Archive for June, 2012
The Wonderful World of Wanderlust
Last weekend, several lucky members of the Timberland team headed to Stratton Mountain in Vermont to see what Wanderlust 2012 is all about. When we weren’t fine-tuning our yoga poses with renown instructors like Seane Corn, we enjoyed beautiful, inspiring hikes with Timberland guides, listened to incredible live music from performers like Ani DiFranco and MC Yogi and indulged in some of the best-tasting healthy food around, thanks to folks like Hippie Girl Pitas and Vermont’s own Ben & Jerry’s.
We also met some amazing people who stopped by the Timberland Earthkeepers booth to make a pledge to reduce their personal environmental impact. It was inspiring to meet so many people concerned about the environment – and they had some pretty creative ideas for how to conserve resources and save energy!
Who knew that being the Official Greening Partner for Wanderlust 2012 could be so much fun? If you missed the Wanderlust Festival at Stratton last weekend, here’s a glimpse:
The fun doesn’t stop here … with three more destinations, Wanderlust 2012 is just getting warmed up. Visit our Festivals page to learn more about Wanderlust and the ways in which Timberland is helping to make this year’s festival one of the most socially and environmentally conscious events of its kind.
Timberland Honored for Reinventing the CSR Report
On June 25, 2012, Timberland was proud to be one of the companies honored at Ethical Corporation’s Responsible Business Awards, receiving the award for Best Sustainability Report for the way in which we’ve been able to “reinvent the CSR report” with our online Responsibility portal. Ethical Corporation’s annual awards honor leading companies and individuals for impressive contributions to the responsible business agenda.
When we launched our Responsibility portal in August 2011, we aimed to provide a dynamic, integrated experience to inform, inspire and engage consumers and stakeholders around our key impact areas (also known as Timberland’s Four CSR Pillars):
Climate: Protect the outdoors
Product: Innovate cradle-to-cradle
Factories: Improve workers’ lives
Service: Engage communities
The judges praised the high level of interactivity evident in Timberland’s entry: “It is designed to help people understand the issues at stake and contribute their own comments. Timberland provides comprehensive and honest information on its supplier factories. Its quarterly updates add a real time aspect to the report.”
What’s most rewarding about receiving this award is knowing that we met criteria emphasizing the importance of balanced transparency: Ethical Corporation evaluated companies in this category for how well they are “communicating progress whilst being honest about the challenges they face and clear about the business wins their report has achieved for the company.” These are opportunities and responsibilities we take seriously and work hard to achieve.
We are humbled by Ethical Corporation’s award, and excited that our new approach for transparently measuring and communicating results in an open and accessible way is resonating. In addition to digging deep into data online, stakeholders who visit http://responsibility.timberland.com can easily access stories about progress we’re making against groundbreaking initiatives. For example, check out what’s behind our most eco-conscious footwear, learn about our ability to incorporate social responsibility into sourcing strategies, and find out how to we’re scaling engagement in local communities. It’s all part of our effort to leverage social and environmental responsibility as an asset within our brand’s comprehensive communications strategy.
Let us know what you think! We invite you to follow our CSR efforts in real-time at http://responsibility.timberland.com, where you can also join ongoing online discussion through a variety of channels including Timberland’s Bootmakers Blog, CSR Stakeholder Calls, the Voices of Challenge dialogue, Twitter and the brand’s YouTube channel.
Light, Lean, Sexy, Stylish: Hookset Handcrafted
The ask: Create a footwear collection that has unique Timberland DNA and is appropriate for spring and fall casual wear when you’re kicking it beachside with friends or lounging in the park. The answer: The Hookset Handcrafted Collection.
Ok, next question: What do you do when you learn that this collection is distinctively hand made, minimalist-inspired, stylish, fun and great for the environment? You can’t help but make a sexy stop-motion video to show the Hookset Handcrafted in all its glory.
Four materials expertly combined: 100% organic cotton canvas, genuine leather, 100% natural latex and aluminum. That’s it, that’s all. The Hookset Handcrafted Collection features minimal amounts of these materials, combined with a lean environmental impact in an extremely stylish package.
We asked filmer / photographer Spencer Higgins to bring his talents from the fashion and automobile world to Timberland. And the result? Oozing with cool, the Hookset Handcrafted. Four materials, expertly combined with our lowest Green Index score measured to date.*
Take a peek and see what we’re made of. Then learn more: mens.timberland.com.
*Green Index score of 3.5 measured as of May 2012.
Summer-Loving Sandals
Summer is finally, officially here and we couldn’t be happier about longer days, warmer weather and the unquestionable correlation between sunny skies and sunny moods. And what better way to celebrate summer than by strapping on a pair of I-can-have-fun-and-look-fabulous-at-the-same-time sandals? We’ve got them. See for yourself:
Find your own summer-loving style on our website, and then get out there and soak it up. You’ve earned it.
