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More companies are developing tools to assess the environmental impacts of their products 鈥� whether they are as small as Nike sneakers or as large as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-rated buildings.

Five Portland-area athletic and outdoor companies are receiving grant money to analyze the impacts that their products have on the environment. The Portland Development Commission provided $25,000 for the grant, which was matched by the Outdoor Industry Association.

Adidas, Columbia Sportswear, Icebreaker, KEEN and Korkers will participate in a pilot program that will help develop the next version of the , a tool designed to help companies in the outdoor industry assess and improve the sustainability of their products.

鈥淓very company will score itself differently; it’s not something that can be used to score one brand against another brand,鈥� said Eric Brody, who was one of the original creators of the Eco Index and will manage the Portland-based pilot.

The 鈥淎pparel Tool鈥� pilot program, running from September until January, will contribute data that will eventually be combined with Nike’s environmental impact assessments to formulate a more robust Eco Index.

Brody said he and two other sustainability consultants, Neha Patel and Pamela Brody-Heine, are still working with four of the companies to decide which areas to focus on 鈥� products and materials, packaging, or suppliers and manufacturing.

Because Adidas already has a strong internal sustainability program, it will not participate in the cohort, but it will use the grant money for a different project that involves a new apparel assessment tool.

鈥淲e wanted to make grant money as helpful to the companies as possible,鈥� said Beth Jensen, corporate responsibility manager at Outdoor Industry Association. 鈥淚deally, they will develop some learning tools that will help rest of industry, but first and foremost, the project is really meant to help drive each company toward their sustainability goals.鈥