2023 Sustainability Report - Text Only

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RepYourWater 2023 Sustainability Report (text only)

 

A Message from our Co-Founders

Our sustainability journey began in 2011 when we designed our first hat and decided to donate a percentage of sales back to Colorado Trout Unlimited. Since then, we have taken many steps to measure and improve our sustainability performance, such as assessing our business from a sustainability perspective, developing and executing a sustainability strategy, and producing an annual sustainability report. By asking ourselves hard questions about our business, we have made many improvements from a social and environmental perspective. We continue to be aware that sustainability is not a destination and something we will always be working on.

We are proud of how far we have come and we hope you continue to follow us on our sustainability journey. We are truly grateful for your continued support and we look forward to giving back to environmental nonprofits.  We will continue to be a zero-waste operation and look for ways to improve our products and packaging. Finally, we will remain a carbon neutral company and find ways to reduce and offset our carbon footprint through our Climate Neutral Certification. This report includes details on what these achievements actually mean and more details as to why they are important.  We see one of our roles in the fly fishing and outdoor industry as being leaders in sustainability even with a small team and limited controllable factors.  We appreciate your support that helps make these efforts possible.

-Corinne and Garrison Doctor

Who We Are

RepYourWater is a design-driven apparel brand dedicated to providing top quality gear for anglers, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts while inspiring exploration in the outdoors and conserving the resources we are privileged to use.

RepYourWater is a small but mighty team and a proud Colorado company that was co-founded by Corinne and Garrison Doctor in 2011. Garrison is our resident designer who uses his skills in fine art to create our signature designs and Corinne wears all the hats that small businesses require, such as operations and finances. Along with co-founders Corinne and Garrison, the 2023 RepYourWater team also included two other full time employees, who together care deeply about our impact on the planet. We hope that the choices we make as a business including sharing our sustainability journey transparently in this report will encourage more business and individuals to work to solve the climate crisis.

While this is the 2023 annual report, the RepYourWater team is excited to share that in February of 2024, RepYourWater joined North Point Brands, a similarly conservation-minded platform of brands that now includes Cheeky Fishing, RepYourWater, RepYourWild, and Wingo Outdoors. With a larger organization and staff that also shares the ethos of doing better by our planet, we look forward to continue to make positive change with even more energy and enthusiasm behind the brand.

Memberships, Certifications and Labels

Memberships

American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA)

The American Fly Fishing Trade Association’s mission is to guide the sustainable growth of the fly fishing industry through Trade Development and Stewardship. Corinne Doctor has servds as the Chair of the AFFTA Board

Fly Fishing Climate Alliance (FFCA)

The Fly Fishing Climate Alliance is an alliance of fly fishing guides, shops, lodges, brands and nonprofits committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. RepYourWater is a founding member of FFCA and we are actively working to reduce our Scope 1 & 2 greenhouse[1] gas emissions 50% by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

Trout Unlimited Business Gold Level

TU Business Gold Level companies work tirelessly to share their passion for fishing and conservation with anglers across the country and around the world. Whether you’re looking for a guide on a blue-ribbon stream or friendly conversation while grabbing a few flies to match the evening hatch, you can support conservation efforts by supporting businesses who do the same. We are proud to be able to support TU in conserving, protecting and restoring North America's cold water fisheries and their watersheds for future generations.

The Conservation Alliance

The Conservation Alliance was founded in 1989 by industry leaders Kelty, Patagonia, REI, and The North Face to increase the outdoor industry’s support for conservation efforts. They believe that cooperation among businesses is the most effective way to make the biggest impact.

RepYourWater was the first fly fishing specific company to join TCA leading the way for other in the industry to join and donate.  Because of the generous support of the 270 member companies from outdoor and related industries, TCA has contributed over $32.6 million to grassroots conservation groups, which has helped protect more than 96 million acres of wildlands, protected 4,570 miles of rivers, stopped or removed 38 dams, designated five marine reserves, and purchased 22 climbing areas.

 

 

Certifications

At RepYourWater we seek certification to verify our sustainability efforts in order to not only give consumers and retailers confidence that our efforts are validated by a third party, but also so we can learn from experts how to be even better.

Climate Neutral Certified

Climate Neutral Certified, operated by The Climate Neutral Project is the standard for companies to reduce and offset their carbon emissions RepYourWater has been Climate Neutral Certified since 2020, and are proud to continue to measure our Scope 1, 2 & 3[2] GHG emissions, reduce our emissions and purchase carbon offsets for 100% of our greenhouse gas emissions. We believe it's time for companies and consumers to lead and make climate change solutions happen at a global scale.

