Sven-Saw®, a small, family-owned company based in Duluth, Minnesota, has always been driven by a deep commitment to sustainability. The company, known for producing lightweight, foldable camp saws, has built its reputation on creating durable, environmentally conscious products. But in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace, sustainability isn’t just an option — it’s a necessity.

Fortunately, Sven-Saw’s key retail partner, REI Co-op, not only encourages its vendors to think holistically about reducing their environmental impact, but also provides the tools and support to make it possible. For a small company like Sven-Saw, these resources have proven invaluable.

“We’ve always strived to reduce our environmental impact, but getting our entire supply chain to adopt greener practices isn’t something we can control,” explained Linnea Swenson Tellekson, President of Sven-Saw. “Fortunately, REI has provided tools that help us measure and address our emissions, and with their encouragement, we’ve found solutions that align with our values.”

One such solution came through Green Cities Accord, a locally-based carbon offset provider. By purchasing carbon offsets verified by City Forest Credits, Sven-Saw has been able to neutralize its remaining emissions while supporting urban reforestation projects in the Twin Cities. These projects not only remove significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere but also provide numerous local benefits, such as reducing the urban heat island effect, improving air and water quality, and bringing much-needed green infrastructure to under-canopied neighborhoods.

“For us, purchasing carbon offsets was the most accessible and effective way to meet our climate goals,” Swenson Tellekson said. “We chose Green Cities Accord because their work is local, and they address both environmental and social issues close to home, which is something we care deeply about.”

From its founding in the 1960s, Sven-Saw has always been an environmentally and socially conscious company. Founder Richard Swenson — Linnea’s father — came up with the idea for the Sven-Saw during a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. He and his wife, Cecile, both grew up in the outdoors, and with their family-owned business they sought to build a product that was durable and sustainably sourced.

Sven-Saw resisted the trend of outsourcing in the 1980s and ‘90s, choosing instead to keep all of its product manufacturing local. Richard sought high-quality materials and designed the product to be tough: “Treated with some respect, it’ll last longer than the person who owns it,” he said of his invention. He also made sure all of the components were replaceable and that the materials used were 100-percent recyclable. Today, Linnea continues this legacy by sourcing replaceable, recyclable materials and introducing more eco-friendly packaging solutions.

When REI set ambitious sustainability targets for its partners, Sven-Saw saw it not as a burden but as an opportunity to further its commitment to the planet.

“I am following in the footsteps of my dad, in trying to be sustainable. That has been part of it from the very beginning,” she said.

REI plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with an intermediate goal of cutting its emissions by more than half by 2030. It releases an annual Impact Report on its progress toward achieving its climate and equity goals.

“We believe that combining direct supply chain emissions reductions with investments in high-quality carbon credits, to take responsibility for any remaining emissions, can be an effective climate strategy,” said Gillian Lui, Sustainability Manager at REI Co-op. “REI’s own carbon neutrality commitment aims to scale carbon market accessibility while delivering positive social and environmental co-benefits, and we’re proud to see brand partners like Sven-Saw pursue these outcomes alongside us.”

Through their partnership with Green Cities Accord, Sven-Saw achieved net-zero carbon emissions in 2023. Their success demonstrates that small businesses, even those with limited influence over their supply chains, can make meaningful contributions to global sustainability goals with the right support and resources.

As Sven-Saw continues its journey toward a more sustainable future, the company remains committed to exploring new ways to reduce its environmental impact, proving that small businesses can make a big difference with the right partners by their side.