KEEN Howser Harvest Sandal

RRP: £90 Target price: £90

‘We don’t like using the word sustainable,’ say Keen, ‘because the most sustainable choice would be to not make anything at all.’ But, accepting that well-made outdoor kit is a virtue that offsets the downsides, Keen instead use the phrase ‘consciously created’. Under their Detox the Planet initiative, each step of each part of each range is measured for its environmental impact. They use cleaner tanning processes for their leather, as well as plant-based cushioning, pesticidefree odour control, recycled PET bottles, water-based solvents and a dozen other solutions, and have rid their processes of perfluorocarbons (PFCs). The ethos extends beyond products: Keen’s HQ in Oregon is over 90% upcycled from the preexisting building, and its construction generated only one skip-load of waste. Their Harvest range has been using waste materials of all kinds for 15 years (including waste from the rice industry as well as coffee bean sacks and denim). Now they’ve launched a colour-coding system explaining how much of each Harvest product came from waste materials.

The new Howser sandal is the first to be Gold-certified, meaning over 50% of it has been upcycled; in this case

using leather from old car seats. It also has a chemical-free anti-odour treatment, and its tannery uses a zero-waste liquid discharge system to reduce water consumption and eliminate groundwater pollution. Typically of Keen, it’s tough, comfy and responsive. If we do have to have footwear (and it seems like we do), it would be great if more of it was made like this. NH keenfootwear.com

WHAT COULD BE BETTER?

Greater clarity on the origin of the plastics used in the drawcord would complete the picture.