the currently ambiguous scenarios above is to: 

  • File a 1581(i) lawsuit with the Court of International Trade (“CIT”), and; 
  • File protests for all liquidated entries. 

To review Neville Peterson’s full summary of the events that have unfolded this week and resulting guidance, click HERE. 

Details behind these developments: 

Despite much speculation and widespread mischaracterization in the press that the government intended to challenge having to pay the refunds, CBP has affirmed it will comply with the CIT’s March 4 order. CBP did however declare it is unable to immediately comply with the order due to functionality limitations in ACE, but proposed creation of new mechanism that would “streamline and consolidate refunds and interest payments on an importer basis.” 

Following a conference between the parties at the CIT on March 6th to discuss CBP’s response, Judge Richard Eaton withdrew the requirement for CBP to immediately comply with the order; all other aspects of the order remain in place. 

CBP predicts the proposed refund system could be deployed in as soon as 45 days; they did not specify a predicted timeline for actual refund receipt. 

The proposed mechanism would work as follows: 

The importer files a declaration in ACE that includes a list of entries on which IEEPA duties were paid. 

  • ACE runs a series of validations on each entry within the declaration and automatically re-calculates the duty owed without the IEEPA tariffs (with applicable interest). 
  • CBP verifies the declaration and processes refunds as soon as practicable. 
  • ACE automatically finalizes (liquidates or reliquidates) the entries. 
  • ACE automatically aggregates the refunds with interest by importer and liquidation date. 
  • CBP certifies the refunds. 
  • The Department of the Treasury issues IEEPA refunds electronically via ACH. 

We are continuously tracking this developing issue and will provide additional information as it becomes available. OIA members can access Mobilize or join the Trade Advisory Council for updates and guidance. Not a member? Get in touch today to learn more. 

New BEA Data Confirms Outdoor Recreation’s Economic Strengths and Signals Headwinds Ahead

2024-BEA-Data

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has released new statistics measuring the outdoor recreation economy in 2024 for the nation, all 50 states, and the District of Columbia. This marks the eighth consecutive year that BEA has published federal data tracking the economic impact of outdoor recreation. An important milestone that continues to validate what our industry, communities, and consumers have long known: outdoor recreation is a powerful driver of economic activity, job creation, and national well-being. 

The annual BEA data remains one of the clearest and most credible measures of the outdoor recreation economy’s role in the United States. It helps demonstrate not only the scale of our industry, but also why continued investment in outdoor access, recreation infrastructure, and participation matters for local communities, rural economies, and public health. 

In 2024, the outdoor recreation economy generated $1.3 trillion in gross output, representing the largest overall economic impact in the history of the sector. Outdoor recreation accounted for 2.4% of U.S. GDP, and the industry supported 5.2 million jobs nationwide. Total compensation for outdoor recreation jobs reached $324 billion, or 3.2% of total U.S. wage and salary compensation. 

These numbers underscore the size and significance of the outdoor recreation economy. But they also tell a more complicated story. 

While 2024 marks a new high-water mark in total economic impact, it also reflects the slowest growth of the post-pandemic era. That matters. Because behind the topline gains, the industry is facing real pressure, from affordability challenges and consumer spending constraints to broader economic uncertainty that could shape participation and purchasing behavior in the months ahead. 

The data, paired with participation trends, suggest that Americans still want to get outside. Demand for outdoor experiences has not disappeared. But for many households, the costs associated with getting outdoors—gear, vehicles, travel, services, and even the basics required to participate safely—have become harder to afford. 

This is an important distinction. We are not seeing a collapse in interest. We are seeing a growing gap between desire and ability to participate fully. 

When people spend less on the products and services that support outdoor recreation, it has ripple effects across the economy. It can mean fewer trips, lower participation frequency, softer retail demand, and reduced revenue for the outfitters, guides, campgrounds, manufacturers, and local businesses that depend on recreation-driven visitation. In many communities, especially rural communities, those ripple effects translate directly into fewer jobs, less business activity, and weaker local economic impact. 

That is why these new BEA statistics matter so much. 

