Not just any shoe from Emma
 

Emma safety footwear in awards

Sustainable Development Goals Pioneer 2022 from United Nations Global Compact. Not everyone has this honorable title on her resume. Iris van Wanrooij (CSR program manager) is among the select company of ten international pioneers. "What are we doing in terms of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? And how do we make sustainable impact? Those were the main selection criteria. With more than 20,000 members, UN Global Compact is the largest sustainability network for business worldwide. After first a national selection, a video, screening the company to measure the SDGs and many questions, Iris may call herself one of those ten global pioneers. A very honorable title, of course."

Shoe study

We know exactly what goes into our shoes and have already parted ways with suppliers who cannot meet our requirements. We also have a selective policy when it comes to our distribution partners. This is why Itsme also chooses EMMA safety shoes for its own employees. 
"What are the biggest challenges in the world of safety shoes?" The environmental impact, think water, energy and chemicals. You want to use as many sustainable and recyclable materials as possible. Think responsibly tanned leather and insoles made mostly of recycled foam."

Denimx-feter

EMMA determines the specifications and requirements. Our suppliers sign off on them. We quantify that with data sheets, lab tests and samples. Complicating factor is that we have to comply with all kinds of remarks. In the case of laces, for example, consider the tensile strength and waterproofness of the leather. And of course we also pay attention to social working conditions, such as living wages. Extremely important. We still have our own factory. Some 60 percent of the people who work there are distanced from the labor market. And then sustainability is only one of the three dimensions. We are not even talking about safety and wearing comfort. Those are just as crucial. 
For example, with partners we have introduced the DenimX lace. Made from recycled jeans. That makes a safety shoe look a little different.
There are companies that excel in social commitment. The superlative is EMMA Safety Footwear. Because companies that have breathed social sustainability for more than 90 years are a rarity. Once a social workshop for disabled miners. Now both a social and circular leader. For example, EMMA was among the 3 finalists nominated for the prestigious Koning Willem I Plaque for Sustainable Entrepreneurship. And even at the United Nations Global Compact, the efforts of the Kerkrade-based shoe manufacturer have not gone unnoticed.

Living longer

After all these improvements, what are the challenges now. Making bezoling even more sustainable, for even fewer emissions. In addition, we now have a pilot with return logistics. The first thousands of shoes have been collected. We are doing that in an alliance that, as far as we are concerned, will grow into an industry-level foundation. That we get more shoes back, take those shoes apart properly and find sustainable uses for the materials. We want to get more shoes back from the market, be able to take them apart properly and find sustainable uses for the materials. High reuse of raw materials." That last stage is the trickiest: Because in addition to the technical challenges, there is also a strong behavioral component to it. In many cases, extending lifespan is more sustainable. With thicker leather and repairs, a shoe can last longer. So we analyze the whole life cycle to see where we can get the most return on investment." 

Not just any shoe

Quiz question for the reader: after this story, do you have any idea how many components and suppliers it actually takes to manufacture the ideal circular safety shoe? You need about 300 operations to make a shoe. The leather, the shank, the soles, the lining, the laces, the eyelets, the steel toe cap ... and all the suppliers of the suppliers that fortunately do often sit together. It's not surprising that there are maybe 70 parties involved.  Yeah, we're not talking about just any shoe huh. There is so much complexity behind making a good and reliable safety shoe. This is really pure craftsmanship."

GOOD FOR YOUR FEET, BETTER FOR THE WORLD

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