REI Co-op Traverse Trekking Pole Sustainability Report

Made with thick 7075 aluminum and a classic three-piece telescoping build, the REI Co-op Traverse has a long-lasting build. The fixed carbide tips can’t be swapped out easily, but you can extend their life with aftermarket rubber caps. While there’s no built-in repair tool, the metal lever locks are rugged and hold well over time.

Choosing durable outdoor gear is perhaps the most effective way to reduce environmental impact—the longer it lasts, the less it needs to be produced. Our proprietary longevity rating evaluates overall build quality based on factors such as materials, fabric denier, component durability (including zippers and toggles), real-world performance as reported by our field testers, and our experiences with the brand. Overall, we feel strongly that reducing overall consumption is a cornerstone of sustainability.

Like other trekking poles from REI, the Traverse lacks recycled materials. In 2025, REI used 54% recycled polyester and 45% recycled nylon (up from 9% and 25%, respectively, in 2020, when it first started reporting) across all REI Co-op branded products. In 2021, the company signed on to the Textile Exchange’s 2025 Recycled Polyester Challenge, which incentivizes the textile industry to use 45% recycled polyester by 2025. REI has since met and surpassed this goal. Integrating more recycled fabrics has become a significant component of the brand’s greenhouse gas reduction strategy.

Outdoor gear can be made partly or entirely from recycled materials, the most common being nylon, polyester, wool, and down. Some products include a single recycled component or a partially recycled fabric, while others are 100% recycled (generally excluding accessories like zippers, Velcro, toggles, etc.). For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate the amount of recycled materials in a particular product and assign points accordingly.

REI doesn't offer trekking pole replacement parts beyond baskets, which are not critical components compared to pole sections, tips, and clips. REI sells a range of gear repair supplies on its website, including products from partner brands and a limited selection of REI Co-op–branded parts. These supplies include repair kits, zipper pulls, gear repair tape, and replacement buckles. That said, REI doesn’t meet our criteria for replacement parts in the trekking poles category, as offerings for poles are limited.

Providing replacement parts extends a product's lifespan and eliminates the need to purchase a new one. For example, some brands offer replacement lenses for ski goggles, should they become damaged, or provide an extra clip for a trekking pole if it breaks. We scale the points received for this category based on how robust the replacement part offerings are for the product category.

The REI Co-op Traverse trekking poles are not made in a Fair Trade Certified factory. REI is a Fair Trade Certified (FTC) brand partner working with Fair Trade USA. Regardless of whether a particular product is manufactured in a Fair Trade Certified facility, Fair Trade-licensed brands receive a point in this category for all their products, as participation in the Fair Trade system positively influences a brand’s entire supply chain. Fair Trade Certification ensures that factories adhere to rigorous social and environmental standards, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and sustainable resource management. In 2025, REI paid a Fair Trade Premium of $770,000, bringing its total contributions to $3.26 million since 2016. The money goes into a fund owned by workers, who collectively choose how to use it to improve their communities.

This criterion evaluates a brand's commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing its environmental impact throughout the production process. Responsible manufacturing is most commonly demonstrated through certifications and membership in programs such as Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accreditation of Production, and the Fair Labor Association. We also recognize brands that prioritize local production, such as those that manufacture primarily in the United States or Europe, to reduce carbon emissions, maintain better oversight of working conditions, and comply with strict social and environmental regulations.

REI prioritizes paper-based packaging that is either Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified or made from post-consumer waste. In 2024 and 2025, 99% of paper used in REI Co-op product packaging was FSC-certified. The company has largely phased out plastic poly bags from its branded apparel product packaging. In 2023, REI retail locations eliminated in-store shopping bags. Lastly, REI uses the How2Recycle Label on its packaging to clearly communicate the best way to recycle its packaging.

Packaging can add significant waste to an outdoor gear purchase and often ends up in landfills. Many brands are using recycled packaging and/or making efforts to reduce packaging altogether. For example, they may use a certain percentage of recycled cardboard or make efforts to use less plastic or paper across their packaging operation. In some cases, brands also use Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, which helps to ensure sustainable sourcing of forest materials.

REI is certified under the Change Climate Project’s Climate Label (formerly Climate Neutral), a recognition awarded to companies that fund carbon reduction projects equivalent to their annual emissions. To maintain the label, companies must also set and actively pursue ambitious emissions reduction goals. By 2030, REI aims to reduce Scope 1 and 3 emissions by 47% from 2019 levels, with the long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. For the past 13 years, REI has reported zero Scope 2 emissions by purchasing renewable energy credits. In 2025, REI reduced its absolute greenhouse gas footprint by 15% compared to its 2019 baseline.

This criterion evaluates whether this brand measures its greenhouse gas emissions, along with its commitment to reduction and transparency in reporting. Typically, we require brands to follow established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. Most companies use the widely recognized scope categorization system for measuring brand emissions. Those who earn the most points in this category have emissions reduction goals verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a global organization that helps companies set greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C. To verify their goals through SBTi, companies undergo a rigorous assessment process and continual follow-up to ensure consistent progress towards achieving their targets.

REI has published an extensive and data-driven annual impact report since 2006. The report is broken up into sections covering sustainability initiatives, public policy, inclusion in the outdoors, and other relevant topics. In the sustainability section, REI addresses topics including waste management, greenhouse gas emissions, material sourcing, labor practices, and REI’s initiatives to encourage its partner brands to adopt more sustainable practices.

An impact report is an important step toward transparency and accountability on the sustainability front. These reports vary in form but generally cover topics such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions tracking, waste and water usage, supply chain analysis, and packaging efforts. For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate this criterion based on the depth and quality of the information provided in the report, and how often it is produced. Some brands produce their own impact report, while others are published by their parent company. In practice, we’ve found that reports produced by individual brands include more detailed information about their sustainability efforts.