Timberland Announces Earthkeeper Heroes

A partnership between Timberland and Changents.com is enabling young individuals to become catalysts for social and environmental change. This August, the seven Earthkeeper Heroes were announced, with projects ranging from eco-photography, to environmentally friendly design and freestyle swimming.

Launched in 2008, Earthkeepers is providing a platform to connect and support environmental and social projects around the world. The Web site allows users to join to discover other projects, collaborate and assist one another with their environmental endeavors.

“Our goal was to create a social network for young individuals doing extraordinary things in unusual places. They all have exciting stories to tell,” said Deron Tiff, co-President and CEO of Changents.com

Dubbed the "Impact Designers," Sami Nerenberg and Nate Bastien are two of Timberland's Earthkeep heroes. Photo: Changents.com

Timberland, a company with a commitment to environmental stewardship, continually examines ways to reduce the environmental impact of its products and practices. In fact, in addition to their line of Earthkeepers products, made of recycled materials, Timberland will green 300 communities by 2010 and plant more than 100,000 trees this year, with a goal of 1 million new trees by 2010.

“Timberland is leveraging its worldwide brand influence, marketing capacity and pro-environment credibility to enable these eco-warriors to realize their full potential,” said Margaret Morey-Reuner, senior manager for Values Marketing of Timberland.

Nate Bastien, the founder of Local 401, a project dedicated to environmental and social responsibility, is one of the Timberland Earthkeeper Heroes

While working in the industrial design program at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Bastien had a powerful experience on a field trip to a landfill. The professor reminded her class that everything they made would eventually end up in a similar location.

“Industrial designers have a responsibility to pay attention to what we’re designing, what materials we’re using and what products are intended to be used for,” said Bastien.

He began to work on a project combining both his awareness of the difficulties facing homeless individuals and environmental responsibility as a designer.

“I wanted to come up with a product idea to alleviate some of the pain and frustration experienced by marginalized communities,” he said.

Bastien strove to find a balance of functionality and affordability. What he came up with is the Street Pack, a bag made entirely of recycled materials. It is waterproof, can double as a pillow, holds water bottles and is made out of ultra-durable billboard vinyl scraps.

Local 401 will soon begin to sell the Street Packs for retail using a “buy one, give one” platform. For each bag purchased, one will be donated to an individual in need. Street Packs will also be available for non-profits and other organizations.

Bastien is thrilled to be one of the Timberland Earthkeeper Heroes. “We are able to share what we’re doing with the online community while receiving the support and tangible advice of Timberland.”