Winnebago's Green Road: Report Details ESG-Driven Future for Outdoors

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN – January 13, 2026 – Winnebago Industries, a titan in the outdoor recreation market, today released its 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report, providing a detailed look into how the company is embedding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into its core strategy. The seventh annual report from the manufacturer of iconic RVs and boats outlines significant progress in sustainability, employee safety, and community investment, positioning the company not just as a product maker, but as a key architect of a more responsible outdoor future.

The comprehensive report, which covers the company’s portfolio including the Winnebago, Grand Design, Chris-Craft, and Newmar brands, underscores a philosophy that views corporate responsibility as a driver of business success. "At Winnebago Industries, we know that corporate responsibility is more than just good business. It is central to who we are and drives our long-term success," stated Stacy Bogart, general counsel and corporate responsibility lead at Winnebago Industries, in the company's announcement. This sentiment echoes throughout the report's detailed initiatives, which are aligned with rigorous global standards including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and recommendations from the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Charting a Greener Course for Recreation

At the heart of the 2025 report is a sharpened focus on environmental stewardship, a critical issue for a company whose products enable access to natural landscapes. Winnebago Industries is formalizing this commitment by establishing a new Product Sustainability Steering Committee. This body is tasked with guiding product stewardship and accelerating the integration of environmentally friendly materials and production methods across its vast manufacturing footprint.

This initiative builds on tangible environmental goals. The company highlighted continued progress toward its ambitious 2030 target of reducing freshwater consumption by 30%. While specific progress numbers for the year were not detailed in the initial release, this goal represents a significant commitment in a water-intensive manufacturing sector. This follows previous reports that noted a 10% decrease in overall water consumption from a 2020 baseline through fiscal year 2023, indicating a sustained effort.

Beyond its factory walls, Winnebago is extending its environmental ethos to its customers. A key partnership with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has resulted in first-of-their-kind stewardship principles specifically tailored for RV and boat owners. This program moves beyond generic advice, offering practical guidance on how to minimize impact, such as maintaining a 200-foot distance from water sources when camping and properly disposing of waste unique to mobile living. By empowering its user base with targeted knowledge, the company aims to foster a culture of conservation among the millions who use its products. These efforts have not gone unnoticed, contributing to Newsweek recognizing Winnebago as one of America’s Greenest Companies for 2025.

A Deepened Commitment to People and Communities

While environmental goals are prominent, the report equally emphasizes the social pillar of Winnebago’s ESG strategy, focusing on its workforce and the communities it operates in. The company reported impressive gains in workplace safety, with a 22% reduction in its total recordable incident rate (TRIR) and a 43% drop in its days away restricted or transferred (DART) rate. These figures represent an acceleration of safety improvements from the prior year, demonstrating a relentless focus on employee well-being.

The company's social impact extends far beyond its own employees. The CommunityGO program, a cornerstone of its community engagement, received Benevity’s Goodie NewB Award for its "One Good Thing" campaign. This award recognizes a transformational approach and significant impact for a new user of Benevity's corporate purpose platform. The results speak for themselves: the campaign helped generate $750,000 and logged 13,600 volunteer hours for 360 community partners.

These initiatives are part of a broader framework that prioritizes "people, inclusion and belonging" as one of the company's nine core corporate responsibility pillars. This holistic approach to social responsibility has earned the company external validation, including being named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces in Manufacturing by Newsweek. "Putting our people, our planet and our communities at the core of our operations drives our relentless pursuit of excellence," said Jil Littlejohn Bostick, vice president of corporate responsibility and inclusion. "This year’s report reflects those efforts in meaningful ways."

The Strategic Edge of Proactive Governance

Perhaps the most telling aspect of Winnebago's 2025 report is how it frames ESG not as a peripheral activity, but as a fundamental component of its long-term business strategy and risk management. The company’s decision to align its reporting with multiple demanding frameworks—GRI, TCFD, SASB, and the California Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (CCCDAA)—signals a commitment to transparency and proactive governance.

Compliance with the CCCDAA is particularly noteworthy. This landmark California legislation, which begins to take effect in 2026, mandates large companies doing business in the state to disclose their full range of greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3) and report on climate-related financial risks. By already incorporating these disclosures, Winnebago is positioning itself ahead of the regulatory curve, turning a compliance requirement into a strategic advantage and demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of the evolving business landscape.

This proactive stance sets a high bar within the outdoor recreation industry. While key competitor Thor Industries is also a leader in ESG reporting, having recently secured approval for its science-based emissions targets, Winnebago's detailed focus on water conservation and its early adoption of CCCDAA standards showcase a unique strategic path. This level of transparency stands in contrast to other players in the sector, potentially giving Winnebago an edge in attracting ESG-focused investors, environmentally conscious consumers, and top-tier talent. By weaving sustainability, safety, and community support into the fabric of its operations, Winnebago Industries is making a clear statement that its long-term growth is inextricably linked to its role as a responsible corporate citizen.