Timberland Announces Partnership with The Savory Institute as Part of Effort to Build Regenerative Leather Supply Chain for Fashion Industry

STRATHAM, N.H., May 27, 2020 /3BL Media/ - Global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland today announced a new partnership with the Savory Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on the large-scale regeneration of the world’s grasslands, as part of the brand’s long-standing commitment to build a greener future. This move augments the brand’s recently announced collaboration with Other Half Processing, which sources hides from Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed regenerative ranches.  Through these partnerships, Timberland is working to identify, aggregate, and connect early-adopter regenerative ranches with its large-scale tannery partners to help build a regenerative supply chain for the footwear and apparel industry.

“The fashion industry has a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions, and we believe it’s all of our responsibility to be a part of the solution,” said Colleen Vien, director of sustainability for Timberland. “Regenerative agriculture presents a powerful opportunity to go beyond simply minimizing our impact, to actually create value and have a net positive effect for the land and the farmers. Timberland is incredibly excited to be partnering with The Savory Institute to drive real and meaningful change.”

Ranchers and farmers who use regenerative grazing practices manage their cattle in a way that mimics the natural movement of herd animals. This grazing allows for more rest and re-growth of grasses, leading to better food for livestock and healthier soil, as these grasses pull carbon out of the atmosphere and store it in the ground. These practices also support biodiversity, and make the land more productive with greater resilience to both drought and heavy rain.

As a charitable supporter of The Savory Institute and a member of its “Land to Market Frontier Founder” corporate advisory program, Timberland will co-fund the Institute’s Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) process on all Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed ranches.  The EOV process measures the tangible regenerative benefits occurring on the land, while also providing valuable data back to farmers to improve their practices.

“The regenerative movement has largely been focused on the food industry to date, but we at Savory Institute believe there is an opportunity to simultaneously synergize with the apparel industry and open up unparalleled successes for the planet,” said Chris Kerston, Chief Commercial Officer for the Land to Market program at Savory.

“Additionally, cultivating a more complete utilization of the materials coming off regenerative farms creates mutually beneficial opportunities for the farmer, for the brand, and for the consumer. We are thrilled to be partnering with Timberland, a proven leader in this space, on their initiative to bring leather products raised on verified regenerative landscapes to the masses.”

In Fall 2020, Timberland will launch a collection of boots made using Regenerative Leather sourced from Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed ranches, with plans to scale the program significantly over time.

Timberland has long been ahead of the curve with its commitment to responsible design – beginning with the launch of its iconic Earthkeepers^® boot in 2007 which was made with recycled PET, recycled rubber, and leather from tanneries rated gold by the Leather Working Group for best environmental practices.  Timberland also made a landmark commitment in 2019 to plant 50 million trees over the next five years, in pursuit of a greener future. For more information about Timberland’s commitment to better product, stronger communities and a greener world, visit the brand’s responsibility site.

About Timberland

Founded in 1973, Timberland is a global outdoor lifestyle brand based in Stratham, New Hampshire, with international headquarters in Switzerland and Hong Kong. Best known for its original yellow boot designed for the harsh elements of New England, Timberland today offers a full range of footwear, apparel and accessories for people who value purposeful style and share the brand’s passion for enjoying – and protecting – nature.

At the heart of the Timberland^® brand is the core belief that a greener future is a better future. This comes to life through a decades-long commitment to make products responsibly, protect the outdoors, and strengthen communities around the world. To share in Timberland’s mission to step outside, work together and make it better, visit one of our stores, timberland.com or follow us @timberland. Timberland is a VF Corporation brand.

About Savory Institute

The Savory Institute, a U.S. 501(c)(3) charitable organization, facilitates large-scale regeneration of the world’s grasslands through Holistic Management. Together with Savory’s global network of Hubs, the Savory Institute equips farmers and ranchers around the world with education, training, and implementation support to achieve success within their cultural and ecological contexts. Savory Institute also removes barriers and creates enhanced conditions for large-scale progress by informing policy, engaging the marketplace, and increasing public awareness. Savory’s long-term goal is to positively influence the management of 1 billion hectares of grasslands by 2025, thereby contributing to global climate-, water- and food-security. To learn more, visit www.savory.global.

#  # #