Outdoor recreation is more than a consumer category. It is a major contributor to the U.S. economy, a source of jobs in communities of every size, and an engine for rural development. In many places, outdoor recreation supports small businesses, strengthens tourism economies, and helps diversify the local economies tied to public lands, trails, waterways, parks, and recreation infrastructure. 

It also delivers benefits beyond the balance sheet. Outdoor recreation contributes to healthier people and healthier communities by helping more Americans spend time outside, stay active, reduce stress, and build lasting connections to the natural places around them. At a time when the country continues to grapple with physical and mental health challenges, that contribution is both economically and socially significant. 

The 2024 data also highlights shifts across key segments of the outdoor recreation economy: 

  • Conventional outdoor recreation: Bicycling, hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, camping, climbing, RVing, snow sports, and related activities accounted for 29.5% of outdoor recreation’s total contribution to GDP and grew 2% (in value added $) from 2023 to 2024. 
  • Other outdoor recreation activities: Amusement parks, festivals, concerts, sporting events, field sports, and guided tours represented 19% of the sector’s total GDP contribution and grew 5.3% (in value added $) from 2023 to 2024. 
  • Supporting outdoor recreation activities: Construction, travel, lodging, food and beverage, and government expenditures accounted for 51.5% of total outdoor recreation GDP and grew 4.6% (in value added $) in 2024. 

These shifts reinforce a message our industry cannot ignore: the appetite for outdoor recreation remains strong, but participation and spending are becoming more constrained. If we want this sector to continue growing in a durable, inclusive way, affordability and access must remain central to the conversation. 

That means continuing to advocate for policies and investments that: 

  • expand access to outdoor spaces and public lands, 
  • improve recreation infrastructure, 
  • support domestic manufacturing and outdoor businesses, 
  • reduce barriers to participation, 
  • and strengthen the community and economic ecosystems that make outdoor recreation possible. 

As the outdoor industry looks ahead, this year’s BEA data offers both a reason for pride and a call to action. The outdoor recreation economy continues to be a major force in the American economy. But sustaining that strength will require intentional action to ensure people can continue to participate, and that the businesses and communities that support outdoor recreation can continue to thrive. 

Preparing Your Outdoor Business For Sustainability Compliance in 2026

For the outdoor industry, sustainable business practices have moved from nice-to-have initiatives to strict legal requirements. Brands are navigating an increasingly complex system of laws across the United States, Canada, and the European Union (EU) that cover everything from greenhouse gas emissions reporting to green marketing claims.   

This blog post aims to provide a broad overview of sustainability compliance obligations for the outdoor industry, along with actions for meeting those requirements. But before we get into it, we need to start with a short disclaimer. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Readers should consult with qualified legal counsel to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. 

Climate Accountability: Confusion in California 

California is the only state in the U.S. that has enacted climate disclosure laws. The laws mandate companies with over $500M in annual revenue to disclose their climate-related financial risk (SB 261) and mandate companies with over $1B in annual revenue to disclose their scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions (SB 253). Lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of these laws have upended the enforcement timeline. Here’s the latest:  

  • Climate-related risk reporting (SB 261): Under the original regulatory timeline, covered entities were supposed to submit their climate-related risk reports on January 1, 2026. However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted an injunction pending appeal for SB 261, effectively pausing the enforcement of the law. Oral arguments were heard in January. Until the Ninth Circuit releases a decision following those arguments, reporting for this law is paused.  
  • Greenhouse gas emissions disclosure (SB 253): The Ninth Circuit did not grant an injunction pending appeal for SB 253. Enforcement of this law is still proceeding as scheduled, which means that covered entities should be preparing to report their scope 1 and 2 emissions in August of this year, and prepare to report their scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions in 2027. This schedule is subject to change, pending the ongoing lawsuit challenging SB 253, in addition to SB 261.  

Chemistry: PFAS Regulations Expand in Scope Across the U.S. 

