Footwear Insight

footwearinsight.com Working with Footwear Brands Reef, York Athletics and Sperry are among the footwear brands that Oceanworks has worked with. "e world has a massive plastic problem on its hands; and unfortunately, there's not a single source for this di- lemma," says Ianelli. "New plastic is overproduced, waste is mismanaged, and it's not being recycled nearly enough." He points out that to- day's consumer increasingly wants to purchase sustainable products, and footwear is no exception. Brands are taking notice through the inclusion of post-consumer recycled plastics (PCR) into their products. As a Plastic Action Platform, Oceanworks helps its brand partners navigate the expected barriers and can also help am- plify the positive environment impact of their efforts. Despite good intentions, there are three primar y challenges that brands oen encounter, says Ianelli: 1. Material Expertise, 2) Sourcing and Supply Chain Transparency, and 3. effec- tively communicating their sustainability efforts. 1. Material Expertise Some brands don't possess an abundance of in-house expertise surrounding the universe of material options. Oftentimes this expertise is outsourced to manufac- turers, who at times might have resistance to integrat- ing PCR (or supplier contract obligations) that could stymie efforts. Collaborating with a trusted network of reputable sustainable material partners can help bridge this gap. 2. Sourcing and Supply Chain Transparency e PCR value chain can be disconnected and murky and it can be difficult to source and validate the origins of materials. is is especially true as it applies to reclaimed, at-risk plastics. Because of the challenges facing design and sourcing teams, the learning curve is very steep. at's where companies like Oceanworks can step in, ap- plying its network of materials and material expertise to assist brands in bringing their sus- tainability goals to reality. 3. Communicating Sustainability Efforts When a brand makes strides toward sustainabil- ity goals, most-often they choose to share those suc- cesses with their customers. "When brands partner with Oceanworks, they are able to easily navigate the potential pitfalls of inaccurately com- municating their efforts," says Ianelli. "Whether done inten- tionally or unintentionally, these mistakes can be costly for a company's reputation as well as the bottom line." He notes that brands need to effectively communicate their efforts while accurately reflecting the work that's being done, allowing consumers to be confident in purchasing products. n PROVIDING QUALITY FOOTCARE PRODUCTS Learn how the Bintz Company can save you and your customers time and money. bintzco.com • 630-665-3113 VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SEE ALL THE COMPANIES WE REPRESENT PowerStep Pinnacle Comfo Zone Vasyli Dananberg ProThotics Motion Control Birkenstock Blue Footbed Pedag Viva Sport Looking for an Orthotic Alternative? Looking for an Orthotic Alternative? Check out our best sellers! Check out our best sellers! Medi-Heel Lift Comfo Basic ProThotics ™ Motion Control Comfo-Arch™ Comfo Zone A family business for over forty years Instant Smiles! Instant Smiles! Instant Support! Instant Support! Great Cash Business! Great Cash Business! To learn more about how the Bintz Company can save you and your patients time and money while providing quality pre-fabricated orthotics, visit bintzco.com/chiro or call 630-665-3113 The Verne Bintz Company has been a life-saver for my patients. After having spent hundreds of dollars per pair, my patients find more comfortable support at a fraction of the price. Thank you so much, Verne Bintz, for remembering the working class." C. Bret Whittaker DC, D.A.B.C.O. " Visit our website to see all the companies we represent: 05_17_2023_Bintz_Full_CEi10.indd 1 05_17_2023_Bintz_Full_CEi10.indd 1 5/17/23 9:45 AM 5/17/23 9:45 AM Looking for an Orthotic Alternative? Looking for an Orthotic Alternative? Check out our best sellers! Check out our best sellers! Medi-Heel Lift Comfo Basic ProThotics ™ Motion Control Comfo-Arch™ Comfo Zone A family business for over forty years Instant Smiles! Instant Smiles! Instant Support! Instant Support! Great Cash Business! Great Cash Business! To learn more about how the Bintz Company can save you and your patients time and money while providing quality pre-fabricated orthotics, visit bintzco.com/chiro or call 630-665-3113 The Verne Bintz Company has been a life-saver for my patients. After having spent hundreds of dollars per pair, my patients find more comfortable support at a fraction of the price. Thank you so much, Verne Bintz, for remembering the working class." C. Bret Whittaker DC, D.A.B.C.O. " Visit our website to see all the companies we represent: 05_17_2023_Bintz_Full_CEi10.indd 1 05_17_2023_Bintz_Full_CEi10.indd 1 5/17/23 9:45 AM 5/17/23 9:45 AM A Family Business For Over Forty Years Quality Orthotics Great Prices Wonderful Service our best sellers BINTZ 5-23--03-FINAL.indd 1 BINTZ 5-23--03-FINAL.indd 1 5/22/23 4:06 PM 5/22/23 4:06 PM

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