Comfortable walking-Timberland Boots

 

When a familiar company announces new sustainability goals, you’re a lot less excited if it’s one of the country’s few purpose-based and values-driven businesses rather than, say, BP. When the company is Timberland, from which we expect ambitious and aggressive goals, we’re not amazed.

Before the boot maker announced its new set of revised sustainability goals earlier this week, I caught up with the company’s new vice president for CSR, Mark Newton, to talk about his new role, the goals, and Timberland’s latest efforts at stakeholder engagement, its new Communications Portal.

Sustainability: From Apple and Dell to Timberland

Newton, who has spent his entire career working on sustainability at electronics giants like Motorola, Apple, and most recently Dell, understands that the road ahead will be rocky as Timberland completes its merger with VF. VF owns several outdoor brands like The NorthFace, Wrangler, Jansport and Nautica.

We started with the new 2015 goals. What’s new about them?

“Focus,” said Newton. “Moving forward it is very important that we create focus for our companies, including a commitment to innovate from cradle to cradle.”