Chemistry is the backbone of performance gear, providing the waterproofing and durability outdoor enthusiasts expect. However, concerns about the harm of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have led to a wave of bans and reporting requirements, including: 

  • Bans on products with intentionally added PFAS: Several states have already enacted bans on the sale of textiles and apparel containing intentionally added PFAS. 
  • Mandatory disclosure labels: Many jurisdictions require a visible label stating that products contain PFAS when on sale in retailers and online.  
  • Reporting requirements: Many states require companies to report products that have intentionally added PFAS. The U.S. government also has a one-time backward looking reporting requirement under TSCA, however, there are proposed changes to this requirement that would significantly reduce and/or eliminate reporting requirements for most outdoor companies.  

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Shifting Responsibility of Products’ End-of-Life  

Governments are increasingly holding producers responsible for the waste their products and packaging create, and are turning to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs. EPR assigns producers financial or operational responsibility for the collection and recycling of their goods, which often entails: 

  • Stewardship organization enrollment: Producers can be required to join a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) and pay fees based on the volume and material type of their packaging.   
  • Textile recovery registration: California became the first state in the U.S. to enact a textile EPR program. Brands doing business in California will soon be required to register with a PRO and pay fees to fund the repair, sorting, and recycling infrastructure for apparel and textile articles.   
  • Eco-modulated fees: Many EPR programs are implementing “eco-modulation,” meaning fees are adjusted based on the product’s sustainable attributes.  

Green Claims: Eliminating “Greenwashing” 

Vague claims like “sustainable” or “eco-friendly” are facing global unprecedented scrutiny. Multiple U.S. states and other countries have introduced guidelines to ensure environmental marketing messaging is accurate. While laws differ, outdoor companies generally need to:   

  • Substantiate all sustainability claims: Under current federal guidelines, brands must be able to prove any environmental claim they make with reliable evidence. 
  • Adhere to state-level laws: While every state has laws prohibiting deceptive conduct, many have made “greenwashing” (the act of making false or misleading claims about the environmental benefits of a product) a violation of consumer protection laws. 
  • Disclose carbon offset processes: California now requires companies that use “net zero,” “carbon neutral,” or similar terminology to disclose on their website how those claims are achieved (CA AB 1305). 

Ensure Your Outdoor Brand is Compliant in 2026 

As new laws take effect, OIA is here to help outdoor companies implement sustainable business practices and remain compliant. We recently released an updated version of our “Guide to Comply” exclusively for OIA members. This 20+ page resource covers the specific regulations impacting the outdoor industry in 2026. 

In addition to this guide, our Support Plus and Leadership members get access to our Sustainability Policy and Reporting Task Forces. These groups provide time-sensitive alerts as new legislation emerges and a place to discuss compliance challenges with peers.  

If you’re ready to learn more about the benefits of becoming an OIA member, get in touch with us.  

References: 

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/california-corporate-greenhouse-gas-ghg-reporting-and-climate-related-financial 

https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/california-climate-disclosure-laws-ninth-circuit-hears-oral-argument-no-ruling-yet 

https://calrecycle.ca.gov/epr/textiles/ 

https://www.persefoni.com/blog/ab-1305 

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1305

The Hidden Challenge of Circularity: Managing Chemical Risks in Recycled Materials

recycled-materials-challenges

Recycling is a cornerstone of the circular economy, aiming to reuse products and regenerate materials to reduce environmental impacts like greenhouse gas emissions. However, as outdoor companies expand their commitments to using recycled content, a significant challenge has emerged: chemical safety. 

Today’s recycling systems are not fully equipped to guarantee that recycled feedstocks are free from hazardous substances. Without strong safeguards, brands and manufacturers risk unintentionally recirculating “legacy” chemicals into their products or even introducing new contaminants caused by the recycling process itself.  

Understanding the Infrastructure Gap 

Recycling capabilities vary wildly across plastics, textiles, paper, and metals. Most current systems are optimized for clean, single-material streams, but real-world waste is often highly mixed and chemically complex. 

