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Sustainability has always been a cornerstone of BD’s mission.
Since Doug Robinson’s visionary essay on the benefits of “Clean Climbing” published in the 1972 Chouinard Equipment product catalogue, a commitment to preserving and protecting nature has been part of Black Diamond’s identity.
“Conservation and preservation are foundational to Black Diamond. These tenets are part of the mission of BD. We will always strive to protect access to the mountains, crags and desert landscapes where we pursue our sports.“
John Walbrecht, President of Black Diamond
Mission, Vision and Values
The mission statement is based on the view that the style with which BD achieves its goals is as important as the achievement of those goals themselves, and this applies to both business and outdoor activities. For this reason, Black Diamond has paired an innovative approach to equipment manufacturing with a unique corporate philosophy – for the preservation, protection and access to the mountain, climbing crags and the great outdoors while minimising the ecological footprint.
Responsibility for our environment
Black Diamond is a founding member of the Outdoor Industry Association’s Climate Action Corps and is committed to sustainable recreation opportunities, trade policy, ethical business innovation and growing participation in outdoor activities. They use the Higg Index to quantify their carbon footprint across all areas of their business to identify where improvements can be made.
The company’s 12,000 square metre headquarters in Salt Lake City is extremely energy efficient. BD operates a photovoltaic system (2200 watts) that generates about 3000 kWh of electricity each year and meets LEED certification. Black Diamond is also a participant in the Blue Sky “Champion Level” programme and purchases 180,000 kWh of Blue Sky wind power annually.
Social responsibility
Social responsibility has always been a fundamental value and focus of Black Diamond. As a founding member of the Outdoor Industry Association “Fair Labor Working Group” in 2005, BD helped focus on the need for better education on best practices for social compliance in the outdoor industry. Black Diamond designed the OIA’s first Fair Labor Toolkit, which is used by companies throughout the outdoor industry to establish social compliance programmes.
The company carefully selects their dealers and partners and apply a strict code of conduct for trading partners. They work with their partners to continuously improve processes, apply proven standards and conduct annual audits to ensure the safety and fair treatment of all persons involved in the manufacture of Black Diamond products or otherwise working for the company.
Materials, Sourcing & Manufacturing Ethics
Producing world-class products requires outstanding design quality and an indispensable spirit of innovation. Black Diamond applies these principles to its choice of materials, manufacturing processes and environmental compliance. Black Diamond products stand for outstanding performance – but not at the expense of the natural environment in which we recreate.
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