Footwear and outdoor apparel maker Timberland has updated its corporate sustainability reporting goals, publishing these targets in a newly launched online CSR portal.
The updated CSR goals are categorized into four broad areas – climate, product, factories and service – with quantifiable updates for each.
Ironically, behind the user-friendly interface, are a number of back steps for some sustainability targets – accompanied by a great deal of straight talk on why targets were missed or changed.
For example, Timberland failed to meet its 2010 target of purchasing 39% of its energy from renewable sources, instead buying about 13%.
"This was anticipated and accepted because energy efficiency, which is less expensive than renewable energy, helped us to achieve greater emission reductions (our primary goal) than we previously anticipated," the website said.
Also, its 2010 greenhouse gas emissions reductions were reduced by 38 percent, short of its stated goal of 50% reductions target, and the company reduced its 2015 target from 75% to 50%.
In other areas of its business operations, Timberland performs well, and sets its own bar – for example, in its ongoing effort to assess each item in its footwear line with a Green Index score, or the use of 100% renewable packaging material.
Photo: Timberland
