Eco Index
The Outdoor Industry Association Eco Index™ is a ground-breaking environmental assessment tool that was designed to advance sustainability practices within the outdoor industry. It was the first tool of its kind to provide companies throughout the supply chain a way to benchmark and measure their environmental footprint, allowing them to identify areas for improvement and make informed sourcing and product life cycle decisions. All original Eco Index information, including reference documents, tools, and history of the project, can be found on the Eco Index beta website: www.ecoindexbeta.org.
In collaboration with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, the second version of the OIA Eco Index - called the "Apparel Tool" - has now been developed. The Apparel Tool uses the OIA Eco Index framework and original content (piloted in Fall 2010) as its foundation, while also incorporating Nike’s Materials Sustainability Index data - providing the functionality for product designers and developers to begin making data-driven materials sourcing choices to reduce environmental impact.
The other major structural change from the original OIA Eco Index content to the new Apparel Tool is its segmentation into three distinct content modules: facilities indicators, product indicators, and brand-level indicators. This layout will prevent repetition and streamline the process of using the Index. For example, each brand needs only to complete the brand-level questions once, and they will carry through to all of the products being assessed.
All OIA members are encouraged to pilot test the version one Apparel Tool / version two Eco Index.
Click here to access the v1 Apparel Tool / v2 Eco Index.
Future versions of the Index are now being developed specifically for Footwear and Equipment. Please contact Beth Jensen if you would like to participate in either of these subgroups or have any questions about the Apparel Tool.
Original OIA Eco Index Guiding Principles
Collaboration. The Eco Index is the result of thousands of hours of work by more than 100 companies in the outdoor industry.
Open-Source Information. The Eco Index is completely open-source and available for use by all companies, reflecting the outdoor industry’s belief that true transparency is essential to “move the needle” on sustainability.
Transparency. It is critical that all outdoor industry stakeholders are able to view, understand and provide input into the ongoing development of the Eco Index.
Scalability. While the Eco Index is rooted in the outdoor industry, it has the ability to be applied within other industries and sectors.
Global Reach. Outdoor Industry Association is partnering with the European Outdoor Group on the Eco Index initiative to ensure a common worldwide sustainability tool for the outdoor industry.
The OIA Eco Index and Apparel Index are projects of the OIA Sustainability Working Group, a collaborative of over 100 leading outdoor businesses working together to develop cutting-edge tools and resources to advance sustainable business practices within the outdoor industry.
