STRATHAM, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As an outdoor lifestyle brand, Timberland has a longstanding commitment to protecting and restoring the outdoors. Not only the great outdoors, but the city parks, community gardens and green spaces its consumers explore every day. Today, as part of this commitment, Timberland announces a goal to double its footprint in five U.S. cities by 2020 -- but not in the way you might think. Each year for the next five years, the brand will choose a different city with a Timberland® store, and match its retail floor space with the creation or restoration of an equivalent amount of green space in that city.
“At Timberland, we strive to be Earthkeepers in everything we do. We work hard to make our products responsibly, to protect the outdoors and to serve the communities around the globe where we live, work and explore,” said Colleen Vien, sustainability director at Timberland. “We believe green spaces are the heartbeat of a community. They do so much more than provide a place to play and explore; they also help enhance quality of life in the form of improved health and overall wellbeing. They simply make neighborhoods stronger. We are proud to make this commitment today, so these vibrant city spaces can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
To launch this five-year initiative, more than 100 volunteers from Timberland and its partners will pull on their boots today in New York City in partnership with local non-profit GrowNYC, to help transform the United We Stand garden – a 32,000 sq. ft. space in the Mott Haven neighborhood of South Bronx. For years this area encompassed four separate community gardens, but after decades of use and a damaging fire a year-and-a-half ago, all four gardens were cleared. Under the guidance of GrowNYC, volunteers will spend the day creating one new community garden for the neighborhood to enjoy.
“We’re so thankful for Timberland’s service in our communities as they help us further our efforts to provide green space in areas that need it most,” said Mike Rezny, assistant director, GrowNYC. “Today’s volunteers are transforming one of the most underserved neighborhoods in the Bronx into a beautiful community garden functioning as a destination for urban agriculture and an inviting outdoor hub for the surrounding community.”
Volunteers will continue to serve in the United We Stand Garden in Mott Haven throughout the summer, and the complete space will be unveiled and open to the community this fall. Later this year, Timberland will reveal the next four cities where it will carry on its commitment to creating or restoring green spaces – ranging from walking trails to community gardens to city parks.
In addition to its urban greening commitment, Timberland announced a number of bold goals earlier this year – including planting a total of 10 million trees around the globe by 2020 (to date the company has planted 8.7 million). To learn more about Timberland’s commitments to make products responsibly, protect the outdoors and support communities around the globe, visit timberland.com/responsibility.
About Timberland
Timberland
is a global leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of premium
footwear, apparel and accessories for the outdoor lifestyle. Best known
for its original yellow boot introduced in 1973, Timberland today
outfits consumers from toe-to-head, with versatile collections that
reflect the brand’s rich heritage of craftsmanship, function and style.
Timberland markets lifestyle products under the Timberland®
and Timberland Boot Company® brands, and industrial footwear
and workwear under the Timberland PRO® brand. Its products
are sold throughout the world in leading department and specialty stores
as well as company-owned retail locations and online. Timberland’s
dedication to making quality products is matched by an unwavering
commitment to environmental and social responsibility – to make things
better in terms of its products, the outdoors, and communities around
the globe. To learn more about Timberland, a brand of VF Corporation
(NYSE: VFC), please visit timberland.com or follow us along the modern
trail @timberland.
About GrowNYC
GrowNYC is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization
that helps residents make ours the most sustainable city in the world.
Reaching millions every year, GrowNYC operates Greenmarket farmers
markets, engages New Yorkers in recycling education, builds and
maintains green spaces and works with young people to provide hands on
environmental education. Learn more at www.grownyc.org.