In general, there are two common recycling processes that each pose different chemical risks: 

  • Mechanical Recycling: Dominates the market but tends to recirculate rather than remove chemicals, leaving new products vulnerable to contamination. 
  • Molecular (Chemical) Recycling: Can remove unwanted substances, but requires more energy and may result in chemicals of concern released into the environment surrounding the recycling facility.  

Critical Risk Areas for the Outdoor Industry 

For our industry, textiles represent the most critical risk area. Currently, less than 1% of collected textiles are recycled back into new fibers, but those that are often come from sources with unknown chemical histories. 

Factors like limited ingredient transparency and multi-material construction increase the likelihood that restricted substances, such as PFAS, phthalates, heavy metals, and flame retardants, make it into the final product. These risks extend to other materials as well: 

  • Plastics: Often contain non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) and residual chemicals. 
  • Metals: Can inadvertently introduce toxic heavy metals if waste streams are poorly characterized. 
  • Paper: Requires careful management to avoid contaminants found in original coatings and inks. 

A Path Toward Non-Toxic Circularity 

There is currently no comprehensive, affordable testing protocol that can reliably identify every contaminant in every batch of recycled feedstock. And while certifications help manage risk, they do not completely eliminate it. Rather, success depends on rigorous implementation and total supply-chain transparency. 

To move forward, outdoor companies must adopt a systems-level approach to chemical risk. This includes: 

  • Evaluating the origin of feedstocks and sorting processes. 

  • Assessing contamination risks specific to material types. 

  • Collaborating across industry, academia, and policy to develop safer chemistries and better traceability. 

Learn About Chemical Safety with OIA’s New Guidebook 

The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) has developed a comprehensive “Chemical Risks of Recycled Materials Guidebook” to equip outdoor companies with the tools and insights needed to safely source recycled materials. It outlines risks by material category, compares recycling technologies, and provides a practical framework for evaluating suppliers and assessing contamination risk based on four key categories: 

  • Original material use, application, and industry.
  • Collection, sorting, and other pre-processing methods.
  • Recycling methods and quality control specifications.
  • End-use application. 

The guidebook is currently available in the OIA Mobilize platform. Not an OIA Support Plus or Leadership member but want to learn more? Get in touch today. 

REI Co-op, Carhartt, ERM Coho, and OIA Announce Collaborative Renewable Energy Project

REI Co-op, Carhartt, ERM Coho, and Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) announced their participation in a collaborative solar project. The solar project, Misae II, developed by Greenalia, is located in Texas and will begin delivering renewable energy certificates to REI Co-op and Carhartt in 2026.

The collaborative solar project, accessed via a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA), was offered through OIA’s Climate Action Corps Impact CoLab, in partnership with member brands and ERM Coho. OIA’s Impact CoLabs accelerate industry progress by enabling brands and suppliers to work together, meeting company sustainability goals more efficiently and cost-effectively. Learn more about Impact CoLabs here.

“We’re excited by how this VPPA will support our longstanding commitment to 100% renewable energy. This is our largest solar project (yet) in a state where we have a strong presence with 11 stores. Partnering with others in the outdoor industry on this project demonstrates how collaboration is critical to accelerating the decarbonization of our grids and protecting everyone’s right to a healthy outdoors,” said Jay Creech, manager of net zero for REI Co-op.

A VPPA is a financial contract for differences between a buyer (or group of buyers) and a large-scale renewable energy project, in which the buyer commits to a fixed price and receives the floating wholesale electricity price.  Companies that are unable to install onsite solar to meet 100% of their energy demand can use VPPAs to procure offsite renewable energy. VPPAs are typically only available to very large energy buyers. Smaller companies can access VPPAs by working together, and industry associations like OIA provide a platform to enable that collaboration.

“This agreement demonstrates the success that results from buyers and developers being collaborative. When companies unite as a structured buyer group, they unlock access to large-scale clean energy solutions and strengthen decision-making,”  said Chris O’Brien, Partner, Vice President Business Development for ERM Coho.

