Timberland to use 50% renewable, recycled or organic materials by 2015
US-based footwear and outdoor company Timberland, which was recently acquired by VF Corporation, has set its most ambitious goals yet for its corporate social responsibility program benchmarks.
In announcing its goals and a new communications portal to create stronger dialogue with stakeholders, partners and consumers, Timberland says this latest step in its CSR practices will influence not only how the company does business but the global economic structure as well.
“We want to be proof positive in terms of the change we seek to influence through our business. Our updated goals now reflect this approach — and engaging employees and communities in this work is a critical part of our objectives,” said Mark Newton, vice president of CSR for Timberland. “Our climate goal, in particular, is framed in a way that is ambitious, meaningful to consumers, and closely linked to our goal of becoming the number one outdoor brand.”
Timberland's official CSR emphasis goes back to 2000. Beth Holzman, manager of CSR strategy and reporting for Timberland, said the new goals are intended to push the company even further in reducing its carbon footprint, boosting renewable energy use and increasing the integration of recycled, organic or renewable materials for its apparel lines.
“Our overall transparency and accountability are more sophisticated now,” Ms Holzman said. “We want to get feedback from stakeholders and consumers because it drives us to innovate even more.”
Ms Holzman said this can affect everything from how a company store is designed, where to purchase and encourage development of renewable energy and how its products are made to decrease carbon footprint and chemical waste.
“Our ultimate goal isn't just to innovate for the company but to get the entire industry on board,” she said.
Timberland's CSR goals have four components — climate, product, factories and service — and Ms Holzman said consumers, stakeholders and partners will be able to use the new communications portal as the next step from a former paper report. Timberland plans to increase the percentage of renewable, organic and/or recycled materials used in its products to more than 50% by 2015, which is more than double its current use. Timberland also wants to more than double renewable energy use to 30%, also by 2015.
