Our sustainability strategy

Sustainability to us means a concern for people and the environment. Our strategy is therefore also twofold: on the one hand, we are committed to reducing the impact of our activities on the environment and, on the other hand, to making a positive contribution to people and society. This presents us with three important challenges: transitioning to a circular economy, reducing our CO2 footprint and increasing transparency in the production chain.

CO2 reduction

The challenge - Climate change is one of the major issues today. This means that reducing greenhouse gases in one of the greatest challenges. When burning fossil fuels, large quantities of greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere. The increase in greenhouse gases raises the temperature on earth. This rise in temperature has major consequences for people, nature and the environment.

Allshoes & CO2 reduction - Our aim is to fight global warming and work hard to reduce our CO2 emissions. To that end, we have set CO2 reduction targets for our own organisation.

We work together with our suppliers to reduce CO2 emissions in our supply chain. Our reduction targets are based on recognised calculation methods. These calculation methods are based on agreements in the UN Climate Convention and therefore reflect the reduction required to restrict the warming of the earth to a maximum of 1.5 degrees.

By 2025 we are aiming for

• A climate neutral organization with a 30% reduction of greenhouse gases (scopes 1 and 2 using 2018 as the base year)

• A 25% reduction of greenhouse gases per product sold (scope 3 using 2020 as the base year)

Progress

• A 12.5% reduction of greenhouse gases (scopes 1 and 2 using 2018 as the base year)

• A 1.2% reduction of greenhouse gases per product sold (scope 3 using 2020 as the base year)

Circularity

The challenge – A growing global population and increasing prosperity ensure raw materials are becoming scarcer and scarcer. This is why we must use the available raw materials efficiently. Operating in a circular manner offers a solution to this. In a circular economy, products and raw materials are reused again and again, eliminating waste.

Allshoes & circularity – As a market leader in the safety footwear industry, we feel it is our responsibility to take the initiative in the transition to a circular economy. We are working towards a circular business model with our main focus being the reduction of waste streams in the supply chain. This should result in a fully circular product range by 2025.

There are various views as to when a product can be called ‘circular’ and no standard exists (yet).

We want to be transparent about our working method and therefore define a ‘circular product’ as follows:

• The product consists of at least 50%3 recycled content.4

• The product has been designed in such a way that it has a long service life.

• The product has been designed in such a way that it can easily be disassembled.

• All materials in the product can be recycled where the materials being processed into applications with the highest possible quality.

We use the most ambitious standards in relation to the above.

• A fully circular product range5

Progress

• Design with circularity in mind: we have instructed three suppliers to design a circular product. One of these products is a circular version of our most popular model: Grisport 803.

• The organisation of return logistics: In 2021, the Circular Footwear Alliance collected 4200 pairs of used safety footwear. Ready for recycling!

3 This percentage is not the ultimate goal. Although our entire product range will be required to consist of at least 50% recycled content by 2025, we are aiming to increase that percentage in due course.

4 The calculation of recycled content is in line with ISO 14021 guidelines and is calculated on the basis of weight.

5 See page 21 for a description of the requirements that a circular product must meet.

Social responsibility

The challenge – Good working conditions and fair wages are unfortunately not always self-evident for workers in the textile and footwear industry. Since these production chains often consist of a non-transparent web of various links, it is difficult to determine whether and where exactly abuse occurs. Making the supply chain transparent is an important first step for tackling any of this abuse.

Allshoes & socially responsible trade – With our products, we not only guarantee the safety of our customers, but also support social initiatives that offer protection to vulnerable groups in our society. In addition, we also aim for a safe working environment for our own employees and for those of our suppliers.

After all, we know who our suppliers are. However, it is not yet always clear which companies make an indirect contribution to our products. For example, suppliers who provide raw materials to our suppliers. In order to be able to guarantee the health and safety of the people who work at a deeper level in our production chain, we are working towards a transparent supply chain.

• A transparent supply chain