Guest Post: Timberland Explores Sustainable Raw Material Sources In South Africa
By: Allison Spahr, Director of Material Development, Timberland
At Timberland, our focus on sourcing the best, most responsible materials goes hand in hand with our drive to build stylish, durable products for The Modern Trail. We constantly search for materials that allow us to minimize our environmental footprint; as director of material development, I’m tasked with finding new sources for sustainable raw materials.
On May 1, 2017, I embarked on a 10-day journey to South Africa as part of a Land-Based Sustainable Raw Materials Tour, organized by OrganiMark and Textile Exchange. There were 18 of us on the trip, including sourcing professionals from Target and Kering, a consultant from Anthesis, members of Textile Exchange, OrganiMark, Change Agency, and a film crew.
On the trip, we connected with tanneries, spinners, manufacturers and suppliers of raw materials and textiles from South Africa. As we met the various suppliers, our conversations focused on development, standards, and applications in a sustainable supply chain, and the academic and industrial research involving the different regions of South Africa.
Our Itinerary
After flying from locations all over the world into Johannesburg, our group’s adventure began with a lecture on exotic leather production at the University of Pretoria, followed by a visit to Cotton South Africa’s (Cotton SA) laboratory and testing facility. Other stops on our journey included the vast Loskop Cotton Farm and Gin in Marble Hall, the Prilla Cotton Spinning Mill in Pietermaritzburg, and the BKB Wool and Mohair Auction House in Port Elizabeth. We rounded out the trip with visits to a tannery in Cape Town and a towel manufacturer in Somerset West.
Farm to Table – Why Not Farm to Retail?
The increased popularity of farm-to-table restaurants in the U.S. indicates growing consumer interest in understanding the sources of their food. Similarly, consumers are also now more likely to question where, how and by whom their apparel is made, from raw material through every stage of production.
At the Loskop Cotton Farm, we saw huge bales of freshly picked cotton, each marked with its own barcode. This barcode follows the cotton from the farm all the way to the finished product. Imagine a day when finished goods at retail stores have a QR code that consumers can scan with their smart phone and see the entire supply chain: from the cotton farm, to the spinning mill, the weaving facility, cut and sew operations, all the way through packing and distribution.
Why South Africa – Why Now?
The farms, mills and tanneries we visited all employ sustainable farming and manufacturing practices. South Africa is an untapped resource for high-quality sustainable raw materials Timberland would be proud to use in our footwear and apparel, while also putting South Africa on the map as a leader in environmentally responsible practices.
I’m continually proud and thankful to be part of a company that values not only the products they make, but also how those products are made and at what impact to the environment. I was honored to join this venture and connect with suppliers in South Africa who aim to provide responsible raw materials to brands that care. South Africa is a country with much potential and I’m excited to follow the development of this new source of responsible raw materials for Timberland and other brands as well.
About the author:
Allison Spahr is the director of material development for global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland, headquartered in Stratham, New Hampshire. She has over thirty years of experience in the textile, apparel and footwear industry.
