Merrell launches recycling and re-selling platform as part of sustainability commitment
Merrell, the leading outdoor performance and lifestyle brand, today announced This Is Home, a multi-year sustainability initiative designed to inspire consumers to protect the nature that shapes their everyday lives.
The campaign will focus on digital, social, and connected TV while showcasing Merrell footwear and apparel that is made with more sustainable materials. The goal is to inspire people to get outside while minimizing their environmental impact.
To kick off the inaugural year of This Is Home, Merrell is launching a multinational product takeback and resale program called Merrell ReTread, which will save 300,000 pairs of footwear from landfills in our own backyards. This first of its kind program introduces the takeback economy to the footwear industry and is a step towards a more circular economy. As part of Merrell’s continuous commitment to sustainability, the company partnered with ReCircled to implement Merrell ReTread. The program, which launches in July in the UK, Spain, France, Germany, Benelux, Sweden and Finland, allows consumers the opportunity to give back Merrell footwear. Once received, the footwear will be repaired and refurbished for resale, broken down for use in new products, or recycled for alternative uses.
“The role of This is Home is to ignite our emotional connection to the outdoor environments around us, by encouraging people to deepen their experiences locally,” said Chris Hufnagel, Global Brand President of Merrell. “We believe the outdoors is a place that people can always come home to, and that is why we are committed to preserve and protect the places we recreate. The Merrell ReTread program is a firm step in our sustainable commitment, enabling us to extend the life of our Merrell footwear and giving people more options to minimize their environmental footprint.”
To participate in the Merrell ReTread program, consumers can visit retread.merrell.com to obtain a free return label to ship their used Merrell footwear to ReCircled. Once the shipment is collected, consumers will receive a €/£20 off promotion code* to either purchase new Merrell footwear or apparel. The ReTread program will continue to expand globally, with plans to launch in EMEA later this year.
The Merrell ReTread program is one of the many pledges Merrell has made to deepen its commitment to sustainability through its This Is Home initiative. The company recently announced the sustainability goals they’re striving to meet or exceed by 2025. This includes the following:
100 percent of products will contain organic, recycled, or renewable materials
100 percent responsibly sourced apparel materials
Reduce shoe and apparel samples by 50 percent
Reduce plastic packaging
Complete 10,000 volunteer hours
Save 300,000 pairs of footwear from ending up in landfills through ReTread program
As Merrell builds out the future of its upcoming collections, the brand is dedicated to embedding more eco-friendly and sustainable materials while balancing performance and durability. To learn more about Merrell’s commitment to sustainability, please visit https://www.merrell.com/UK/en_GB/retread/.
*Valid on a purchase of €/£80 or more in the selected European Countries. Discount varies per region.