Points of Light Honors Timberland with Corporate Engagement Award of Excellence
2012 marks the 20th anniversary of Timberland’s Path of Service™ program, which provides paid time off to our employees to volunteer in their communities for the organizations and causes that are most meaningful to them.
As we celebrate 20 years of the Path of Service internally, we’re grateful to also be recognized for it externally. Today, Timberland is one of three companies being honored by Points of Light with the 2012 Corporate Engagement Award of Excellence – a prestigious award that recognizes innovative volunteer programs designed to create positive change in communities.
Points of Light is the leading global volunteer organization, whose mission is to inspire, equip, and mobilize people to take action that changes the world. Timberland has been a long-time fan of the good work Points of Light supports, and it’s both an honor and a privilege to receive their vote of confidence for Timberland’s efforts as well.
What the Corporate Engagement Award of Excellence really recognizes, of course, is the passion, energy and dedication of Timberland employees worldwide to make a difference in their communities. We’re so proud to have a team that cares as deeply about the world around them and works so hard to make it better … and hope you’ll have a chance to join us in service one day. In the meantime, we extend our deep appreciation to our employees, our communities, and Points of Light for their support of the Path of Service™ program. Here’s to another 20 years of service!
Kempton Carryall Wins Top Prize!
At last night’s Independent Handbag Designer Awards (IHDA), designer Fiona Kempton of Kempton & Co. was announced the winner of the “Best Green Handbag” design. Among the recycled and reclaimed materials used in this gorgeous bag are an old flour sack, scraps of leather and reclaimed hardware from 3 old bags from the Salvation Army!
Fiona Kempton's award-winning Wiltshire Carryall
We were excited to co-sponsored the “Best Green Handbag” category this year alongside Amorim Cork, the biggest world producer of natural cork products and a global leader in sustainable business practices. This marks Timberland’s third year sponsoring the Awards; as a company that’s rooted in the outdoors and committed to environmental stewardship, we’re got a natural affinity for green goods!
Through artful, handcrafted design using an eclectic collection of reclaimed materials, Fiona pays tribute to our most delicate resources. She has created a bag that combines sustainability with style, embodying her dedication to preservation – all values that are aligned with Timberland’s eco-conscious philosophies. Much like our Earthkeepers® collection, the result is a fashion-forward design that consumers will love – and feel good about.
- Jackie LaLime, director of merchandising in North America, Timberland
A selection of Kempton & Co. designs will be sold for a limited time at select Timberland stores in the coming months. In addition, Kempton will be designing and producing a limited run of Timberland-inspired handbags featuring Amorim Cork that will be available for sale at select Timberland stores in the fall.
The IHDA celebrates the best in independent handbag design from around the world; to see the award winners in every category, check out the IHDA website. And if you’re craving a great green bag of your own, check out our Earthkeepers handbag collection.
CSR Stakeholder Call Summary: June 11th Scaling Sustainable Change Dialogue
Earlier this week, Timberland hosted a CSR Stakeholder Call about how to scale local community engagement efforts. Timberland’s VP of CSR Mark Newton was joined by Chuck Bennett, VP of Earth & Community Care at Aveda for a stimulating discussion about employee engagement, extending volunteerism up and down the supply chain, and how to scale efforts through collaboration and partnership.
Corporate community engagement
Did you know that 2012 is the 20th Anniversary of Timberland’s Path of Service™ program? Path of Service is our employee volunteer program, which provides Timberland staff up to 40 paid hours for community service. When the program was started, the idea of giving employees paid time off to perform community service was unconventional. Through this program Timberland offers our most valuable resource – our employees’ time – to engage in the communities where we live and work.
What was unique in 1992 is not so today; many companies now offer similar programs, and we’re fortunate to be informed and inspired by many of them – including Aveda, whose employee engagement program was outlined on this week’s call.
What’s the value of these community engagement efforts? We know our commitment to community engagement helps us retain employees and contributes to a healthy corporate culture. In our last global employee survey, 67% of employees reported that our Path of Service™ program plays a strong role in their decision to work at Timberland.
Extending up and down the supply chain
Just as we’ve seen increased employee development, attraction and retention inside our own company, we have encouraged and supported factories that produce our products to serve their local communities as well. See Timberland’s Responsibility site for examples of this engagement in factories in China.
We also have opportunity to engage business partners in service. By inviting others to join with us, we inevitably increase our impact. In fact, in 2011, 40% of the volunteers at Timberland-sponsored service events worldwide were business partners, and we hope to increase that percentage in 2012. Whether we’re working together to transform a school, build community gardens, or plant trees, we know that the bonds formed through service are more powerful than simply taking a customer out to dinner. Some of these organizations have even formed their own community engagement programs!
