Timberland Announces Commitment to Restore and Create Green Spaces in Five Cities over the Next Five Years

STRATHAM, N.H., June 23, 2016 /3BL Media/ – As an outdoor lifestyle brand, Timberland has a longstanding commitment to protecting and restoring the outdoors. Not only the great outdoors, but the city parks, community gardens and green spaces its consumers explore every day. As part of this commitment, Timberland announces a goal to double its footprint in five U.S. cities by 2020 -- but not in the way you might think. Each year for the next five years, the brand will choose a different city with a Timberland^® store, and match its retail floor space with the creation or restoration of an equivalent amount of green space in that city.

“At Timberland, we strive to be Earthkeepers in everything we do. We work hard to make our products responsibly, to protect the outdoors, and to serve the communities around the globe where we live, work and explore,” said Colleen Vien, sustainability director at Timberland. “We believe green spaces are the heartbeat of a community. They do so much more than provide a place to play and explore; they also help enhance quality of life in the form of improved health and overall wellbeing. They simply make neighborhoods stronger. We are proud to make this commitment, so these vibrant city spaces can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

To launch this five-year initiative, more than 100 volunteers from Timberland and its partners pulled on their boots in New York City in partnership with local non-profit GrowNYC, to help transform the United We Stand garden -- a 32,000 sq. ft. space in the Mott Haven neighborhood of South Bronx. For years this area encompassed four separate community gardens, but after decades of use and a damaging fire a year-and-a-half ago, all four gardens were cleared. Under the guidance of GrowNYC, volunteers spent the day creating one new community garden for the neighborhood to enjoy.

“We’re so thankful for Timberland’s service in our communities as they help us further our efforts to provide green space in areas that need it most,” said Mike Rezny, assistant director, GrowNYC. “Volunteers are transforming one of the most underserved neighborhoods in the Bronx into a beautiful community garden functioning as a destination for urban agriculture and an inviting outdoor hub for the surrounding community.”

Volunteers will continue to serve in the United We Stand Garden in Mott Haven throughout the summer, and the complete space will be unveiled and open to the community this fall. Later this year, Timberland will reveal the next four cities where it will carry on its commitment to creating or restoring green spaces -- ranging from walking trails to community gardens to city parks.

In addition to its urban greening commitment, Timberland announced a number of bold goals earlier this year – including planting a total of 10 million trees around the globe by 2020 (to date the company has planted 8.7 million). To learn more about Timberland’s commitments to make products responsibly, protect the outdoors and support communities around the globe, visit timberland.com/responsibility.   

About Timberland

Timberland is a global leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of premium footwear, apparel and accessories for the outdoor lifestyle. Best known for its original yellow boot introduced in 1973, Timberland today outfits consumers from toe-to-head, with versatile collections that reflect the brand’s rich heritage of craftsmanship, function and style. Timberland markets lifestyle products under the Timberland^® and Timberland Boot Company^® brands, and industrial footwear and workwear under the Timberland PRO^® brand. Its products are sold throughout the world in leading department and specialty stores as well as company-owned retail locations and online. Timberland’s dedication to making quality products is matched by an unwavering commitment to environmental and social responsibility – to make things better in terms of its products, the outdoors, and communities around the globe. To learn more about Timberland, a brand of VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC), please visit timberland.com or follow us along the modern trail @timberland.

About GrowNYC

GrowNYC is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that helps residents make ours the most sustainable city in the world. Reaching millions every year, GrowNYC operates Greenmarket farmers markets, engages New Yorkers in recycling education, builds and maintains green spaces and works with young people to provide hands on environmental education. Learn more at www.grownyc.org.