NEWS | KEEN Footwear Continue To Lead In Sustainability

March 4, 2020 Shell Robshaw-Bryan

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We’re delighted to share with you the latest news from KEEN, one of our favourite footwear brands who are continuing to put values into motion with new 2020 “Consciously Created” styles showcasing a pioneering combination of manufacturing processes that raise the bar for sustainability.

KEEN Footwear Continue To Lead In Sustainability

KEEN are on a mission to create original and versatile products, improve lives, and inspire adventures outside, and are proudly continuing its “Consciously Created” approach by committing to choose materials that favour sustainability, do not disrupt the natural order and do not harmfully impact the environment when constructing their products.

For several years the brand has been on a journey to identify and remove harmful chemicals in their supply chain and to make choices that minimise their footprint on the planet.

KEEN moved several seasons ago to choosing safe, effective PFC-free Durable Water Repellent alternatives to repel water and dirt from the uppers of their shoes. PFC’s are suspected carcinogens, degrade very slowly and persist in the environment so avoiding the introduction of these compounds by using a safe alternative is a very positive move in protecting the environment.

Complimenting these other initiatives, KEEN has actively been using biocide-free insoles for healthier ecosystems for several seasons in both their sandals and closed-toe products. For odour control, the conventional practice is to treat insoles with potentially carcinogenic biocides that kill the microbes that lead to odour.

KEEN instead uses Eco Anti-Odor, which utilises a safe, naturally occurring probiotic proven to be just as effective in odour control, with none of the downstream environmental impacts of chemical alternatives.

During their detox journey so far, several key initiatives adopted by KEEN have helped to minimise the impact on the environment. By switching to a PFC-free Durable Water Repellency more than 150 tons of fluorinated chemicals have been prevented from being released into the environment. Biocide-free Eco Anti-Odor has saved almost 7,000kg of harmful biocides from being used each year.

Using Leather Working Group (LWG) certified environmentally preferred leather conserved 208 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water annually. Utilising recycled P.E.T. plastic in the uppers of shoes and sandals has prevented millions of plastic bottles from ending up in landfills and oceans. All this with no compromise to KEEN’s benchmark comfort and performance.

Several new collections are brand new for Spring 2020, each of them adhering to the “consciously created” ethos of the brand. New collections include the all-new Women’s specific Terradora II.

Boasting the same blueprint of flawless fit and superb support found in the original collection, this new model has been ‘Hiked’ up to deliver more comfort, more performance and more traction, with every feature of the Terradora II collection designed for women from the ground up, enabling them to reach new heights on their outdoor adventures.

This athletic hiker is now also more sustainable than ever, consciously created with a safe PFC free durable water repellent and infused with eco anti-odour treatment that uses probiotics rather than chemical alternatives that can be harmful to the environment.

The Terradora II is available in a choice of versatile styles including a Mid-cut (£110), Low edition (£100) and the all-new Terradora II Vent (RRP £90) – a membrane free model with an exclusive mesh upper offering breathability that is particularly suited for warmer climes and high summer use.

KEEN’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond these impact reducing initiatives and also incorporates a commitment to taking action and giving back, including working with local communities around the world to help to protect and preserve the places where people play.

Learn more about KEEN’s “Consciously Created” approach.

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Shell Robshaw-Bryan

Editor & Owner at Camping with Style

Shell loves all things travel and outdoors and is a nature-loving, comfy-camping kinda girl. Shell started the Camping with Style blog after a serious snowboarding accident which left her with a broken back. Despite this she used the outdoors and healing power of nature to aid her recovery and she continues to spend time outdoors whenever she can.

From open water swimming, snowboarding and kayaking to hill walks and meditation, Shell shares her travels and microadventures here on the blog and in various publications she's written for, Shell has a particular interest in promoting wellbeing and the many benefits of nature therapy.

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