FN highlights the latest sustainable initiatives this year, including product launches, material innovations and corporate strategies. Send your news to [email protected].

March 13, 2023: OrthoLite today announced an exclusive partnership with biochemical firm Novamont to support the creation of OrthoLite Cirql, the company’s circular foam material solution for footwear. Last year, OrthoLite announced the development of Cirql, an eco-friendly foam meant to be biodegradable, recyclable and industrially compostable and that can be used make midsoles, the core cushioning component in shoes. In its latest announcement, it said Novamont Research tailor made the bio-polymer material for Cirql’s chemical-free foaming process, which uses nitrogen (from the air we breathe) combined with renewable energy. OrthoLite said it sought out Novamont for its 30 years of experience in the development of chemical and biotechnological processes to create low-impact certified biodegradable and compostable solutions with multiple end of life options for everyday life. The company also noted that OrthoLite Cirql is moving from the lab into production scale in the back half of 2023.

March 9, 2023: Oboz is now B Corp certified, a journey the Bozeman, Mont.-based outdoor brand began in 2021. “Achieving B Corp certification is an incredible milestone and the culmination of our team’s hard work and ongoing collaborations across our entire network of suppliers and partners,” Oboz president Amy Beck said in a statement. “B Corp certification is another step in a long journey to becoming the best corporate and global citizen we can be.” To achieve B Corp status, which is given to for-profit organizations, a company must document its positive impact via the B Impact Assessment. The assessment, according to nonprofit network B Lab, is divided into five “Impact Areas” that include Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. In a statement, Oboz — which has planted a tree for every pair of shoes sold and has planted more than 5 million trees to date — has identified climate, circularity and community as its initial areas for improvement. For climate and circularity, the brand said it is focusing on material choices and science-aligned targets and emission reductions within its operations and value chain. For community, Oboz stated it is working to expand its healthcare benefits offering and is working to increase employee diversity, among other community related goals.

Feb. 7, 2023: Children’s brand Stride Rite, a division of Wolverine Worldwide, has unveiled two new eco-conscious kids’ sneakers as part of its Stride Forward collection. The new styles include the Sprout for first walkers and the Fern for toddlers. Both retail for $50 and feature an upper made of chrome-free suede and twill composed of 30% seaweed fiber and 70% organic cotton, and their slip-resistant outsoles contain 10% recycled rubber. The Stride Forward collection launched last year with the Stride Rite 360 Aseel sneaker, which uses materials from recycled plastic bottles. To date, 43,764 bottles have been recycled through production. The new Sprout and Fern are available now at Striderite.com and select independently owned Stride Rite retail stores.

Jan. 18, 2023: Sock maker Renfro Brands has selected TrusTrace as the partner to support its traceability efforts. TrusTrace CEO and co-founder Shameek Ghosh said in a statement, “Using the TrusTrace platform, Renfro Brands will be able to centralize its current supply chain data for continued compliance with laws such as the UFLPA, as well as measure and document progress towards its sustainability goals.” Renfro has already made progress in its environmental mission. All of its suppliers have achieved at least one sustainable certification, including OEKO-TEX, GRS and ISO, and 30% of its packaging components are recyclable or reusable — with the goal of reaching 100% by 2030. Renfro also aims to use sustainable yarns and materials in 100% of the products it produces by 2030.

Jan. 17, 2023: As part of its ongoing sustainability initiative, J.Crew announced it has launched two new endeavors. First, the retailer is partnering with ThredUp to launch a 360-resale program designed to keep product out of landfills and encourage circular wardrobes. Customers can now buy and resell gently-worn J.Crew women’s and kids’ items online at Jcrew.thredup.com and receive J.Crew shopping credit for items sold. Additionally, the company is launching J.Crew Vintage, a curated selection of some of its best womenswear looks that will be sold in its Fifth Avenue store in New York. Featured looks include the 1990s cotton sweater vest, 1980s cropped jean jacket, 1990s denim skirt and more.

Jan. 9, 2023: Rack Room Shoes has launched a new initiative with recycling partner Sneaker Impact. Customers can now donate gently worn sneakers by placing them in a collection box at any Rack Room Shoes location to reduce waste across the company’s footprint, which spans more than 500 communities and 36 states. Sneaker Impact will collect and upcycle the donated shoes throughout the year and ship them to developing countries around the globe, providing footwear to people in need while creating jobs in the marketplace. Sneaker Impact will also donate $1 for every pair of footwear collected to Shoes That Fit, a nonprofit organization that has a longstanding partnership with Rack Room.