It supports the brand’s vision, announced last autumn, for its products to have a “net positive impact” on nature by 2030, through a commitment to regenerative agriculture and circular design.

Beginning this August in in the US, consumers will be able to return any Timberland footwear, clothing or accessories to a Timberland store, to either be refurbished for sale on a re-commerce platform, or upcycled/recycled into future products. A digital, ship-from-home option will be available later in the summer. 

The programme is slated to expand to Europe in the autumn, and Asia-Pacific in spring 2022.

Susie Mulder, brand president for Timberland, said: “This programme is a critical step towards pursuing our 100% circularity goal, while at the same time addressing the ever-increasing consumer demand for responsible design and progressive retail options.

“Timberland always builds our products for longevity. Now those products will have a second life, whether they are refurbished for resale, or disassembled and recycled into something new. Either way, the consumer and product journey goes on, and we continue to move the world forward, together.”

Timberland has also announced the Timberloop Trekker, which will be available in spring 2022 and is designed for circularity. The outsoles can be removed at the ReCircled facility and each part put into its own recycling stream.

Chris McGrath, vice-president of global footwear design for Timberland, said: “Timberland has been using recycled materials in our footwear for years, but this design innovation puts us on the path to true circularity, where nothing goes to waste. And with ReCircled, we now have the mechanism in place to close the loop.”