Keen
Driven of a passion for the outdoor life is KEEN a privately owned brand from Portland, Oregon that put big weight in their values. The brand is on a journey with goals to create innovative and useable products, improve the quality of life and inspire to adventures outdoors. KEEN was founded in 2003 and launched the adventure sandal Newport that became a revolution in the shoe industry. Since the start, the company have donated more than 17 million dollars to non-profit organizations all over the world to promote healthy outdoor life and preserve areas of nature. KEEN strives to show the world through its products and actions that a company that strives for a good cause can also be good for the company. By giving back, reducing environmental impact, activating communities and individuals to protect the places where we work and activate ourselves. KEEN sets their values in motion and takes steps to make the world a better place!
SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES
Keen is dedicated to offering sustainable products to their customers.
The attitude to reduce the use of toxic substances in all Keen products goes beyond what the industry demands. By including more voluntary restrictions, they can add more sustainable technologies to their products to protect fans and employees. Since 2015, they have been actively working with their suppliers of materials to change the use of the chemicals which is used in DWR-treatments with a goal; to deliver shoes and sandals that are 100% PFC-free.
PFC-FREE OPTIONS?
KEEN uses bio- and hydrocarbon-based chemicals to achieve the best water-repellent effect with the lowest environmental impact. Through industry Standard tests, they have seen that their PFC-free water-repellent (DWR) products are highly comparable to traditional impregnations.
WHAT IS DWR?
Durable Water Repellent (DWR) is an ultra-thin coating / impregnation that is applied to the upper of the shoe. The treated surface will form small water pearls that run off instead of being absorbed by the outer material. This keeps the shoes dry, which ultimately leads to dry feet.
WHAT IS PFCS?
Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) are a collection of dangerous substances commonly used in DWR treatments and applied to clothing, sleeping bags, tents and other products that require waterproofing. In shoes, PFCs increase the tension on the surface of the fabric, which helps the water to roll off and repel dirt.
WHY ELIMINATE PFC?
PFCs are a non-natural substance that is broken down very slowly. This leads to a build-up (bioaccumulation) of PFC in the food chain. Unfortunately, these chemicals enter the food chain, making the pollutants almost irreversible. Researchers have found traces of PFC in air, water, wildlife and humans.