UGG DEBUTS PLANT POWER

Carbon emissions are a key driver of global warming that threatens our oceans, atmosphere, and overall way of life. Through Plant Power, we have reimagined three of our iconic footwear styles with carbon-neutral materials including renewable sugarcane, Hevea rubber, natural hemp, and TENCEL™ Lyocell from responsibly harvested trees.

Recreating the iconic look and feel of our ever-popular fluff franchise, the Fluff Sugar Platform and Fluff Sugar Sandal feature a new Sugarcane Outsole made using renewable sugarcane. The Sugarcane Outsole foam allows for reduced dependency on fossil fuels by replacing petroleum-based materials; sugarcane is a rainwater-dependent resource that removes CO2 from the atmosphere and does not require irrigation. The plant-powered feeling of UGG comes from fluff made with plant-based TENCEL™ Lyocell, which uses wood pulp converted into regenerated cellulosic fibers sourced from responsibly-harvested trees. The trees are grown on sustainably-run farms that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) – two leading organizations promoting sustainable forest management.

For the all-gender Neumel Natural, we’ve also adapted the iconic look and feel of our best-selling Neumel chukka with plant-based materials like cozy lining with TENCEL™ Lyocell. Its handcrafted, small-batch soles are made of LACTAE HEVEA® latex harvested from the Hevea rubber tree. The Neumel Natural’s upper is woven from an environmentally-preferred blend of 55% cotton and 45% hemp.

“At UGG, we are committed to doing our part to combat climate change,” said Andrea O’Donnell, president, UGG® & Koolaburra by UGG® of Deckers Brands. “Our design team took inspiration from our iconic styles and created new silhouettes with carbon-neutral, plant-based materials. The resulting Plant Power Collection tells a story about what is possible, and it is an exciting step in on our journey towards a more sustainable future.”

Alongside these environmentally-focused initiatives, all of the products in the Plant Power Collection were made in a factory that supports HERproject. Since 2016, UGG has been working with HERproject to educate and empower women in our supply chain. The collaborative initiative works to unlock the full potential of women through workplace-based interventions on health, financial inclusion, and gender equality. Through this project, we have trained over 33,000 women with the goal of 100,000 by 2027.

The Plant Power Collection is just the beginning. We are continually working to make our products better for both consumers and the planet by seeking and using innovative materials, and have targets in place to increase our use of recycled, repurposed, regenerated (plant-based), renewable (bio-based), and certified fibers by 35% by 2027. Read more about our materials targets and our innovative UGGplush™, which combines our proprietary UGGpure™ technology with a recycled polyester backing and TENCEL™ Lyocell.