NEW YORK — Global footwear brand Skechers USA, Inc. announced that since 2016, the company has reduced its use of plastic in its footwear packaging by 85% to 10% of its foot forms, all of which is recyclable. The achievement is part of an aggressive strategy to increase the Company’s use of sustainable packaging worldwide: 99% of Skechers-branded shoeboxes meet FSC standards for responsible sources, and 94% are recyclable, along with all the Company’s tissue paper packaging. All of Skechers’ packaging materials are also printed with soy- or water-based ink. Included in Skechers’ global sustainability philosophy are its shipping methods. All of the company’s master cartons from its factories are printed with soy- or water-based ink and are 100% recyclable, and at the distribution centers managing more than 90%of its business, its outbound shipping cartons are made with 96-100% recyclable materials and are 100% recyclable. In recent years, Skechers has made environmental responsibility a priority as it expands globally. From the company’s Moreno Valley distribution center for North America to its upcoming Manhattan and Hermosa Beach offices expected to open in 2020, numerous Skechers facilities have or are slated to achieve LEED Gold certification for their sustainable features, which include natural lighting, drought-tolerant landscaping, renewable energy and reduced waste. — SG