Consumer engagement
On the call, both Timberland and Aveda discussed opportunities to extend their community engagement efforts to their consumers and retail partners. For Timberland, our 20th anniversary of Path of Service™ presents a unique opportunity to invite these important stakeholders to join us. Timberland Taiwan is leading the way (with over 3,000 hours served by consumers and employees to date!), and we aim for other regions to also engage their consumers this year.
We were inspired to learn more about Aveda’s Serve from the Heart program, whereby Aveda provides grants to retail stores to invest in their local community organizations of their choosing – and store employees are also encouraged to volunteer. And there’s no doubt that Aveda’s Earth Month campaign is having a profound impact: in 2011, the company exceeded its goal of raising $4 million for global and clean water projects.
The importance of collaboration and partnership
Clearly, neither Timberland nor Aveda could successfully engage these local communities without their employees, business partners, consumers, and local community members. For Timberland, we’re always willing to share our experience – organizations looking to run their own service events might find some helpful tips in our Community Service Toolkit.
If you missed this week’s call and want to hear more, you can listen to the entire podcast here. Learn more about Timberland’s community engagement efforts and stay tuned for opportunities to continue the conversation at http://responsibility.timberland.com.
Take Our Sandal Quiz and Find Your Sole Mate!
Strappy flat, cork wedge or durable heel – which pair of Timberland sandals will be the perfect companion for you this summer? With the click of a mouse, you can take our Summer Sandal Survey and find your “sole” mate. Here are the contenders:
Summer-ready, classic style: The neutral colors of our Earthkeepers Katama Strappy Sandals go with every outfit, and the contoured cork footbed ensures all-day comfort, no matter where you’re headed!
Earthkeepers Katama Strappy Sandal
Our Earthkeepers Maeslin Cork Sandal is the epitome of feminine, outdoor-inspired comfort footwear for summer.
Earthkeepers Maeslin Cork Sandal
With its woven jute footbed, raffia wrap and wood-wrapped heel, the Earthkeepers Wrapped Chauncey Heel is the perfect marriage of expert craftsmanship and eco-conscious materials.
Earthkeepers Wrapped Chauncey Sandal
Click on over to our sandal quiz to find out which one will best complement your personality and complete your summer wardrobe. Not feeling a love connection? Never fear – the rest of our summer sandal collection is waiting for you on our website.
Tune In: Timberland and Aveda Talk about Scaling Sustainable Change
Since 2008, Timberland has hosted regular calls with a diverse set of stakeholders to support our long-term corporate CSR strategy. This level of transparency and accountability helps Timberland elevate dialogue on material issues for our industry, while also giving us critical feedback to become a more sustainable organization.
Our next call:
Scaling Sustainable Change
Monday, June 11 from 11 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST
Timberland’s VP of CSR Mark Newton and Aveda’s VP of Earth and Community Care Chuck Bennett will discuss how to build a more sustainable society by scaling environmental awareness and local community engagement through partnerships with employees, suppliers, customers, and peer companies.
Please register for the event by emailing csrinfo@timberland.com. You’ll receive a response within 24 hours that confirms successful registration.
Be sure to pre-register by June 8 to receive the call-in details! These materials will be sent on Friday June 8.
The results of this and other calls are posted online. Timberland’s Responsibility portal will also be an online stakeholder engagement platform to continue discussion after the call.
Come With Us to Wanderlust
It’s time to hit the slopes again – yes, really – as the Wanderlust Festival rolls into a resort town near you. One part yoga, one part music, one part fine fresh food, Wanderlust is the ultimate happy place for anyone in need of soul-soothing or mind and body recharging. Here’s a taste of what Wanderlust is all about:
Now in its 4th season, Wanderlust will kick off June 21-24 at Stratton Mountain in Vermont, will continue on to Wanderlust Colorado at Copper Mountain July 5-8, will return to its original Wanderlust California at Squaw Valley July 26-29 and will round out the summer at the first ever Wanderlust Whistler at Whistler Resort August 23-26.
Timberland is proud (and totally excited) to be the Official Greening Partner for Wanderlust 2012. When we’re not enjoying an early-morning meditation or going on a guided hike, we’ll be working with Wanderlust to make this one of the most socially and environmentally conscious events of its kind by improving the festival’s waste reduction process (less waste = happier planet). And for festival-goers who favor eco-friendly transportation, we’re also sponsoring the “Wanderbus” – providing bio-diesel bus transportation between Wanderlust and major cities nearby.
Pack up your yoga pants and your best “heal thyself” attitude and come on along. You can find all the important details about Wanderlust 2012 on the official festival website. To learn more about what Timberland is doing to support Wanderlust and for exclusive on-site footage and reports, stay tuned to our Wanderlust website and our Facebook page.
