Outdoor Leader Kicks Off New Sustainability
Campaign by Introducing 'ReTread' – An Exchange Program
that will Preserve Nature and Keep Footwear Out of
Landfills
ROCKFORD, Mich., April 6,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Merrell®, the leading
outdoor performance and lifestyle brand, today announced This Is
Home, a multi-year sustainability initiative designed to
inspire consumers to protect the nature that shapes their everyday
lives. The campaign will focus on digital, social, and connected TV
while showcasing Merrell footwear and apparel that is made with
more sustainable materials. The goal is to inspire people to get
outside while minimizing their environmental impact.
To kick off the inaugural year of This Is Home, Merrell is
launching a multinational product takeback and resale program
called Merrell ReTreadSM, which will save 300,000
pairs of footwear from landfills in our own backyards. This first
of its kind program introduces the takeback economy to the footwear
industry and is a step towards a more circular economy. As part of
Merrell's continuous commitment to sustainability, the company
partnered with ReCircled to implement Merrell ReTreadSM.
The program, which launches in April in the US and Canada, allows consumers the opportunity to
give back Merrell footwear. Once received, the footwear will be
repaired and refurbished for resale, broken down for use in new
products, or recycled for alternative uses.
"The role of This is Home is to ignite our emotional connection
to the outdoor environments around us, by encouraging people to
deepen their experiences locally," says Chris Hufnagel, Global Brand President of
Merrell. "We believe the outdoors is a place that people can always
come home to, and that is why we are committed to preserve and
protect the places we recreate. The Merrell ReTreadSM
program is a firm step in our sustainable commitment, enabling us
to extend the life of our Merrell footwear and giving people more
options to minimize their environmental footprint."
To participate in the Merrell ReTreadSM program,
consumers can visit retread.merrell.com to obtain a free return
label to ship their used Merrell footwear to ReCircled. Once the
shipment is collected, consumers will receive a $20 off promotion code* to either purchase new
Merrell footwear or apparel. The ReTread program will continue to
expand globally, with plans to launch in EMEA later this year.
The Merrell ReTreadSM program is one of the many pledges Merrell
has made to deepen its commitment to sustainability through its
This Is Home initiative. The company recently announced the
sustainability goals they're striving to meet or exceed by 2025.
This includes the following:
- 100 percent of products will contain organic, recycled, or
renewable materials
- 100 percent responsibly sourced apparel materials
- Reduce shoe and apparel samples by 50 percent
- Reduce plastic packaging
- Complete 10,000 volunteer hours
- Save 300,000 pairs of footwear from ending up in landfills
through ReTread program
As Merrell builds out the future of its upcoming collections,
the brand is dedicated to embedding more eco-friendly and
sustainable materials while balancing performance and durability.
To learn more about Merrell's commitment to sustainability, please
visit merrell.com/thisishome.
*Valid on a purchase of $80 or
more in the US. Discount varies per region.
ABOUT MERRELL:
Merrell® exists to share the simple power of being outside and
is committed to building an inclusive and sustainable environment
for future generations to enjoy. As the global leader in outdoor
active footwear with the Moab hiking boot and Jungle Moc, Merrell
is focused on merging performance, styling, and comfort to empower
all people to confidently explore the outdoors. Visit Merrell.com
or follow us on social @Merrell. Merrell® is a division of
Wolverine World Wide, Inc.(NYSE: WWW), one of the world's leading
marketers and licensors of branded casual, active lifestyle, work,
outdoor sport, athletic, children's and uniform footwear and
apparel.
ABOUT RECIRCLED:
ReCircled is a global innovation company. Founded in 2019, their
mission is to provide a novel approach to reuse of footwear and
apparel. They provide process and infrastructure for clothing
brands in the Circular Economy.
ReCircled has created a global process that closes the loop for
circular initiatives. ReCircled works with footwear and apparel
brands in North America,
Europe and Asia. They have facilities in Sidney, NE and Prato, Italy.
ReCircled has built a proprietary digital process that
administers take-back programs. The programs have both digital and
bricks and mortar retail store applications. Consumers can return a
brand's items through this portal. After assessment, items are
upcycled or recycled. After cleaning, repair and photography,
upcycled items are ready for resale on a brand's reCommerce site.
Recycled items move on to the disassembly process. From this point,
parts travel through the appropriate recycling streams.
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SOURCE Merrell