Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1534826
products stay in use for as long as possible, reducing waste and consumption while we work towards a truly circular future," Sito explains. Brooks has leaned into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with attention on people and planet to create an important framework for corporate priorities and strat- egies, such as Sustainable Consumption and Climate Action, keeping Brooks focused and moving in the right direction, according to Dave Kemp, director of corporate sustain- ability at Brooks. Waste reduction, for instance, is being tackled from many different angles, ranging from downcycling into other industries' applications to strategies to recycle waste back into Brooks products. "Just last year we started a strategy with one of our toe box material suppliers where they take the cutting waste and recycle it to make more of that material again and then ship it back to Brooks' factories. It's a really interesting pilot that we are looking to scale, and hopefully accelerate to other suppliers," Kemp adds. Other sustainability strategies top of mind at Brooks are decoupling product from non-renewable resources and ultimately moving it towards a circular future. The Glycerin Max shoe features a bio-based EVA midsole and an upper made of 66.4 percent recycled materials. ere is an overall shi occurring in how industry thinks about collaboration, under- standing that this is now almost required to overcome challenges facing brands' circu- lar targets. Kemp describes "going beyond working with dedicated sustainability team members to now pulling in teams from other divisions as well." It also extends to working with other brands, even direct competitors. e exec gives as an example e Footwear Collective, an organization established in 2023 that is bringing like-minded companies together in a pre-competitive atmosphere to brainstorm development of industry wide solutions. n NNormal's durability study aims to reduce waste and consumption to foster a circular future. Vibram's digital Repair If You Care campaign highlights the value of shoe repair. 30 • March/April 2025