Columbia Sportswear is setting a new standard for corporate responsibility. Columbia Sportswear Company’s 2024 Impact Report highlights significant progress across three core corporate responsibility pillars: Empowering People, Sustaining Places, and Responsible Practices. As a leader in outdoor apparel, Columbia continues to deliver measurable improvements that benefit both communities and the environment. Their approach combines ambitious sustainability goals, global partnerships, and deep employee engagement, demonstrating genuine leadership and positive change across the industry this year.
Surpassing Clean Water Goals
Columbia has gone beyond 80% of its ambitious Planet Water target, bringing clean water access to more than 100,000 people per day, a major achievement in its longstanding partnership with Planet Water Foundation. Efforts have included the construction of 26 AquaTower filtration systems in five countries, supplying safe water for up to 46,800 people, particularly in textile sourcing regions. Each AquaTower delivers up to 1,000 liters of clean water per hour, with accompanying health education to maximize community impact and long-term well-being for children, families, and workers in these critical areas.
Tim Boyle, Chairman, President, and CEO, affirmed the company’s approach:
“At Columbia Sportswear Company, we believe in making a positive impact in the communities we live, work, and recreate,” said Tim Boyle. “Guided by our value of ‘doing the right thing,’ we strive to ensure our actions benefit both people and the planet. This report highlights our work around Empowering People, Sustaining Places, and Responsible Practices.”
Volunteer Engagement and Energy Reduction
Employee involvement is a key element: in 2024, Columbia’s team contributed over 6,100 hours to community volunteering. Every full-time employee receives 16 paid volunteer hours each year for volunteer activities, along with access to a charitable giving match of up to $1,000 per employee.
Environmental progress is also clear. Columbia reduced absolute energy consumption at its Oregon distribution center and headquarters by over 900,000 kilowatt hours and 67,000 therms between 2022 and 2024. These numbers show real progress toward the company’s sustainability objective.
Mountain Hardwear Earns Recognition for Stewardship
In 2024, Mountain Hardwear was named Corporate Partner of the Year by Leave No Trace for its outstanding environmental efforts. The brand’s partnership, which began in 2023, included leading initiatives with more than 100 hours of Bay Area environmental volunteer service and participation by Mountain Hardwear athletes in Leave No Trace Ambassador roles. This collaboration has enabled both organizations to encourage more people to connect with nature and embrace responsible outdoor stewardship.
Advancing Women’s Empowerment in the Supply Chain
The 2024 Impact Report also calls attention to Columbia’s support for the RISE (Reimagining Industry to Support Equality) program. In 2024, RISE reached more than 425 workplaces, serving over 375,000 people, 65% of whom are women. The initiative’s four components are Financial Health, Respect, Foundations, and Digital Literacy, each designed to elevate women’s prospects in the global supply chain. Through workshops and collaborative sessions, women develop valuable professional skills and gain the confidence to advance their careers.
Women who participate in RISE programs report a 49% rise in self-confidence. Factories involved see positive changes too, such as a 30% drop in turnover rates and higher productivity, demonstrating the far-reaching business and social benefits of investing in women’s empowerment.
Clear and Accountable Reporting
Columbia backs its commitments by publishing a complete 2024 Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) disclosure. The new report offers a transparent look at progress and challenges for its full brand portfolio, which includes Columbia, SOREL, Mountain Hardwear, and prAna.
Columbia’s 2024 Impact Report presents the company’s evolution as a purpose-driven outdoor leader, demonstrating how strong business performance and positive social change can go hand in hand. By sharing data, setting ambitious goals, and tracking progress across brands, Columbia shows there is lasting value in responsible leadership.
