Our Earthkeepers® Boot 10th Anniversary



Our Earthkeepers® Boot 10th Anniversary


Everyone thought we were crazy when we we set out to create our most eco-conscious boot in 2007. It seemed like an impossibility at the time to make a boot that left a lighter footprint on the Earth we walk on. But that’s exactly what we did. Made from sustainable materials like 50% recycled PET linings and laces, 34% recycled rubber outsoles, and leathers sourced from silver rated tanneries, the Original Earthkeepers Boot was born. It was ahead of its time, but right in time, and this year we’re celebrating its 10th anniversary.

This one boot transformed the way we think about how we make our products, inspiring us to walk the talk beyond just one boot by building sustainability into all of our products – not only from the materials we use but also through the entire manufacturing process.

Now, 84% of our footwear includes at least one component that contains recycled, organic or renewable content. 94% of our leather is sourced from LWG Silver or Gold-Rated tanneries and so far 270 million plastic water bottles have found a new life in our footwear. Plus we have new partnerships and materials: THREAD™ canvas made from plastic bottles found in the streets of Haiti, and TimberDry™ waterproof technology made with recycled plastic.

"The boot we launched ten years ago was a catalyst for our commitment to be Earthkeepers in everything we do, and to integrate sustainability across all facets of our business,” said Colleen Vien, director of sustainability for Timberland. “It has been a tremendous journey thus far, but the work is never done. We look forward to continuing to innovate in identifying new solutions to reduce the environmental impact of our products. This may be a ten year celebration, but we’re just getting started."

Building off the legacy of Earthkeepers, we’re taking our efforts to new heights with the implementation of the Timberland Environmental Product Standards (TEPS). With TEPS, we are setting category-specific environmental targets to increase our use of eco-preferred materials across every Timberland product category. These targets include bold goals for the year 2020, including:

  • 100% of footwear to include at least one material containing recycled, organic or renewable (ROR) content.
  • 100% of footwear and outerwear leather to be sourced from tanneries that have earned a gold or silver rating from the Leather Working Group for following environmental best practices.
  • 100% of apparel cotton to come from organic, US-origin or Better Cotton Initiative–certified sources.
  • 100% of footwear and apparel to be PVC-free.

In honor of this milestone, we are celebrating with a new collection inspired by the original.

Enter the new Eagle Bay, a modern update to the original Earthkeeper boot made with the same silver-rated leathers, 50% recycled PET linings and 34% recycled rubber outsoles, but powered by our SensorFlex comfort system. This boot is a seasonal exclusive, created just for the anniversary of our original Earthkeeper, so we’re not making many. Get your hands on some quick! Shop the Eagle Bay now.