Birkenstock scores 9 out of 16 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

Birkenstock Info

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9 out of 16
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Brand Owner: Birkenstock Orthopädie GmbH & Co. KG
Head Office: Vettelschoß, Germany
Sector: Fashion, Clothing & Shoes
Categories: Footwear
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Last Updated: 13 December 2011
Last Verified: 13 December 2011

Birkenstock Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

1 out of 4


1. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions?	Birkenstock has plans to reduce energy consumption by improving their large leather punches, implementing environmentally-friendly energy generation plants, and using combined heat and power plants (click 'Environmental Protection' under 'Tradition').	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations' and has the brand already reduced or compensated 10% of these emissions in the last 5 years?	Birkenstock claims its energy consumption has reduced by more than 90% in recent years. However, Birkenstock does not communicate a carbon footprint policy, if there is one, on its website (see page 95).	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce the carbon footprint of its 'own operations' by at least 20% within the next 5 years?	Birkenstock does not communicate any information on target reductions for its carbon emissions, if there is any, on its website.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) also have a policy to reduce/compensate carbon emissions generated from the product supply chain that is beyond own operations?	Birkenstock has combined heat and power plants for its production processes, such as the cork footbed drying process (click 'Environmental Protection' under 'Tradition'), but no specific policy to reduce carbon emissions in the supply chain is mentioned.	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

1 out of 4


1. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 5% of its volume?	Birkenstock only uses natural and sustainable materials such as cork, latex and jute for the Birkenstock footbed. None of these are part of the "preferred materials" as defined by Made-By (see page 96).	SOURCE
2. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 10% of its volume?	See remark for environmental policy question 1.	SOURCE
3. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 25% of its volume?	See remark for environmental policy question 1.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have an environmental policy related to the ‘wet processes’ within the production cycle, like bleaching and dying of fabrics?	All products are made in Germany, which is a low risk country as defined by MADE-BY (see page 95).	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

7 out of 8


1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labour, no child labour, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace?	All products are made in Germany (click 'Gratis Catalogue', see page 99), which is a low risk country as defined by MADE-BY.	SOURCE
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage?	See remark for labour conditions question 1.	SOURCE
3. Does this Code of Conduct include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining?	See remark for labour conditions question 1.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume?	Birkenstock mentions the location of its production facilities in Germany, but it is unclear if there are additional suppliers (click 'Gratis Catalogue', see page 99).	SOURCE
5. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labour conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labour conditions?	See remark for labour conditions question 1.	SOURCE
6. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labour unions have a decisive voice in this collective initiative or in these certification schemes?	See remark for labour conditions question 1.	SOURCE
7. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?	See remark for labour conditions question 1.	SOURCE
8. Has the brand's labour conditions policy resulted in a 'compliance level' of at least 30% of the purchase volume, or a 'monitored level' of at least 80%?	See remark for labour conditions question 1.	SOURCE