In 2016, we conducted an extensive series of interviews and surveys to find out how OIA—the outdoor industry’s membership trade association—can best support outdoor companies. What we learned is that our members see us as a convener—the unifying entity best equipped to galvanize the industry around three important issues: policy, participation and sustainable business. We then identified individuals who are already working to move the needle on those issues within their respective companies. 

Jill Domain, the CEO of Bluesign, David Labistour, the CEO of MEC, and Thomas Chiu of Everest Textiles are represent links in Mountain Equipment Co-op’s sustainable supply chain. Each person and company plays a role in making sure that fabrics used for MEC’s outdoor apparel are responsibly made and procured. And it’s not always the easiest process. Listen as they get in depth about why they choose to work in sustainable businesses, and why collaboration is the key to a clean supply chain.

Want to learn more about these individuals and the work OIA is doing to foster collaboration throughout the industry and to catalyze change? Visit outdoorindustry.org/outdoorist to subscribe to our weekly newsletter and our Audio Outdoorist podcast.