Corporate Social Responsibility

News

4.19.2007 - 07:49am ET

CSR News from:	Timberland Company (The)
News Category:	Environment

Timberland Celebrates Earth Day 2007 by Hosting More Than 170 Service Projects and 9,000 Volunteers

Employees, Partners and Customers Will Serve Around the World to Reduce Environmental Footprint Through Reforestation Projects

(CSRwire) STRATHAM, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2007--As concerns about the environment continue to rise due to the effects of global warming, The Timberland Company will focus its annual Earth Day efforts on reducing its environmental footprint by hosting more than 9,000 volunteers at 170 service events around the globe. The 2007 volunteer events, which will generate approximately 53,000 service hours, will focus on reforestation via a variety of activities such as planting trees, refurbishing trails and greenways and restoring native species. The activities will support the company's larger goal to become carbon neutral by 2010.

"We spend every day looking for ways to reduce our environmental impact in the product development, manufacturing and distribution processes," said Jeff Swartz, President and CEO of The Timberland Company. "Earth Day is a tangible way to harness the passion our employees, partners and customers have for doing good for the environment by preserving our natural resources."

In addition to the service events, Timberland will further engage customers through multiple retail store initiatives, including:

"Plant One On Us" program: In the U.S., for every $150.00 spent online or in Timberland(R) retail stores, the company will plant a tree on behalf of the customer. In Europe, customers who buy a pair of boat shoes will have a tree planted on their behalf. Through this program, Timberland's goal is to plant one million trees globally by 2010.

Carbon Neutral Retail Stores: Timberland has had a long history of using earth-friendly products and practices in-store, including the implementation of green building practices, such as the use of reclaimed wood and selection of lower impact material choices. As a result, Timberland-owned retail stores globally will be carbon neutral as of Earth Day.

Shopping bags: In U.S. specialty stores, the company will donate ten cents to The Conservation Fund for every disposable bag customers choose not to take with their purchases. In addition, all Timberland stores in the U.S. will offer a reusable, recycled tote bag for purchase at $5.50 each and the customer receives 10% off each subsequent purchase when they bring in their bag.

This year, Timberland's Earth Day projects will focus on deforestation and conservation. Examples of projects going on around
the world include:

New York, NY: Raising awareness of key environmental issues through construction of green roofs, planting trees and restoring the park at Hunt's Point in the South Bronx.

New Orleans, LA: engaging 750 students from the Singleton Charter School, City Year, Hands On and local Central City residents on a long-term school greening project, which includes installing portable greenhouses, an outdoor classroom, and gardens.

Lawrence, MA: Planting trees, removing invasive species along the Spicket River and continuing ongoing restoration initiatives converting blighted space into beautified and usable land.

Bedford, England: Pruning 3,000 planted trees in Marston Vale and building nesting boxes to attract native species of birds.

Singapore: Employees and business partners will be returning to a local mangrove swamp at the Pasir Ris Beach Park for the fourth consecutive year to remove invasive species and clean the area.

As part of Timberland's ongoing reforestation initiatives, the company has already started taking steps to deal with the global problem of desertification. Working in the Horqin Desert in the Inner Mongolia region of northern China, Timberland has committed to planting 1 million trees by 2008 to help restore the area from desertification. Desertification is a growing problem in Asia where rapid population growth and overuse of the land are taking their toll in agriculturally-dependent communities. In addition, Timberland has pledged its support to further develop and sustain the independence of the villagers through information sharing, tree planting and infrastructure building.

The Earth Day activities are just a piece of the overall environmental program at Timberland. Other industry-leading initiatives include:

The introduction of new environmentally-friendly packaging and an industry-first "Our Footprint" product labeling, which provides consumers with details about the environmental and community impact, as well as the exact name and location of the factory in which the shoes were manufactured.

The installation of one of the world's 50 largest solar arrays at its Ontario, California distribution center, which generates 60 percent of the facility's energy needs and eliminates the creation of 480,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

The introduction of a Green Index(TM) rating hangtag, which provides product specific ratings for select environmental factors including climate impact and chemical usage.

For more information on Timberland's commitment to corporate social responsibility or opportunities to serve within your community, please visit www.timberlandserve.com

About Timberland

Timberland (NYSE: TBL) is a global leader in the design, engineering and marketing of premium-quality footwear, apparel and accessories for consumers who value the outdoors and their time in it. Timberland(R) products are sold worldwide through leading department and specialty stores as well as Timberland(R) retail stores. Timberland's dedication to making quality products is matched by the company's commitment to "doing well and doing good" - forging powerful partnerships among employees, consumers and service partners to transform the communities in which they live and work. To learn more about Timberland, please visit www.timberland.com

Copyright Business Wire 2007

For more information please contact:

Alyson Campbell
Porter Novelli
212-601-8060

Cara Vanderbeck
The Timberland Company
603-275-4575

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