Why Kate Bosworth and Justin Long Are Calling the New York Senate From a Rothy’s Store

On a recent evening, Rothy’s—a company known for its sustainable footwear more than political campaigns—hosted a phone-a-thon. Inside the brand’s sleek Nolita store, next to a vintage-style landline was a placard instructing guests to call New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to express their support for increasing the bottle deposit fee from five cents to 10 cents. The “Bigger, Better Bottle Bill,” introduced to the New York State Legislature in February, would raise deposit amounts as well as expand the types of bottles that can be returned—a measure that could increase recycling and reduce litter, according to proponents. The suggested script read, in part, “I believe this bill will better our community, prevent plastic from ending up in landfills, and provide living wages to the recycling community.” 

“This particular legislation would bring New York up to 89% recapture [of plastic bottles],” said Roth Martin, cofounder of Rothy’s. A tray of hors d’oeuvres sat on a table beside him, while a caricaturist sketched complimentary portraits of guests. Martin wore a pair of the brand’s rounded-toe loafers with a gray blazer and white trousers. “That’s huge, that’s pretty meaningful.” 

Plastic is at the heart of Rothy’s business. “Plastic is essentially polyester,” Martin explained. The future-minded company turns post-consumer waste, which includes discarded plastic bottles, into shoes by having the bottles sterilized, washed, and chipped into flakes that are then spun out into a soft fiber. Incentivizing more people to properly deposit bottles is additionally beneficial for Rothy’s: It means more plastic to turn into long-lasting and dependable shoes. “Plastic is a brilliantly engineered product. So brilliantly engineered, it doesn’t go away!” Martin said. “This is really about stopping plastic pollution and improving our ability to repurpose plastic.” 

It’s also about potentially putting more cash into the pockets of New Yorkers. In 1983, New York state began charging a five-cent deposit fee on plastic bottles and containers. Retailers charge a five-cent deposit on each bottled beverage sold, and customers can, in theory, later receive that deposit back when they return the empty bottles. On paper, it’s straightforward. In reality, less so. A lot of people simply never return the bottles. They recycle them or, worse, throw them away for curbside pickup. Consequently, as The New York Times once wrote, “an entire economic ecosystem has sprouted” from the five-cent deposit.

On trash days across the five boroughs, leagues of people collect cans and bottles as a vital way to make ends meet. They’re referred to as “freelance recyclers,” “canners,” and “bottlers.” (They were even immortalized in an episode of High Maintenance.) But, no matter their name, one thing is indisputable. They have not received a pay raise for nearly forty years. 

The passage of the “Bigger, Better Bottle Bill” is not necessarily a shoo-in. Some restaurant and beverage industry representatives have derided the bill, expressing concerns about higher prices and potential logistic problems for small businesses, specifically if the deposit expanded to include wine bottles. Proponents of the bill argue that the bill will potentially create jobs and also help prevent broken glass from hindering recycling efforts. As of last year, the bill has not formally been put up for an on-floor vote. Activists hope that changes this upcoming legislative session. 

“This could change the whole look of New York—the extra five cents,” said actor Justin Long, who attended the event. Long might be best known for his star-turn run in Apple’s “I’m a Mac guy” commercials and roles in comedies such as He’s Just Not That Into You. The actor, however, is also deeply and personally committed to environmentalism. Long regaled guests with his recent adventures rescuing a bale of abandoned baby sea turtles. He raised them for a bit before safely releasing them back into the ocean. “This will help protect the sea turtles,” Long said of the effort to keep plastic waste out of the ocean. 

Actor Kate Bosworth, who wore a lace dress by Sea NYC and a pair of flats by Rothy’s, agreed. The two actors, who recently announced their engagement, say a shared interest in global activism and sustainability brought them together. (Long drives an adorably well-used 2007 Prius, and Bosworth has been a day-one supporter of Rothy’s and its sustainability efforts.) “I asked them recently when they were going to restock this pink model—and they were like, we don’t even make those anymore,” Bosworth said of her love for Rothy’s. “That’s how long I’ve been following them.”

The couple lives in Massachusetts, but visits New York often. They recognize that the bill, if passed, would have positive effects that spread out far beyond New York’s borders.  “It’d be such a great thing for plastic waste and reducing it,” Long said. Early on in their courtship, Bosworth asked Long what his biggest romantic dealbreaker would be. His answer? Littering. “He was like, I’d have to break up with you,” Bosworth joked.