REI Co-op has launched its first eco outdoor footwear line, two hiking hybrid shoes dubbed Flash and Traverse. The hiking boots are made entirely out of biobased and various recycled materials. U.S.-based REI, which has been a member-owned co-op since 1938, offers a range of sporting goods, camping gear, travel equipment, and clothing, in addition to its outdoor recreational packages.
Senior product manager for footwear at REI, who managed the design process for the new shoes, Bennett Grimes, said that the team was committed to balancing a planet-forward approach with technical requirements: “We wanted to create hybrid versatility without compromised performance.”
The company has very clear Product Impact Standards, a set of guidelines detailing how member brands can reduce their carbon footprint and incorporate sustainability in their businesses and they held themselves to the same rules during the shoe making process.
"We looked at the line via three factors. First, you have to put a great product on the market that exceeds customer expectations. Once that product is in the customer’s hands, you want to keep that product in use for as long as possible because any product they don’t have to buy is one less product that creates more waste. Finally, you want to minimize the environmental impact of manufacturing within that framework.”
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