1% for the Planet

In 2002, Patagonia founder, Yvon Chouinard, and Blue Ribbon Flies founder, Craig Matthews, combined their love of fly fishing and the outdoors into a global cause that has amassed an incredible following of over 5,000 members. 1% for the Planet connects companies that are interested in giving back with environmental partners that best match the companies ethos. RepYourWater commits 1% of our revenues annually to Conservation Partners who are also vetted by 1% for the Planet every year and will continue to do so to ensure the causes that impact RepYourWater are prioritized.

 

 

Sustainable Practices Zero Waste

Emerger Strategies is a sustainable business consultancy whose mission is to measure and improve its client’s sustainability performance, help emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions and tell a compelling story through transparent reporting. RepYourWater has been working with Emerger Strategies since 2016, and is proud to be a Zero Waste operation since 2017, which means we have diverted over 90% of our operation’s waste from the landfill through recycling, composting and product donations.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

We hope to leave the planet better than we found it, which is why we have aligned our business with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The U.N. SDGs are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. We contribute to all 17 U.N. SDGs in some way, but there are six goals that are particularly material to our business, so here are how we contribute the most to the U.N. SDGs:

 

 

  1. Good Health & Well Being- Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
    • Through our company governance, paying our employees a living wage, and our health and safety policies, we contribute to good health & well-being. We also encourage RepYouWater staff to fish often. Fishing requires hiking, wading, and floating in the outdoors unplugged from electronics. Studies have shown that these activities contribute to positive overall mental health
  2. Gender Equality- Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
    • By being a 50% woman-owned company and ensuring that equity-seeking populations are in senior management, we contribute to gender equality.
  3. Decent Work & Economic Growth- Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
    • We contribute to decent work and economic growth by paying employees a living wage and through our employment terms, but also ensuring that the people who make our products are treated ethically and fairly.
  4. Responsible Consumption & Production- Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
    • Through our sustainable procurement policies, Climate Neutral Certification and Zero Waste operations, we are contributing to responsible consumption and production. We have some of the most sustainable packaging options in the industry.
  5. Climate Action- Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
    • By actively working to reduce our carbon footprint and achieving Climate Neutral Certification, we are taking strong climate action. In 2023 we had an 8% reduction in our carbon emissions when accounting for changes in company size.
  6. Life Below Water- Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
    • Fly fishing is a water-based activity and therefore many of our nonprofit conservation partners contribute to conserving freshwater and marine resources.  

Our Sustainability Journey

We have been on a sustainability journey since our inception in 2011 and we are proud of the accomplishments we have made along the way. Here are some of the highlights:

2011:

  • RepYourWater is founded by Corinne and Garrison Doctor and the decision to donate a percentage of sales to Colorado Trout Unlimited is made.

2016:

  • Emerger Strategies conducted first Sustainability Assessment and established 2020 Sustainability Goals:
    • Carbon Neutral
    • Zero Waste
    • $250K Donations
    • Volunteer 200 hours

2017:

  • RepYourWater Achieves Zero Waste Operations
  • Produced 1st Annual Sustainability Report for stakeholders

2018:

  • RepYourWater Continues to Achieve Zero Waste Operations
  • Achieved $100K in lifetime donations to conservation partners
  • 100 volunteer hours

2019:

  • RepYourWater Continues to Achieve Zero Waste Operations
  • Achieved $160K in lifetime donations to conservation partners
  • 160 volunteer hours
  • Introduced Organic Cotton & Ethically Sourced Flannels

2020:

  • RepYourWater Continues to Achieve Zero Waste Operations
  • Achieved $250K in lifetime donations to conservation partners and purchases of carbon offsets
  • Achieved 200 volunteer hours
  • Measured Scope 1, 2 & 3 greenhouse gas emissions and achieved Carbon Neutrality

2021:

  • RepYourWater Continues to Achieve Zero Waste Operations
  • Achieved $291K in lifetime donations
  • 280 volunteer hours
  • Climate Neutral Certified for Scope 1, 2 & 3 GHG emissions

2022:

  • RepYourWater Continues to Achieve Zero Waste Operations
  • Achieved $353K in lifetime donations to conservation partners and purchases of carbon offsets
  • 370 lifetime volunteer hours
  • Climate Neutral Certified for Scope 1, 2 & 3 GHG emissions
  • Established product and packaging sustainability goals

