environment variables no-user / pre-profile

[Jan Mechtel]

I have to set a environment variable to be used by a root who does not
load the user profile, so I would like to set a environment variable
before and profile is loaded?

Can somebody give me hints how to find out how this works in Redhat 7.3

(the context is that I need to change the COLUMNS to 300 in order not
to truncate the standard output when redirected)

thanks in advance

Jan