Timberland diversifies with ‘shoes for your vehicle’

United States – Tyre and footwear manufacturers are the two largest users of virgin rubber in the world. And in the interests of sustainability, major clothing and shoe brand Timberland has announced a collaboration with Singapore-based tyre distributor Omni United that will lead to the launch of ‘Timberland Tires’ for cars, trucks and vans.

To be manufactured in the USA, ′they will provide the performance drivers expect from a premium tyre′, according to Timberland. ′When the tread wears out, they live on, one day recycled into Timberland boots and shoes.′

The company says it will use only ′the very best processes and materials′ to meet Omni United’s and Timberland′s ′exacting standards′, with sales to start next April. End-of-life stage is expected to be reached at between 50 000 and 80 000 miles (80 000 to 128 000 km).

At this point, US firm Liberty Recycling will convert the tyres into crumb rubber and then sheet rubber to form new shoe outsoles for Timberland. The first batch will be created by the year 2017, it has been projected.

′Working with a network of tyre retailers and the country′s largest tyre recycling firms, we′ve developed processes to ensure that worn-out Timberland Tires are reclaimed and recycled responsibly into Timberland footwear rather than used as fuel or ending up in landfills,′ Timberland states.

Describing the innovation as ′shoes for your vehicle′, the company says that the tyres are designed for ′a new generation of drivers′ and that they ′embody rugged practicality, refined sophistication, versatility and a sense of purposefully moving forward′.

Global virgin rubber production amounted to 11.4 million tonnes in 2012, according to recent data from the United Nations′ Food and Agriculture Organisation.

For more information, visit: www.timberlandtires.com