As part of VF Corporation’s Science Based Targets roadmap, noted brands from its stable have begun releasing new product collections this year that take advantage of regeneratively-sourced natural rubber, made possible through its pilot programme.
THE PILOT: Following a three-year pilot programme sponsored by VF, regenerative design firm, Terra Genesis, collaborated with a network of farming communities in Thailand to scale up the production of regeneratively sourced natural rubber for use within VF’s supply chain.
- Terra Genesis, which connects brands with growers, has developed the first of its kind Regenerative Outcome Verified – ROV rubber supply system.
- Regenerative agriculture encompasses a variety of environmentally and socially conscious practices, which aim to help support biodiversity, enhance water cycles, improve soil health and sequester carbon. This approach not only changes growing practices and helps improve the lives of farmers, it helps replenish and strengthen the soil, plants and the surrounding nature.
WHY RUBBER: Rubber is just one of the materials already on its way to becoming sourced from farms or ranches using regenerative agriculture practices. VF Corp also has pilot programmes under way to work towards regeneratively-cultivated wool, cotton and leather. In the meantime, the company will continue to explore opportunities with suppliers who are honing their sustainable agricultural practices.
- To help assess regenerative agriculture programs and their participating producers, VF Corp is creating a Regenerative Framework of Guidelines with the help of consultant, Pure Strategies, covering a variety of farming practices, including those around rubber as a part of tree crop and agroforestry.
- By creating relationships with farmers, ranchers, and growers that are on the road to achieving regenerative practices and verified outcomes, VF is working to build sustainable supply chains that will benefit the apparel and footwear industry and beyond. This effort is consistent with the company’s mission to promote sustainable lifestyles for the betterment of people and the planet.
BRAND TALK: Timberland launched its first product featuring regeneratively grown natural rubber — the Greenstride Motion 6 Hiker this February. Designed for six ways of motion, this boot features Greenstride comfort soles that balance performance and function with four-way traction, comfort and breathability, and outsoles made with 55% regeneratively grown rubber.
- In late March, as part of its 50th anniversary activations, the brand featured regeneratively grown natural rubber in the highly anticipated Timberland x Edison Chen Future73 Timberloop 6-Inch Boot, which also includes outsoles made with 55% regeneratively grown rubber.
- These are just two of more than 120 styles that will utilise regenerative rubber in 2023 from Timberland.
- Vans is using regeneratively grown natural rubber in its Circle Vee silhouette, the cornerstone of the brand’s new Surf VR3 Collection, which was launched in March. All the rubber used to make the Circle Vee’s VR3Waffle outsole (60% of the compound) is regeneratively grown natural rubber. In addition, this season Vans will utilise regenerative rubber in the VR3Waffle outsole across an even broader VR3 collection of approximately 80 SKUs and more than 500k pairs of shoes.
- The Vans team is working to educate consumers too about the benefits of regenerative rubber by launching a series of Instagram videos.
- In Fall of 2023, The North Face will launch its first footwear products containing rubber from these diversified rubber farms. The rubber will be incorporated into most of the brand’s Surface CTRL outsoles, making up 10% of the outsole in all but three shoe models that use them, including some of its popular styles.
WHAT THEY SAID:
As part of our Science Based Targets roadmap, our vision is that our top nine materials shall originate from regenerative, responsibly sourced renewable, or recycled sources. While transitioning to regenerative is a continual process, the farms we’re working with are already realizing the positive benefits, and will ultimately help us achieve this goal. We’re proud to work with Terra Genesis and this grower community, which is continually refining their farming practices to reduce their impact on our planet.
— Jeannie Renné Malone
Vice-President of Global Sustainability
VF Corporation
We began our regenerative sourcing journey in 2020 with leather, followed by cotton in 2021. We’re incredibly excited to expand into rubber, one of our top materials. The work Terra Genesis is doing is critical, in terms of not only environmental benefits, but also supporting the farmers who are so passionate about their land, livelihoods and communities.
— Meredith Lipnick
Senior Manager of Environmental Stewardship
Timberland
The responsibility we have to protect the environment for future generations is critical. And by sourcing regeneratively grown natural rubber, we are supporting farming practices that aim to restore natural forests and create thriving, biodiverse ecosystems. By incorporating sustainably conscious product innovation into our designs, such as our VR3Waffle outsole, we are helping to enhance water cycles, improve soil health and sequester carbon from the atmosphere.
— Alyse Russel
Senior Manager of Sustainability
Vans
Through our relationship with Terra Genesis, we are able to help support farming systems that can provide biodiversity benefits and promote increased soil health. Additionally, we can utilize this rubber in our Surface CTRL outsoles without compromising the traction performance on demanding terrains. We believe using regeneratively grown materials in our products can help to move the retail industry beyond just ‘doing less bad’ into a space of having a more positive impact on nature and resources.
— Carol Shu
Senior Manager of Global Sustainability
The North Face
