This will put pressure on Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC) in Canada, as well as other retailers around the world, to do the same.
Justin Housman, Adventure Journal:
REI just announced an ambitious new plan that will likely shape your outdoor goods retail experience in coming years.
By 2020, everything sold at REI—regardless of brand—will be held to seriously lofty sustainability standards. That bike rack you need to buy for your Subaru? It will be manufactured according to fair and safe labor practices, no matter what logo is on it. Need a new down midlayer? Responsibly sourced down will be your only option. No more sketchy flame-retardant chemicals on tents. Hydration systems completely free from BPAs. No sunscreen with reef-destroying chemicals.
If REI sells a product, they will have made sure it was made humanely, by fairly treated workers, with a minimal environmental impact. This will be true for all thousand-plus brands REI carries.