The Aids That Started It All!

Rapidly growing Keen aims to inspire people with its efforts to be in ceiling-free environments, that is, in nature, more often.

When we look at the brand story, we never see that it aims to be "just a shoe " brand. We see that it is always pursuing innovation and wants to make a difference. When you observe the brand a little, it is possible to see how much love they do their job, and at the same time, they have managed to increase their sphere of influence considerably with their social responsibility projects.

We saw the biggest example of this in the aid they provided to the region during the tsunami in Asia in 2004. They provided various aid to veterans, those in need, protection units and many other issues. They emphasized that they did not see all these aid and social responsibility projects as a job, but that they were a result of their own culture and values.

Keen brand, which cares so much about human values, produces nature-friendly products, which is an approach that is exactly in line with its values! When you look carefully at a pair of shoes, you can notice recycled aluminum rings, mesh made from recycled plastic bottles, and more. They explain their approach to nature-friendly production with a striking sentence. “We decided to remove everything that should not be in our products and detox for a better result.”

The Keen brand does what is expected of it and starts examining its supplier lists. It eliminates those containing chemical waste without much thought. Steps are taken towards new agreements with the criteria of being safe, durable and free of chemical waste. As of 2019, it offers PFC/PFAS-free waterproofing and thus prevents the release of more than 150 tons of fluorinated chemicals into nature. This is a success that should be taken as an example in terms of respect for nature.

The studies carried out are not limited to these. They also use natural methods to control the odor that occurs during production. They prevent 7 tons of dangerous chemicals from entering the environment every year and use insoles containing probiotic Eco Anti-Odor instead of pesticides.

Keen, who thinks about air and soil, does not forget about water. Leather working groups take place in certified production facilities. They are moving forward by considering solutions that reduce chemicals, energy use and water pollution. Considering the nature criterion, we see the use of LWG certified leather, which is preferred.

You must have heard from many experts that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. At this point, Keen reveals its difference with the use of recycled plastic. The use of products made from recycled plastic saves energy and resources. The fact that millions of plastic bottle wastes have been prevented is a fact that cannot be ignored! As of 2020, the Keen brand begins using recycled plastic in the webbing, lining and laces of shoes in certain product groups. It explains that in some models, 9 plastic bottles are recycled per shoe.

Its brand story and corporate culture show that Keen always aims one step further. We can say that Keen is quite assertive because they prioritize respect for nature in the technologies they use, inspire people to attract people to nature, and the help they provide, and much more. Let's see what innovations they will add to their brand stories. :)