TENCEL™ branded lyocell fibers from Lenzing enable footwear brands to push the limit of sustainability. Recently, more and more well-known footwear brands have incorporated TENCEL™ X REFIBRA™ fibers into their collections, including the new TIMBERLAND EARTHKEEPERS® BY RAEBURN collection. Designed by Christopher Raeburn, the latest collection is made from materials that help reduce its impact on the planet. With TENCEL™ X REFIBRA™, Timberland is setting a new standard for eco-friendly innovation in the footwear segment.

"It is incredibly motivating to see our partners using our fibers in their footwear as well as sportswear and placing value on our TENCEL™ brand,” says Nicole Scharm, Global BD Manager, Functional Wear.

Made from responsibly sourced wood pulp and recycled cotton, this collaboration combines Timberland's outdoor-heritage with TENCEL™’s commitment to supporting a circular economy in the textiles industry, both pursuing a common goal to minimize their ecological footprint across the value chain. The limited edition TIMBERLAND EARTHKEEPERS® BY RAEBURN collection has a muted natural palette with pops of orange and is minimally designed.

Based on the same award-winning efficient closed loop production process as standard TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers, REFIBRA™ technology is Lenzing’s first step to contributing to the circular economy in the textile industry. The pioneering REFIBRA™ technology used in the collection involves upcycling cotton scraps from garment production and transforming them into cotton pulp. A substantial proportion – up to one third – is added to wood pulp, and the combined raw material is transformed to produce new virgin TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers, which are used to cover the upper fitting of Timberland’s latest Earthkeepers boots.

“I am proud to work with brands like Timberland, who are leaders in circularity. Timberland was not only Lenzing’s first brand partner to launch TENCEL™ x REFIBRA™ Lyocell in footwear, but over the past 3 years they have continued to expand REFIBRA™ in several styles as part of their Earthkeepers and Christopher Raeburn line of products. I hope other brands will follow Timberland’s lead and find new ways to introduce products with circular-derived materials,” says Sharon Perez, BD Manager, North America at Lenzing.

The environmentally responsible partnership between Timberland and TENCEL ™ X REFIBRA™ not only paves the way for a more circular economy but is also a leading example for the rest of the footwear industry on sustainable innovation.