All Timberland shoes to comply with Green Index
Outdoor footwear and apparel company Timberland says it plans to expand its Green Index label to all Timberland branded footwear. The company currently applies its Green Index rating to 14% of its footwear but it now plans to apply the rating to 100% of its footwear by the end of 2012. Besides helping footwear designers to reduce the impact of their designs, the initiative also educates consumers on the environmental impact of its products.
In addition to expanding efforts to measure and communicate the environmental impact of its products, the company is collaborating with more than 200 outdoor businesses on an industry-wide eco-indexing standard that was announced during the Outdoor Retailer Show. It is working through the Outdoor Industry Association on the development of an industry standard for product footprinting: the Eco Index.
"Individual efforts like Timberland's Green Index are good options for now, but to truly empower consumers, we knew we needed a commitment from the entire industry," said Betsy Blaisdell, senior manager of environmental stewardship for Timberland. "First-mover companies only get so far; collaboration is integral to achieving a consumer-friendly, industry-wide standard, which is why we applaud the launch of the OIA Eco Index as a positive step in the right direction."