Key Outcomes of the VPPA CoLab:

  • Renewable Energy: The VPPA supports 18.5 megawatts of renewable energy.
  • Collective Impact: Individually, OIA members would not have met the electricity supply required to participate in a VPPA. By coming together through OIA to aggregate their energy demand, members were able to execute a joint VPPA.
  • Building Knowledge: Members gained a strong understanding of the complex VPPA market through the CoLab. The collaborative process demystified renewable energy procurement and equipped members with the tools to execute a clean energy deal.
  • Driving New Construction: The CoLab enabled the construction of a new utility-scale solar project in Texas, bringing additional clean energy onto the grid.
  • Verified Impact: CoLab participants receive Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), allowing them to reduce their emissions.

“The path to a better future is paved through collaboration and partnership,” said Gretchen Valade, Director, Sustainability, Carhartt, Inc. “No single organization can tackle the complexities of decarbonization alone, but together, we can drive meaningful progress. We are proud to be a part of this important effort to support renewable energy generation and build a more sustainable world.”

“We are incredibly proud of the successful collaboration among the VPPA CoLab participants, culminating in a renewable energy project that will deliver long-term clean energy benefits and advance the outdoor industry’s collective climate goals. This project stands as a powerful testament to the impact we can achieve when we unite our efforts and provides a replicable model for others in the industry,” said Julie Brown, Director of Sustainable Business Innovation at OIA.

About Outdoor Industry Association

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers, and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth while protecting – and growing access to – the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.

About Carhartt

Established in 1889, Carhartt is a global premium workwear brand with a rich heritage of developing durable products for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., with more than 3,000 employees worldwide, Carhartt is family-owned and managed by the descendants of the company’s founder, Hamilton Carhartt.

About ERM Coho

ERM Coho is a global climate adviser dedicated to helping clients navigate complexity and take ambitious steps on their climate journey. We provide deep market insight, analytical problem-solving, and change management expertise so that clients can switch to renewable energy and make other large-scale climate and water resiliency investments with confidence and internal alignment. To learn more about how ERM Coho can help organizations get ahead of their climate goals, visit www.cohoclimate.com.

About Greenalia

Greenalia S.A. is a global IPP focused on renewable energy. The company uses wind, sun, and forestry biomass from certified plantation residues to generate and store energy in harmony with nature, providing employment and innovation in Europe and the US. The company’s main activity is the generation of renewable energy, being present in six technologies: onshore wind, offshore wind, solar, biomass, storage, hydrogen, and carbon capture.

About REI Co-op

REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI, is a growing community of 25 million members who expect and love the best quality gear and outstanding customer service. In addition to the co-op’s many stores across the country, outdoor enthusiasts can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet, or the REI shopping app. Everyone is welcome to shop at REI, but members who join the co-op enjoy a range of benefits. REI is a purpose-driven and values-led company dedicated to enabling life outside for all.

Level Up Your Outdoor Business

Two people hiking on a mountain
Two people hiking on a mountain

OIA Research Now Offers Key Reports for Purchase – Membership May Be More Economical. 

The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) understands that data-driven decisions are crucial for business success. That’s why OIA Research exists: to provide actionable insights that boost your bottom line, get more Americans engaged in outdoor recreation, build stronger outdoor businesses and a stronger outdoor economy.   

We dive deep into the outdoor economy utilizing data from Circana (formerly NPD), the Physical Activity Council, and our own research to deliver the business intelligence, participation insights, and market trends that outdoor organizations need to lead with clarity and confidence. 

We also keep you informed about the macroeconomic trends impacting the outdoor market. OIA Research provides updates on customer sentiment, GDP, employment trends, and analyzes the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Outdoor Recreation Economic Impacts report each year to help you understand the broader economic context in which your business operates.  

Whether you’re targeting consumers, tracking market trends, or benchmarking your financial performance, OIA Research has you covered. And now, to make these powerful resources more accessible, OIA is offering individual purchases of some of its most valuable reports.  

