In 2023, Crocs, Inc. joined The Footwear Collective (TFC) as founding members to help accelerate the footwear industry’s transition toward a circular economy.
Through this innovative partnership, Crocs is working towards our Purpose of creating a more Comfortable World for All. We’re focusing on developing creative solutions that have the potential to minimize waste, reduce emissions and engage customers.
Driving us forward is the central belief that every footwear brand has a responsibility to consider how their products and production methods affect society and the environment. Together, we can tackle system-wide challenges and design for change.
This belief was front and center at GreenBiz’s Circularity 24 this year. TFC and Crocs attended the conference in Chicago this May, taking part in a series of thought-provoking and solutions-oriented sessions and networking with fellow circularity leaders implementing solutions across industries.
On the second day of the conference, TFC led a breakout session, “Unlocking Pre-Competitive Collaboration: Lessons from The Footwear Collective.” Joined by our own Deanna Bratter, VP, Global Head of Sustainability & ESG as well as Katy O’Brien, Head of Sustainable Innovation at New Balance, and Kati Larson, Head of Commercial Sustainability at On, the conversation focused on the role of collective action to drive circular innovation at scale within the footwear industry and beyond.
TFC brings together major footwear industry players, including fellow founding members Brooks Running, ECCO, New Balance, On, Reformation, Target and Vibram Group, to drive a collaborative and circular approach to footwear consumption. It is the first industry-specific initiative to be launched by the climate advocacy nonprofit, EarthDNA.
Together, TFC members strategically focus on three pillars — circular materials, infrastructure and consumer behavior — to deploy innovative pilot projects to support the identification of priority projects, products, materials and trends. We hope to harness the collective knowledge of leading footwear brands and industry stakeholders to tackle system-wide challenges and bring greater innovation across our brands.