Rock Fall Safety Boots strides on confidently with appointment of new materials technologist

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 24 March 2020

The second-generation family owned Safety Boot manufacturer has a reputation for being the go-to supplier for Safety Equipment Distributors looking for a single source solution for footwear.

The company which operates from one secure site based on Wimsey Way in Alfreton has a range of over 85 styles designed for various industries ranging from sizes as small as a size 2 all the way to a size 16. They sell their range via distributors all over the world.

Following their commitment to “operate as normal” following the COVID-19 outbreak the Rock Fall Senior Management Team are delighted to announce the creation of a brand new, senior position at Rock Fall as a Materials Technologist.

The role, which will involve steering Rock Fall product development into new, existing and sustainable areas has been filled by Cathryn Widdowson. Cathryn is a prominent person in the field have previously sourced materials across the world in China, Vietnam and Netherlands for major brands, including Clarks.

Rock Fall outlined their commitment to sustainable business practises with their 2020 Sustainability Report released in January of this year. Cathryn will work alongside their Senior Team, supply chain, factories and partner component manufacturers with the aim of making Rock Fall “the sustainable safety boot brand” by 2022.

Quick wins for the company include increasing the amount of styles produced using LWG accredited upper materials. Currently, only 20% of finished footwear is manufactured using Leather Working Group accredited materials. LWG manufacturers have an average energy use reduction of 48% and water consumption reduction of 35% so any increases in this production have a notable affect on the eco credentials of a manufacturer.

Important next steps include changing materials to be sourced from recycled sources and increasing the amount of material that can be recycled at end of use, as well as removing plastics where possible.

Summarising their plans, the Rock Fall Senior Management Team said:

“Cathryn is something of a coup for Rock Fall and strengthens our product design and sourcing team. She joins Rock Fall with a wealth of experience and industry contacts to bring our aims closer to a reality. We have a hard-earned reputation for innovation and for prolific levels of new developments in safety footwear, these sorts of positions enable our company to stay at the forefront of the industry.”

 

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