Timberland cuts emissions by 36%
Outdoor footwear and apparel brand Timberland says it has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 36% compared with its 2006 output and is on target to achieve its aim of halving emissions by the end of the year.
The company measures the levels of greenhouse gas emissions from all of its owned and operated facilities. According to the company, the reduction was achieved mainly through renewable energy procurement at its distribution facilities, decreases in employee air travel, and increased energy efficiency at its retail locations with Timberland being the first company to achieve the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) retail certification for mall-based stores.
Timberland is also looking to address the issue of the large portion of its emissions that come from within the supply chain, which it does not directly control. These measures include using tools such as the Green Index rating system to enable product developers to choose less carbon intensive materials at the design stage of creating its products; employing factory assessors to use a carbon management toolkit to help factory management understand the sources of energy consumption and ideas for reducing it; and an analysis of transporting products from factories to distribution centres in an effort to minimise fuel costs and emissions.
"We’re pleased with our energy efficiency progress, but we still have work to do to help our employees globally make further reductions and source more renewable energy,” said Betsy Blaisdell, senior manager, environmental stewardship. “Additionally, there is a huge opportunity to make better product design decisions and engage more with our value chain to address our broader carbon footprint.”
“Timberland is committed to reducing its carbon footprint - both in our facilities and throughout the supply chain - and conducting our business in the most environmentally responsible way.”
