West Coast launches eco trainers
Calçados West Coast, one of Brazil's largest producers and exporters of footwear for the younger consumer, has launched a range of ecological trainers as part of its 2008/09 spring-summer collection.
Its Limited Sneaker Collection features leather uppers, bamboo fibre fabric linings, banana fibre detailing, biodegradable counters and toe caps, recycled rubber soles, water-based adhesives and PET fibre laces.
According to marketing manager, Sérgio Baccaro Júnior, following the '3Rs' practice (reducing, reusing and recycling) is nothing new to the company. “These ecological trainers are the natural result of a trend that was adopted by West Coast many years ago," he said. "In 2005, for example, we launched the international 'Recycle yourself' campaign. We believe that recycling is the start for change in our everyday life habits. Here, at the company, we reuse everything we can. We are always recycling ourselves.
West Coast produces approximately 2.4 million pairs per year which are sold at 7,500 outlets around the world. In 2007, turnover was approximately $86 million, and the company hopes it will increase to $188 million by 2016.
