Timberland.jpgLocation(s)
- Climate Impact
Timberland® is passionately committed to reducing global warming and making the outdoor environment better for all of us to enjoy today and tomorrow. We promise more renewable energy, more recycled and renewable materials, less waste, less chemicals and more trees.
An Atmosphere of ChangeWe’re outdoor people. We make boots and gear and clothes. For your journey. To equip you to make your difference. So, we better make sure the trail is there to hike, the mountain to climb, the river to traverse, the landscape to inspire. Climate change is impacting the health of our ecosystems and our ability to recreate outdoors. Sadly, we contribute to this problem every time we turn on a computer or make a pair of boots. When anything puts our planet—and all who inhabit it—at risk, we act.
We are making it betterIn 2004, we initiated drastic energy-efficiency improvements that led to energy and emissions savings of over 40% at our largest facilities. We also started investing in renewable energy. In 2006, solar energy began powering our Ontario (California) Distribution Center. Ontario now features one of the world’s 50 largest solar arrays, generating approximately 60% of the facility’s energy needs. This is Timberland’s third facility to utilize clean energy sources, significantly decreasing our reliance on fossil fuels and emission of greenhouse gases.
We are also minimizing our carbon footprint by planting trees. If you shop at our Regent Street store in London and purchase a pair of boots, we will plant a tree for you at the forest of Marston Vale. By 2010, through our partnership with GreenNet (we will plant over one million trees in Mongolia’s Horquin Dessert.) This project has the potential to save close to a half-million tons of carbon emissions over the life of the forest. At the same time, we will improve air quality for all of the region’s inhabitants by reducing sand clouds that travel over Chinese cities.
Carbon neutral by 2010 is a big goal. But we have an aggressive plan in place and the wisdom of partners like Clean Air-Cool Planet (CACP) and The Climate Group to lead the way. You can track how just how well we are doing by the nutritional labels found on our new footwear boxes—made, of course, with 100% post-consumer recycled paper and soy-based inks.
The labels provide accurate and transparent measures of impact and they inform consumer choice, stakeholder analysis and industry-collaboration. And every day, the challenge of improving their scores inspires our team to do better.
- Chemicals Used
In 2006, we used environmentally superior adhesives in more than 8 million pairs of footwear and saved over 160 tons of solvents.
We have volunteered to eliminate the PVC
from product where suitable alternatives are available by 2008.Inspired by the leadership of the Organic Exchange , we’ve committed to increase our organic consumption to a minimum of 10% by 2010.
Timberland launched a multi-brand environmental audit for tanneries in 2006.
Chemistry 101
Harmful chemicals are used to manufacture many of the products that we use every day. Something about that strikes us as profoundly wrong. So we dig deep to ensure that we are doing all that we can. Sometimes we find that such chemicals show up as part of our supply chain network—like at a facility of one of our vendors' suppliers. These facilities might be a few degrees removed from our design centers, but we're every bit as committed to making a difference there as we are within our own four walls.A Better Bond
We've started to reduce our chemical use by minimizing the solvents needed to assemble our footwear. On the design floor we pick materials that are compatible with water-based glues. On the factory floor our chemist, Albert, helps assembly lines convert from solvent-based processes to environmentally superior alternatives. So far, so good. By using these water-based adhesive, our suppliers reduced solvent use by 60% for some styles. In many cases, these new adhesives have actually improved product performance, allowing us to increase our stringent standards for bond strength between the soles and uppers of our shoes. In 2006, we used environmentally superior adhesives in more than 8 million pairs of footwear and saved over 160 tons of solvents.We’ve also made strides to eliminate PVC. This plastic, found in abundance in every industry from construction to footwear and apparel, is linked to both human and environmental health issues. Timberland has volunteered to eliminate the PVC from product where suitable alternatives are available by 2008.
