The way we consume fashion is having a huge impact on our environment; but with tempting offers and the desire to keep up with the latest trends, sustainability isn’t always front of mind when it comes to our purchases.
At Timberland, we’re doing our bit by making it easier for you to make eco-conscious decisions when buying your shoes and clothing. In this article, we’ve listed eight ways that Timberland clothing is sustainable.
With our boots being a key product, we knew it was important to use these as a driver for change. In 2007, we launched the Earthkeepers boot - the most environmentally responsible boot we’d ever made. Each pair was made with a recycled plastic bottle in the lining, recycled rubber and leather tanned in ways that are less harmful to the planet.
In 2019, nearly all Timberland products are made with an element of recycled, organic or renewable (ROR) materials and we have set ourselves a goal to ensure that 100% of our footwear includes at least one component that contains ROR content by 2020.
Have a look at our new Men’s 6-inch ReBOTL™ Boots.
In 2018, 75% of the cotton we used in our clothing was sustainably
sourced. We have now pledged to ensure that 100% of the cotton we use
in our apparel will be Certified Organic, Recycled or Fairtrade; of US
origin; or sourced as Better Cotton through BCI by 2020.
Each garment in our Earthkeepers organic cotton collection has at least one component made from a supremely soft fabric blend of at least 50% organic cotton. In simple terms, this means the cotton has been grown without the use of chemicals or additives and uses eco-friendly methods and materials to create a statement when it comes to ethical fashion.
Since 2011, our policy has been to only source leather from tanneries that achieve either a silver or gold certification from the Leather Working Group. LWG certification is awarded to tanneries that demonstrate environmental best practice and performance.
In addition, we’ve banned the sourcing of hides from any country or region where we have become aware of animal husbandry or animal welfare concerns. By 2020, we aim to ensure that all leather we use is sourced from LWG silver or gold-rated tanneries.
Every year across the EU, there is over 12.2 tonnes of textile waste accumulated, with over half of this ending its life in landfill or an incinerator. Our Second Chance program offers a way for our customers to divert unwanted footwear away from landfill and do their bit for the environment in an easy and hassle-free way.
Unwanted shoes can be brought to one of our participating Timberland stores and dropped into the designated Second Chance box to be given a new lease of life through charity, Traid. As a reward for our customers, each time you donate we’ll give you a 10% off coupon for your next purchase!
At Timberland, we recognise the power and importance of trees when it comes to improving the quality of our planet and individual well-being. This is why we have committed to planting 50 million trees around the world over the next five years, in collaboration with seven global organisations, as part of our ‘Plant the Change’ campaign.
It’s not just the materials we use in our products that have an impact on how sustainable we are; we also consider the manufacturing process. At the end of 2017, our renewable energy use was 29% and by 2020, we aim to reduce our use of energy by 10%, whilst sourcing 50% of our energy from sustainable sources.
Waste reduction is becoming ever-more important with the vast amounts of textiles ending up in landfill. At Timberland, we have set ourselves a goal to aim for a 95% waste diversion rate by 2020, with the ultimate goal of generating zero waste.
We all know about the damaging effects of plastic on the environment, and particularly the devastating effect it has on marine ecosystems and marine life. PVC is a type of plastic that has been widely used for many years used due to its light-weight and durable properties. However, it is also extremely polluting.
By 2020, we have pledged to completely remove PVC and its derivatives from all of our products, in favour of other materials like water-based polymers. In 2013, 8.9% of Timberland footwear contained PVC elements, but by 2018, 97% of our footwear was PVC free.
At Timberland, we’re committed to making the planet we call home a better place through our commitment to producing sustainable and innovative products, as well as contributing to green initiatives and servicing our communities. Shop our sustainable apparel here.
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