The Keen foundation was created to support environmental and social organizations, particularly those with an outdoor bent. We are the single largest support of the conservation alliance. We sponsor the oil and water bio diesel expedition, the surf foundation, and many other groups.

In 2005 we gave almost our entire advertising budget to the Tsunami victims, nearly $1,000,000.

But charitable sponsorships are only a small part of Keen's commitment to our environment. A high percentage of our products are manufactured in a eco friendly way, or by using sustainable products. Many of our new designs use injection molded midsoles and outsoles which attach to the upper with no adhesives. The Ventura is a vegan friendly, vulcanized style that utilizes a recycled cork and latex footbed with recycled aluminum eyelets. We also use stitch and turn construction in our sienna collection which attaches the upper with minimal glues.

The scraps from our cutting room floor are gathered up and sewn into tiny (key chain sized) exact replica Newport sandals, which trains new employees. If you can build a shoe that is 1.5 inches long, you can make a size 9.

Our bag program uses the waste stream from our footwear manufacturing process. The excess rubber from outsoles is re-molded into rubber pack bottoms. All the hardware on the packs is recycled aluminum. The liners are recycled polyester made from plastic bottles.

Our harvest bag collection is made from recycled rice bags or haul bags used on our factory floors.

In 2007 Keen started hybrid.pedal, an event where over 100 bikers participated in a ride from Portland to Salt Lake City (900 miles) for the start of the outdoor retailer show to raise awareness for the conservation alliance.

Click here for more information about hybrid.pedal and hybrid.stand.