2023:

  • RepYourWater Continues to Achieve Zero Waste Operations
  • Achieved $390K in lifetime donations to conservation partners and purchases of carbon offsets
  • 451 lifetime volunteer hours
  • Climate Neutral Certified for Scope 1, 2 & 3 GHG emissions
  • Completed the goal of all product packaging being from recycled or recyclable materials
  • Set product sustainability goals to achieve by end of 2025

 

2023 Environmental & Social Impact

We at RepYourWater have been measuring our environmental and social impact since 2016, as well as its effects on the economic bottom line. Measuring the social, environmental, and economic bottom lines is also known as the triple bottom line, or people, planet, profit. When we started our sustainability journey, we focused on our own operations in Colorado, but as we have evolved, we have expanded into looking at the impact of our products and supply chain. Some of our favorite highlights from 2023 are: reducing our carbon footprint by 8% even when accounting for operational size changes, achieving our goal of having all product packaging be recycled or recyclable materials, maintaining Zero Waste operations; maintaining Climate Neutral Certification, volunteering for our local chapter of Trout Unlimited, AFFTA and AFFTA Fisheries Fund; and continuing to donate a percentage of sales to our nonprofit conservation partners.

 

2023 Sustainability Facts

Governance Impact:

  • Equity-Seeking Populations are represented in 50% of ownership of RepYourWater
  • Equity-Seeking Populations are represented in at least 50% of Senior Management Positions.
  • Sustainability is embedded in 100% of Policies, Practices, Processes and Systems
  • 100% of all Public Reporting contains environmental and Social performance results.

Environmental Impact:

  • Carbon Footprint: GHG Emissions
    • Scope 1- 0.65 mtCO2e
    • Scope 2- 89 mtCO2e
    • Scope 3- 183 mtCO2e
    • 100% of GHG emissions were offset with the purchase of high-quality offsets that qualify for the Climate Neutral Certified Standard
  • Energy
    • Natural Gas (Heating)- 902 Therms
    • Purchased Electricity- 6163 kWh
  • Waste
    • Waste sent to Landfill- 171 lbs.
    • Waste Recycled- 38 lbs.
    • Waste donated or repurposed - 67.4
    • Waste Composted- 08 lbs.
    • Percentage Diverted from Landfill- 938%
  • Water
    • Purchased Water- as we have a shared building and water is included in our lease agreement, we are not able to properly measure our water use but it is minimal and just drinking and restroom water use

Social Impact:

  • 100% of employees are paid at least a living wage
  • Zero workplace Health and Safety issues in 2023
  • Volunteered 81 hours in the community
  • $21,727 in cash donated to environmental nonprofits
  • $15,502 in monetary support for carbon offset projects
  • $24,272 worth of in-kind donations to environmental nonprofits

 

Social Impact: People

There are a variety of ways to measure social impact, but we measure and report on the fact that we pay our employees a living wage, ensure their health & safety, demonstrate how much we volunteer for nonprofits like Colorado Trout Unlimited, Casting for Recovery, and the AFFTA Fisheries Fund and how much we give back through monetary donations.

We are proud to pay our employees a living wage, which is more than just minimum wage, it is “a socially acceptable level of income that provides adequate coverage for basic necessities such as food, shelter, child services, and healthcare[3].” We are also proud to report that there were zero health & safety incidents in 2023.

Environmental Impact: Planet

We know that every product that we make has an environmental impact, but we try our best to minimize our environmental footprint. We are proud to have maintained both Zero Waste operations and our Climate Neutral Certification across our Scope 1, 2 & 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For those who might be unfamiliar with greenhouse gas accounting, we are measuring the GHG emissions from heating (Scope 1) our HQ, from purchased electricity (Scope 2) for our HQ and from our upstream supply chain (Scope 3) Additionally, here are some of the ways we are working to reduce our GHG emissions:

  • We intend to reduce our carbon footprint by transitioning 25% of the material used in our wearable product lines to include recycled content. As of June 2023, we have achieved this for 8% of our current product line. Although we have faced a few challenges with sustainable material suppliers, we are working hard to reach our 2024 goals.
  • A goal from 2022 was to reduce emissions associated with our packaging. We achieved this far before our 2024 deadline. As of mid-2023 100% of our packaging is either be made from recycled material, is recyclable or in many cases, both. 

