Conversation In Jan Arts

ALLSHOES SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATIONS MANAGER

Jan Arts has been Sustainability & Innovations Manager at Allshoes since 2018 and he is responsible for the Sustainability team. On a daily basis, he and his team not only look at what can be done better today, but they also look further ahead. Jan says: “We look at the direction of the market and which product solutions are needed for that. We make our products sustainable by producing them in a manner that is as responsible as possible. We focus not only on the product itself but also at the processes in our entire production chain.”

Extra responsibility

As one of the major players in the area of safety footwear in the Benelux, Allshoes introduces a huge number of shoes on the market “We are proud of this, but the market leader role also means an extra responsibility. This is why, in addition to making our own collections and operational processes sustainable, we attempt to move the entire safety shoe industry forward. Thus we are proponents of an extended producer responsibility (EPR) for manufacturers of safety footwear. This EPR must result in more reuse of materials and less pollution in the entire industry”, says Jan.

The single-mindedness of making Allshoes completely circular by 2025 fits in with that and Jan also aims at achieving this in his private life. Jan: Clean air, sufficient drinking water and healthy food; we take many of these things for granted. And yet, humans depend on a fragile ecosystem that is under an enormous pressure because of our actions.

When surrounded by nature, I am always very much aware of the fact that we are only a link in a much larger whole. Several times a year, I go out with friends and we go on a long hike, sleeping under the stars. Those are the moments when I feel very much connected with nature. It motivates me to do everything I can to protect nature, the climate and the environment. This feeling has become even stronger since the birth of my three children. I want to give my family a healthy and safe future with plenty of beautiful moments in nature.”

Most important achievements in the area of sustainability

Allshoes is a data-driven organisation. This fact-based approach can be found in all departments, including the Sustainability team. “In 2019, we began mapping the CO2 emissions of both our organisation and our products”, says Jan. “A huge and timeconsuming process, but now we are benefiting from it. The data collected is a valuable source of information. Based on it, we can now make solid and well-argued choices that also actually result in a reduction of our carbon footprint.

In addition to this approach within the organisation, Allshoes also seeks to collaborate with other organisations. Jan: “I am proud of how we have looked for a connection and collaboration outside of Allshoes as well. Whether they are our suppliers or competitors, we are glad to contribute to sustainable solutions that can help the world. We have founded the Circular Footwear Alliance with several other partners, we are working on an Extended Producer Responsibility with a shoe manufacturer and we meet up with our suppliers regularly to share our knowledge. We make the greatest impact together.”

Working towards 2025

To work towards that complete circularity by 2025, the simplification of the dismantling process of safety footwear is important. “In the next year, we will be applying even more circular principles in our products”, says Jan. “Specifically, this means that we will use more recycled materials and that the design process will focus even more on the application of assembly technologies and techniques.

This is how we are working towards a fully circular product range by 2025. In 2022, we will be paying a lot of attention to the further internationalisation and expansion of the Circular Footwear Alliance. The idea is to collect as many returned shoes as possible to recover raw materials. In addition to circularity, CO2 reduction and supply chain transparency will play a major role in our supply chain in the next year. We are working with a roadmap that has goals and actions outlined up to and including 2025. Plenty to do.”

Jan Arts

Sustainability & Innovations Manager