Leather Tanning
Believe it or not, leather has the largest environmental impact of any material we source. Given its importance to our heritage and to our products, we have invested significant time and resources to identify ways to improve our tanneries. Working with life cycle analysis and leather experts we’ve learned that the best way to minimize chemical use in the tanning industry is to source from the best managed facilities. That led us to help launch a multi-brand environmental audit for tanneries in 2006. This peer-reviewed, multi-brand assessment provides a clear and consistent basis for evaluating the environmental performance of tanneries. And, it has become common currency for brands seeking accurate measures of their tannery partners’ environmental footprint. Through brand collaboration and partnership with the leather industry, tanneries save on reporting requirements and gain a marketing tool for their environmental improvements. And we are able to further the pace and scale of sustainability initiatives across our supply chain.Going Organic
We want to be sure that our values are evident from head to toe. In apparel, we’re expanding the use of organic cotton across our product line to reduce our dependence on conventional cotton. It’s grown with chemical pesticides and fertilizers—putting farm workers, land, and water supplies at risk. By contrast, organic cotton is grown without harmful chemicals. Healthy workers, healthy planet. And clothing that feels good, looks good and is good.Over the past few years, we converted over 5% of our overall cotton purchases and 100% of our promotional t-shirts to organic cotton. Inspired by the leadership of the Organic Exchange , we’ve committed to increase our organic consumption to a minimum of 10% by 2010. That’s over 1 million pounds of cotton.
Working with farmers and other brands to forecast long-term demand for organic crops is important. Organic cotton is in great demand these days. Many major manufacturers and retail companies are going green. That’s good for the planet but it presents challenges as we strive to increase our use of organic cotton. We are grateful for the folks at The Organic Exchange who are helping farmers transition to organic farming practices. They are building capabilities, generating jobs and supporting growth in the organic cotton industry. And they are helping us to reach our ultimate goal of sourcing 100% organic cotton.
Resource Consumption
Earthkeepers™ is a line of premium Timberland® footwear and apparel product that reflects our commitment to “Make it better”. Beginning in 2008, Timberland® product with the Earthkeepers™ label must meet design criteria around recycled, organic and renewable material content, solvent-free adhesives and reduced climate impact.Our Mountain Sneaker utilizes earth-conscious materials and construction methods. It includes:Smartwool® fabric lining made from sustainable, biodegradable merino wool. Organically tanned, premium full grain leather and fast-growing hemp.
Vibram® EcoStep® outsole made with 30% recycled rubber.The Materials We Use
Natural resources like rubber, cotton, leather, wool and a variety of forest goods are found in our products, packaging, and facilities. We believe that the sustainable use of these resources is imperative for life on our planet. Reduce, Reuse, RecycleThe old adage "reduce, reuse, recycle" is like a melody when we package Timberland® products. Our new footwear packaging uses minimal inks that are all soy-based and is made from 100% post-consumer recycled content cardboard. The distinctive packaging carries a nutritional label that describes Timberland's environmental and community footprint.
Open the box and you’re likely to find shoes that contain recycled, renewable, and organic materials. Almost 80% of our footwear styles feature some recycled content now. Whether it be outsoles that contain 30% recycled rubber, hemp uppers, recycled shoe laces, or the hidden structural parts of your shoe, our teams of designers, product developers and manufactures re-imagine and innovate ways to create environmentally-conscious footwear. Footwear that performs and reflects our values. Environmental Store Design
When we welcome you into our “space”—our stores around the world—we want to share our passion for the community and our environment. We want you to discover what we have in common.
What we sell and what we say is important. How we create that space is too. Our newest retail store design puts our environmental commitment into action. Where you walk, what you touch, how the lighting showcases our product, all reflects our heritage of environmental stewardship:
- Wood floors and cash register wraps made from
reclaimed lumber - Wall fixtures made from recycled fiber
- Wall paints and floor finishes with very low or no volatile organic compound content
- Energy-efficient light fixtures
- Glass, an abundantly available material
These lessons inspire innovation in other venues, including our tradeshow booths. A recent project utilized 98% reused, recycled and renewable materials and did not require any containers to ship. Assembled from old ocean shipping containers, the booth literally packs into itself.
Other initiatives to improve the sustainability of our natural resources include:
- Footwear: We have launched factory-based initiatives to recycle cutting scraps. Through the Soles4Souls charity, our US footwear sales samples are donated to people in need of footwear—in the United States and in developing nations.
- Forest Products: Timberland has implemented a global forest product procurement policy that outlines our goals for reducing our consumption of forest products and increasing our use of post-consumer recycled and Forestry Stewardship Council fiber to 100%.
- Facilities: Education, communication, improved collection and infrastructure are increasing our material use-reduction and recycling rates in corporate properties worldwide.
- Wood floors and cash register wraps made from
