Crocs will join sneaker companies like Nike, Adidas and Puma in fully reporting its carbon footprint—including Scope 3 emissions—next year.
The clog maker published its 2021 environment, social and governance (ESG) report Tuesday. The so-called “Crocs 2021 Comfort Report” reflected on the brand’s past year of ESG work, and offered some insight into where it is going from here.
This past July, Crocs publicly committed to reaching net zero by 2030, two decades ahead of the 2050 deadline many major companies have adopted. Though it will work to reduce the impact of its products and supply chain “where possible,” it said it will turn to “verified removal projects,” or carbon offsets, to close any remaining gap. When the United Nations Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action tightened its goals in November, it set a target of reducing emissions 50 percent by 2030.
One of the ways Crocs is reducing its impact is via new, more sustainable materials. In unveiled one such innovation, a bio-based version of its Croslite foam, in September. Developed in collaboration with the global materials science company Dow, it transforms sustainably sourced waste and byproducts—including used cooking oil—into a material that the company says possesses the same comfort as a typical Crocs shoe. In its 2021 report, the brand said it will begin offering footwear made with the material “around the world” this year.
Crocs acknowledged that work remains to be done to scale the bio-based Croslite across its supply chain and product line. It plans to report on the percentages of certified bio-based materials next year. “Further material exploration” is underway, the company added, noting that it is also working with Dow on exploring “advanced recycling technologies.”
Ultimately, it hopes to halve its per-pair emissions by 2030. It currently calculates that its classic clog emits 2.56 kilograms of CO2 equivalent, a figure well below the 3.94 kilograms it estimated in July. Crocs attributed the difference to new guidelines it established. For example, it now bases its calculations on a women’s size 7 instead of a men’s size 9. It said it is also measuring the impact of its packaging and product manufacturing “more accurately.”
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Though Crocs claims the majority of its products are sold without shoe boxes, it said it has identified “more sustainable alternatives” for “many” of its packaging components which will be implemented this year. This includes using post-industrial and post-consumer recycled materials.
In November, Crocs partnered with ThredUp to allow U.S. shoppers to trade in their used goods for shopping credit. The brand said it is also exploring solutions to “further reduce waste from damaged and used product.”
Crocs partners with SZA, General Mills
Earlier this week, Crocs unveiled its first collaboration with R&B artist SZA. Created in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the collection consists of two limited-edition shoes: a Classic Clog and a Classic Slide. Both the clog and the slide feature a warm woodgrain pattern and custom Jibbitz charms.
As part of the collaboration, SZA and Crocs are partnering with individuals like Sage Adams, Yaris Sanchez and Donté Colley who advocate for Black mental health. Crocs said it is donating to organizations of their choosing, including the Sad Girls Club and the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation. The brand will also donate to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Last week, Crocs teamed up with Foot Locker and General Mills to release the first in a series of cereal-themed clogs. According to the Foot Locker’s website, the Cinnamon Toast Crunch All-Terrain Clog dropped Thursday. The shoe features a white-and-brown marbled pattern and themed Jibbitz. According to USA Today, designs inspired by Trix, Cocoa Puffs and Honey Nut Cheerios will launch in July.