Unlocking Insights: OIA’s Research Suite 

OIA’s comprehensive research suite provides data-driven insights across a wide range of topics: 

  • Outdoor Consumer Insights: Get to know your customer. This proprietary dataset provides in-depth information on average spend by segment (core, moderate, and casual), motivations for participating in outdoor recreation, the customer journey, and key demographics. Understand who your customers are and what drives their purchasing decisions. The initial report focuses on retail behavior and independent specialty retailers. 
  • Outdoor Participation Trends Report: The definitive source for participation data. This annual report, compiled with the Physical Activity Council, tracks participation rates across 46 different outdoor activities. Access insights into demographics, recreation venues, participation frequency, and trends in new and lost participants. Understand who’s participating, where they’re going, and how participation is changing over time.  
  • Single Sport Reports: For granular insights into specific activities, the Single Sport Reports provide a treasure trove of raw data. Explore participation trends across different sports and activities in detail, utilizing data that includes year-to-year changes, detailed demographic profiles by gender, as well as insights into core versus casual participants and cross-sport involvement. Note: this report focuses on the data itself, without offering in-depth analysis or pre-packaged insights. If you’re a data-driven decision-maker who enjoys digging deep and drawing your own conclusions, these reports are for you. 
  • Category Reports: Dive deep into specific product categories. These reports combine retail trends, consumer intelligence, and participation data to provide a holistic view of the target audience for outdoor footwear and apparel. Understand consumer trends and learn how to capitalize on them in product development, marketing, distribution, and sales. 
  • Retail Sales Trends: Keep your finger on the pulse of the outdoor retail market. Powered by Circana, these reports analyze point-of-sale data to track dollar sales, unit sales, and average retail sales prices for outdoor apparel, equipment, accessories, and footwear. Monthly reporting provides ongoing insights into trends across key channels: Athletic Specialty and Sporting Goods (e.g., Dick’s, Big 5, REI), independent outdoor specialty retailers, and online retail. An annual Retail Sales Report is published each March. 
  • Holiday Report: A timely reference on market conditions and consumer trends likely to impact the 2025 holiday shopping season including consumer spending, retail trends, hot product trends, and more. Due out late September to inform your holiday push. 
  • Financial and Operational Benchmarking Report (2024): Benchmark your company’s financial performance against industry peers. Based on proprietary data from over 50 outdoor companies, this report provides insights into profit and loss, operations costs, sourcing, and more. Compare your performance with others in your manufacturing categories and identify areas for improvement. (Footwear, apparel, hard goods, and outdoor accessories) 
  • Research Consulting and Custom Work: Need tailored insights? OIA Research provides personalized, custom research based on your specific needs. 

Expanded Access: Purchase Key Reports Individually  

Now, you can access some of OIA’s most valuable research without a full membership commitment. The highly sought-after Annual Participation Trends Reports, Single Sport Reports, and the insightful Consumer Insights Report are now available for individual purchase. 

OIA Research is designed to help you: 

  • Make informed decisions based on solid data. 
  • Identify and capitalize on emerging trends. 
  • Target the right consumers with the right products. 
  • Optimize your product offerings and marketing strategies. 
  • Improve your operational efficiency and profitability. 

 Before you click “buy,” be sure to compare the cost with OIA membership. OIA members receive access to all of these reports, along with many other benefits, making membership a potentially more cost-effective solution if you need access to multiple reports. 

Don’t miss out. Unlock the power of OIA Research and take your outdoor business to the next level. 

  • OIA reports, analyses, and custom projects will all assist in bettering your company, and can assist in getting data-driven insights for success. 
  • Reports will be sold to non-members, but membership can sometimes be the less expensive option. 
  • Don’t hesitate to check OIA’s website to explore those options. 

Visit outdoorindustry.org/researchsales.com to explore report purchase options and compare them to the benefits of OIA membership.  

Your Guide to Sourcing More Sustainable Aluminum

Introducing OIA’s Aluminum Guidebook

Aluminum is one of the most widely used materials in the outdoor industry, valued for its strength, lightweight properties, affordability, and availability. However, it is also a significant contributor to many brands’ environmental footprints. In response to OIA members seeking guidance on reducing their aluminum-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we created the Aluminum Guidebook. While aluminum is a common material in outdoor products, the industry lacks clear guidance on practical environmental impact strategies for this material. The guidebook fills that gap by outlining actionable pathways to lower the environmental impact of aluminum without compromising product performance. 

