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Merrell, an outdoor footwear brand popular with hikers and athletes, has introduced a limited-edition shoe collection that reinforces their sustainability commitments. Made in honour of the annual Zero Waste Week, which supports efforts to reduce landfill waste, this collection embodies a vision of fashion that is both environmentally responsible and stylish.
A Greener Future With Merrell Scrap
Merrell’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint has found a powerful expression in the Scrap collection. This remarkable line of footwear consists of three iconic styles: the Jungle Moc Scrap, Moab 3 Scrap, and Moab Speed Scrap.
The Scrap collection, as it’s aptly named, embraces the imperfections of production and transforms leftover scrap material into unique, one-of-a-kind shoe uppers. This approach not only prevents waste from ending up in landfills but also adds a touch of authenticity to each pair of shoes.
“At Merrell, we’re continuing to show our commitment to helping protect and preserve nature, as we believe the outdoors is a place that people feel a connection to and should always be able to depend on,” says Regina Hill, Marketing Manager at Merrell.
“The Scrap collection diverts excess materials from the waste stream, allowing us to invite more consumers outdoors to champion exploration while considering their environmental impact in a way that makes them look cool, feel good, and do good.”
Sustainability in Every Step
The Jungle Moc Scrap, a versatile and stylish shoe designed for comfort and convenience, is a testament to Merrell’s dedication to sustainability. The upper is constructed from leftover scrap material, breathing new life into waste. The shoe also incorporates 100% recycled double stretch gore and breathable mesh lining, with a 50% recycled removable EVA foam footbed.
The Moab 3 Scrap takes inspiration from Merrell’s best-selling hiking boots, with uppers made from stitched-together scrap material. This all-purpose, all-terrain outdoor companion is not only comfortable but also environmentally friendly, featuring 100% recycled laces, webbing, and mesh footbed covers. The Vibram® Ecostep Recycle outsole contains up to 30% recycled rubber, underscoring the brand’s commitment to sustainable practices.
For those who value speed and versatility in outdoor activities, the Moab Speed Scrap is a light and sustainable option. It incorporates 100% recycled laces and webbing, a 30% recycled EVA foam midsole, and a Vibram® Ecostep Recycle outsole with up to 30% recycled rubber.
“The Scrap line’s signature feature is the computerized grid stitch to trap all the normally unusable scrap pieces, leading to a unique aesthetic across the collection,” says Ian Cobb, Senior Design Director at Merrell. “This was a passion project for our team as we look to merge style with eco-conscious decisions such as making footwear with excess materials from the production process.”
Embracing Uniqueness and Imperfection
What makes the Merrell Scrap collection truly distinctive is the acknowledgment that each upper component may vary slightly from what is pictured. This is a feature, not a flaw. Merrell celebrates these minor distinctions, recognizing that they make each shoe special and truly one-of-a-kind. This variation adds character and authenticity to the products, embracing the imperfections often hidden in mass production.
“This is Home” Sustainability Initiative
The Scrap collection is part of Merrell’s “This is Home” multi-year sustainability initiative, which includes six sustainability goals the brand aims to achieve by 2025:
- Ensuring that 100% of products contain organic, recycled, or renewable materials.
- Reducing shoe and apparel samples by 50%.
- Committing to reducing plastic packaging.
- Reducing water waste by 40 million gallons.
- Completing 10,000 volunteer hours.
- Save 300K pairs of shoes from ending up in landfills.
Merrell Moad 3 Scrap Review
I was personally gifted a pair of Merrell Moab 3 Scrap shoes. After wearing it almost daily since mid-July, my thoughts are that it is very comfortable and snug on your feet, easy to walk in, feels light yet durable, and the minor imperfections on the scrap upper are not concerning and hardly noticeable. A few stitching issues on the upper are present but other than that, I rate the Merrell Moab 3 Scrap ⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars out of 5.
To learn more about Merrell, visit their website at https://www.merrell.com/US/en/home.
All images in this article are courtesy of Merrell.
