CONTENTS 27
A Letter from Allison
About Red Wing Shoe Company
CSR Strategy
Caring for People
Investing in the Work
Designing for Decades
Reducing Our Footprint
Appendix
OUR CLIMATE ROADMAP
LOOKING AHEAD
We are taking decisive steps to improve waste tracking and reduction across our production and distribution. In 2024, we launched a discovery task force to assess our current processes and connect our tannery, CSR team, product team, and manufacturing teams. This cross-functional effort identified ways to minimize scrap generation during production while exploring solutions for post-manufacturing waste from both our tannery and manufacturing facilities. Guided by these insights, our focus in 2025 will turn to establishing specific waste reduction goals, developing strategies to repurpose leather cuttings, and zeroing in on new circular solutions for scrap materials. LAND & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT In 2023 and 2024, we activated the first phase of a prairie restoration initiative at our manufacturing plant in Red Wing, Minnesota. This effort focused on transforming the lawn into a native prairie to create a rich ecosystem for plants and pollinators and reduce maintenance needs. Community input was incorporated through voting on ecological designs and hardscaping features were added to support the restoration. Over the first year—fall 2023 to fall 2024—the focus was on root development, using cover crops for erosion
control and shade for germinating native plants. By fall 2025, the prairie will support wildflowers and grasses, including Canada Wild Rye. By its eighth season, the prairie is expected to have fully matured, forming a dense root mass up to 20 feet deep, enhancing carbon sequestration and biodiversity. In 2024, we hosted the Growing GRASS project, an initiative supported by the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. This program helps build supply chains that maximize the value of beef and bison byproducts like hides while reducing waste. Supporting regenerative grazing practices enhances the sustainability of leather production, improves soil health, and provides farmers with a more resilient, cost- effective approach to land and livestock management. WATER INNOVATION At S.B. Foot Tanning Co., we are exploring ways to optimize water use in our tannery operations as part of our broader sustainability efforts. We assessed water as part of our 2022 baseline footprint and continue to explore opportunities to improve water efficiency in alignment with our existing climate goals by focusing on conservation and refining our processes where possible.
As we continue our sustainability journey, we are focused on making measurable progress toward our long-term goals by: IMPROVING WASTE MANAGEMENT We are working to reduce emissions and minimize waste from our cutting and tanning processes. These efforts are driven by improved waste-tracking systems, greater process efficiency, and innovative reuse initiatives across our operations. ADVANCING CARBON & WATER EFFICIENCY Building on our established baselines, we will prioritize impactful solutions such as expanding renewable energy projects, improving supply chain waste management, and advancing innovations in water conservation.
TURNING SCRAPS INTO SOLUTIONS RETHINKING LEATHER WASTE
Leather is a cornerstone of our products and a focus of our sustainability efforts. We recognize the environmental impact of leather production and have begun implementing initiatives to minimize waste and advance our circularity goals. These include optimizing patterning and cutting processes to reduce material loss during manufacturing. In line with our commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and circular design, we are also exploring innovative ways to repurpose leather scraps and incorporate them into new materials. In addition to reducing waste,
these measures help lower carbon emissions across our value chain.
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