Saskia van Gendt, Head of Sustainability at Rothy’s
Headquartered in San Francisco, Rothy’s is a vertically-integrated fashion company best known for transforming recycled water bottles into shoes, bags and accessories for men and women. By focusing on low-waste production, innovative materials and circular production, Rothy’s is pioneering a more sustainable future in fashion.
In what ways is Rothy’s considered eco-friendly? Rothy’s considers the environmental and social impact of everything we do. Starting with our material sourcing and design, Rothy’s uses thread made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, algae-based foam and other natural materials that have a low environmental impact. We own our own factory, which allows us to ensure that our workforce is treated well, and that we’re reducing carbon emissions at the source. Our signature, knit-to-shape manufacturing method helps us avoid the enormous amount of waste common in traditional cut-and-sew manufacturing. Every product is designed for washability and durability, which means our products are designed to last. And, most recently, we’re on a journey to close our loop by creating a recycling program for worn shoes to recover and recycle materials back into new products. Sustainability is built into our DNA, and we’re always looking out for new ways to do even better.
What inspired you to start a career in sustainability? From a young age, I loved being in nature. As I got older, I started learning more about environmental policy and innovations like renewable energy, which inspired me to study environmental science. At the time, there weren’t careers like “Head of Sustainability” so I had to chart my own path, starting at the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and eventually joining the mission-driven brand, Method Products, where I learned how to integrate the science of sustainability into the strategy of business. Luckily, today, more companies recognize the importance of integrating sustainability into their practices, and there are brands like Rothy’s that were started with the foundation of sustainability from day one.
For readers who want to be more eco-conscious in their everyday lives, what do you recommend? How about for those looking to launch a green business? Better choices start with the everyday products that we buy. A good place to start is by supporting brands that are truly doing the work and being transparent about their impact on the planet. Check out a brand’s website to learn more about their sustainability efforts — how much are they willing to share? Does their work go beyond just one dedicated product or collection? Is it core to the brand’s DNA? Consumers also have enormous power to influence companies, governments and other institutions to take action at scale. Write to brands and your local representatives to ask them what practices they have or encourage them to take action on climate change and zero waste. For those looking to launch a green business, think about the full supply chain. Sustainability is more than just the materials a product is made from; it’s about how it’s being made, who is making it and what that entire ecosystem looks like.
What are your long-term goals for Rothy’s and its impact? At Rothy’s, circularity is our continuous quest for better. From materials to manufacturing, products to recycling—achieving circular production is about considering every step of our process. To take a bigger step toward a zero-waste future, we’ve set several ambitious goals: Our recycling program. We’re excited to be working on our shoe recycling program—starting small, and eventually scaling as we learn. In 2021, we completed several recycling pilots to learn how to deconstruct and recycle shoe materials and how to engage customers to return shoes for recycling in our retail stores. We’re incorporating the learnings from our pilot as we develop our ongoing recycling program and get one step closer to our goal of reaching circular production by 2023. Twice-recycled materials. We already carefully consider each material we use, including our signature thread made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled bottles. Our goal in 2022 is to begin incorporating twice-recycled materials into new products—deconstructing and reclaiming used materials to create something new. TRUE Zero Waste certification at our factory. In 2022, Rothy’s is also pursuing zero-waste certification at our workshop. This means that we’ll expand on existing waste minimization practices in all areas of the factory. Fully circular production. Rothy’s 2023 goal is our most ambitious yet. Not only will our products be crafted with majority recycled, twice-recycled and bio-based materials, but every product Rothy’s puts into the world will have an end-of-wear solution. We’ll also move closer to a carbon neutral footprint by reducing our emissions directly and investing in nature-based solutions.