“The production of aluminum in our supply chain is one of the biggest sources of carbon emissions.  The industry and SRAM have made progress, but we have a lot of work left to do. Creating this guidebook was a great opportunity to share our experience, learn from others on this journey, and will help SRAM formalize our work and educate our teams on how we can adopt more low-carbon aluminum,” said Nick Myhre, Sustainability and Strategy with SRAM. 

Aluminum Guidebook Purpose 

The Aluminum Guidebook helps sustainability, sourcing, materials, and product teams in outdoor companies of any size integrate more environmentally friendly aluminum into their products.   

Co-created by OIA’s Aluminum Task Force, made up of brands across categories such as camp, cycling, ski and snow, footwear, drinkware, and accessories, the guide brings together resources from brand leaders, aluminum organizations (e.g., Aluminum Stewardship Initiative, International Aluminum Institute), and learnings from direct conversations and site visits with manufacturing partners. These members worked to build a comprehensive guidebook for all outdoor brands to reduce their emissions.

We encourage members to use the guidebook to establish internal processes for sourcing low-impact aluminum and to engage their supply chain partners in driving real, measurable progress together. The guidebook is designed to help sustainability and supply chain teams build stronger internal alignment by creating a shared language and an understanding of why low-carbon aluminum matters and how to source it. 

OIA acknowledges that aluminum production also presents other sustainability challenges, including ecosystem disturbances, air and groundwater pollution, and water consumption. While these issues are important, the guidebook centers specifically on reducing GHG emissions.   

“As a mid-sized brand, Peak Design is very familiar with the challenges of sourcing low-carbon aluminum and the complexities of the aluminum supply chain. For over six years, Peak Design has been expanding our use of lower-impact aluminum, but it became clear that we couldn’t fully succeed alone. By engaging with OIA, we’ve helped align brands around a shared understanding of the challenges and built a unified, actionable, recommended approach to low-carbon sourcing. The guidebook bridges common disconnects between sourcing, sustainability, and leadership teams and offers a clear framework for decision-making. This work directly supports our own goals while helping raise the bar for the outdoor industry. There is a long way to go, but we have a clearer roadmap than ever before,” said Oliver Ambros, Supply Chain Sustainability Manager at Peak Design.  

Guidebook Key Points:   

  • Low-impact aluminum = aluminum produced with a lower carbon footprint 
  • There are two main ways to reduce carbon emissions in aluminum production: 
    • Low-carbon energy, such as hydro or other renewable power sources 
    • Recycled content materials, either pre– or post-consumer 
  • Lower emissions ≠ worse performance 
  • Strong relationships with internal teams and supply chain partners are critical for increased impact.   

Lower Emissions ≠ Worse Performance 

Low-impact aluminum (produced using recycled content and/or low-carbon energy sources) is a key driver for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting climate targets. Shifting to low-impact aluminum does not mean sacrificing product performance. While the outdoor industry represents a small share of global aluminum demand, collaboration across our industry can help build a stronger, collective voice to advocate for low-carbon options.  

Strong Relationships are Key to Impact 

Building strong relationships is essential for impact—internally with product and design teams to align performance and sustainability goals, and across the value chain to better understand sourcing challenges and opportunities. Together, we can help accelerate the shift toward low-impact aluminum and a more sustainable industry. 

Resources to Support Your Low-Impact Aluminum Journey 

  • Join OIA to gain full access to the Aluminum Guidebook  

“OIA members created the Aluminum Guidebook to help our industry tackle a shared challenge: driving meaningful emissions reductions in a complex and competitive aluminum supply chain. It can be difficult for individual brands to influence suppliers, especially when competing with larger industries like automotive or aerospace, but when our members come together, they become a powerful collective voice for change. This guidebook is a tool to harness that strength and support coordinated, actionable progress across the industry,” said Julie Brown, OIA Sustainable Business Innovation Director.