Employees at Ruffwear in Bend spend their days creating and marketing performance products to enhance and inspire outdoor adventures for dogs and their human companions. So it makes sense that the company’s culture includes ways to keep the environment clean. As part of its focus on sustainable practices, Ruffwear incorporates, and matches, rewards offered by Commute Options for employees using active transportation and other creative options
for commuting.
As Commute Options Partners, Ruffwear employees are eligible to receive rewards for using and tracking trips made by options. For every 45 trips saved by choosing a travel mode other than driving alone, employees of receive a $25 gift certificate to the local company of their choice, including Grocery Outlet, The Shops at the Old Mill District, Bend Brewing Company, FootZone, Hutch’s Bicycles, The Pine Tavern, Nashelle Jewelry and Strictly Organic Coffee.
Ruffwear goes one step further with these rewards, said Lauren Buccola, office manager for Ruffwear. For the past three years, the company has challenged employees further by matching Commute Options rewards with an addition to the employee’s paycheck for the dollar amount of rewards earned that month.
“One of our key values is sustainability,” said Buccola, “And offering these incentives is a part of that.” In addition to Ruffwear’s environmentally-thoughtful building design and strict recycling practices, the company even tries to reduce vehicle travel between its main office in NorthWest Crossing and its warehouse on Bend’s eastside with carpooling and by using Skype technology for meetings.
As a result of its efforts, Ruffwear was named to Outside magazine’s third annual “Best Places to Work” list in April 2010 and was recognized as a “100 Best Green Companies to Work For in Oregon” in June 2009.
Ruffwear also supports local non-profits that support conservation of outdoor space, said Buccola. As part of efforts to preserve open lands and waterways, provide important habitat for wildlife and recreational opportunities for humans and canines, Ruffwear partners with The Conservation Alliance, Deschutes Land Trust, Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA) and DogPAC.
“Companies like Ruffwear are great examples of how businesses can promote sustainable lifestyles and environments while creating jobs and earning profits at the same time,” said Jeff Monson, executive director of Commute Options.
More than half of Ruffwear’s 25 employees use, and track, their commute trips through the rewards program. Some employees live close to their workplace (several in NorthWest Crossing), but other newer employees live as far away as Sisters and Prineville. Biking or walking to work may not be viable for these employees, said Buccola, so they are looking into carpool options instead.
Buccola initiated the company’s partnership with Commute Options in 2006 in order to challenge herself, as well as others, to use transportation options. “We’re a pretty competitive bunch,” said Buccola, “So we enjoy competing against each other in the rewards program and against other companies during Commute Options Week.”
“It’s a great thing that you can do for the environment,” said Buccola. “Plus, riding your bike or walking to work is a great way to start your day.”
Commute Options promotes choices that reduce the impacts of driving alone. For more information about Commute Options, contact Jeff Monson, Executive Director of Commute Options at 541/330-2647 or visit www.commuteoptions.org.
Annissa Anderson is a freelance writer and PR consultant in Bend.