Because climate change is a major threat to our planet, our fisheries, and our business, we will always look for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, regardless of organizational growth. In the meantime, we are also purchasing carbon offsets for our Scope 1, 2 & 3 GHG emissions, which is the criteria for achieving Climate Neutral Certification.

For those who may be unfamiliar with Zero Waste, the Zero Waste International Alliance defines Zero Waste as “designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them. Implementing zero waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal, or plant health.” To achieve zero waste, a company must achieve 90% or greater overall diversion from landfill, incineration (WTE), and the environment for solid, non-hazardous wastes for the most recent 12 months. Diverted materials are reduced, reused, recycled, composted and/or recovered for productive use in nature or the economy. RepYourWater has successfully diverted over 90% of its waste since 2017 and is therefore a Zero Waste operation.

We are passionate conservationists, and we consider the environmental impact of every business decision we make. We are not perfect, but believe that what our planet needs right now is lots of businesses making better decisions every year and taking the environment into account with every business decision .

 

Economic Impact: Profit

Although we are a small company, we punch well above our weight in terms of our impact on people and the planet., Because of our loyal customers, we are able to be profitable while maintaining a high level of sustainability. In the spirit of being an industry-leading example that sustainability and commerce can be great partners, we would like to share impact this journey has had on our business.  

Since we started our sustainability journey in 2016, we also began measuring our customer loyalty.  We can review customer loyalty in two different ways: the percentage of total orders on our website that are from repeat customers and the percentage of annual revenue on our website that is from repeat customers.  In 2023, just as in years past, we saw incredible increases in these categories.  We had a 16.9% increase in the annual number of orders that come from our loyal, repeat customers in the 7 year period.  Additionally, we had a 19.6% increase in the annual amount of revenue from those same loyal customers in the 7 year period.

Sustainability Goals

As we look towards the future and our mid- to long-term sustainability goals, we will continue down our carbon neutral and zero waste path and begin to focus on improving the social and environmental performance of our products. We are not perfect, but we will continue to strive to protect what we love by using our business as one way to solve the climate crisis. Here are our mid-term and long-term Sustainability Goals:

Environmental:

  • Transitioning 25% of the material used in wearable product lines to include recycled content by EOY 2024. (As of June 2023, this includes 13% of our current products)
  • Commit to continue use 100% recycled or recyclable packaging for all products
  • Commit to reducing our Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions by 50% from 2016 baseline by 2030.

Social:

  • Donate $500K to our nonprofit conservation partners by 2025
  • Volunteer 500 hours to nonprofits with a positive impact on people or our planet by 2025

 

Carbon Offset Stories

We have to choose projects to financially support each year through the Change Climate “Climate Neutral Certification Standard.” This ensures that the carbon credits being purchased are being properly vetted and verified by third parties.  The full details of the process for this certification through carbon offset purchases can be found at changeclimate.org/standards.  Below we wanted to share some of the projects that we supported for our 2023 offsets:

  1. The Rochelle Municipal Landfill project destroys methane produced from a landfill in Illinois and uses it to create up to 4800kW of electricity to the local power grid. There are not a lot of projects of this caliber available in the Climate Neutral certification portfolio in the United States.  Since our operation is based in the US, supporting projects like this in the country where we principally operate is important to us. 
  2. The Hudson Tech HFC Reclamation project is charged with avoiding virgin HFC production and HFC recapture. HFC is a coolant used in many refrigerants that when released into the atmosphere are more damaging than the equivalent amount of CO2. This project helps to prevent this damage to the atmosphere.
  3. The Envira Amazonia project exists to protect 39,000 hectares of tropical rainforest in Brazil where deforestation is occurring at a rapid rate. By preventing this deforestation, we assure that more virgin rainforest will remain, which is a valuable carbon sink.
  4. The Indian Bundled Wind Power Project has two different sites, both of which feed into the Indian electricity grid and help to displace thermal power generation. Not only is India a large contributor to overall energy use in the world, but we also product products in India, so it is a great fit for us to contribute to green energy production in India.

We look forward to continuing to measure the success of our business in large part by how much we can give back and by reducing our carbon footprint, while improving the livelihoods of the people who are making our products. Thank you for your support as we work to protect what we love!

 

 

 

[1] Scope 1 is defined as direct emissions that a company controls and Scope 2 is defined as purchased electricity for company use

[2] Scope 3 is defined as indirect emissions from the company’s activities that are not controlled by the company

[3]As defined by Investopedia.com