KEEN Footwear Awarded Prestigious Good Housekeeping 2021 Sustainability Innovation Award For PFC Free, Detox The Planet Initiative

PORTLAND, Ore., October 19, 2021 /3BL Media/ - KEEN, Inc. (KEEN), the footwear brand on a mission to make outside inclusive and accessible to all, today announced that Good Housekeeping awarded the brand the Good Housekeeping 2021 Sustainability Innovation Award for its Detox the Planet initiative that keeps perfluorochemicals (PFCs) and per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) out of its footwear.

PFCs/PFAS, a class of about 5,000 fluorinated chemicals also referred to as "forever chemicals'' are often used in water repellent finishes in every-day products. These toxic chemicals enter the environment where the chemicals, components and finished products are manufactured, through contaminated water or waste, and spread easily, posing health risks to humans and animals. 

In 2014, KEEN committed to eliminating PFCs from its supply chain, and successfully went PFC free across its full footwear line in 2018.  This year, KEEN open sourced its process to go PFC Free via its Green Paper: The Road to PFC Free Footwear, so other brands can embrace the same journey faster and more efficiently. Product developers may visit keenfootwear.com/Detox to see details of the detox process.

"To be recognized for these efforts by Good Housekeeping underscores the importance of this issue," says Erik BurbankVP of KEEN Effect. "Our journey to eliminate these chemicals has been a top priority at KEEN.  PFCs/PFAS are so pervasive, they bioaccumulate and don't break down, which is why they're called forever chemicals. KEEN's goal is to not only remove these toxins from our line, but also, to help other brands do the same. We have a proven method to replace these chemicals with safe, affordable, effective alternatives, and we want to share these learnings to protect people and the planet." 

Established in 2014, KEEN's Detox the Planet Initiative was created to take proactive action against harmful chemicals in its supply chain by identifying, removing, and replacing them with safe and effective alternatives. Committed to eliminating everything that shouldn't be in its products and discovering eco-friendly alternatives, one hundred percent of KEEN's leather comes from zero liquid waste tanneries, as its designers have eliminated dangerous antimicrobial chemicals and biocides from their footbeds. The brand continues to aggressively seek out innovative solutions, including the harvesting and upcycling of waste, to use the earth's resources wisely and lessen KEEN's overall impact on the planet. To learn more about The KEEN Effect, visit www.keenfootwear.com/the-keen-effect.html

About KEEN: 
Driven by a passion to make the outside and trades accessible for all, KEEN is a values-led, family-owned footwear brand from Portland, Oregon committed to creating original and versatile products, enhancing lives, and inspiring adventures outside. Founded in 2003, it launched a revolution in the industry with the debut of the Newport adventure sandal. It continues to launch game-changing products and establish new standards for performance, comfort, and design while actively working to Detox the Planet. The brand formalized its values commitment under the banner of The KEEN Effect.  Learn more at www.keenfootwear.com and www.keenfootwear.com/the-keen-effect/