Reef improves footwear eco-credentials

US: Reef improves footwear eco-credentials

By Petah Marian | 17 September 2012

Surfwear brand Reef is boosting its eco-credentials by launching shoes certified with the Low Impact to Environment (LITE) label.

The shoes are made with LITE certified leather from German tannery ISA TanTec, which has been produced with "especially low energy and water consumption".

ISA TanTec has manufacturing sites in China and Vietnam, and claims its tannery only requires 21.5 megajoules of energy for one square metre of wet blue to finished leather compared to an industry average of 61 megajoules.

"Reef is aware of the strong competitive edge to be gained by using the LITE label," said ISA TanTec founder and CEO Thomas Schneider.

"After all, customers today expect the products they buy to have as little impact on the environment as possible. By using LITE leather, shoe manufacturers can prove they are taking their responsibility to climate protection very seriously."

Sectors: Footwear, Social & environmental responsibility