Challenges of Sustainable Production: Transitioning to a Green Future

As we have already discussed elsewhere, the need to produce sustainably is now more than ever a basic prerequisite for companies committed to their social responsibility. But what exactly does sustainability actually mean? And what ways are there to transition production towards a green future while continuing to operate profitably? Shoes For Crews explores these questions in today’s article.

To do so, we will first approach the topic by defining the term. Sustainable is green, green is good for the environment, and environmental protection is our project for the future – to that extent, there is a consensus. Although everyone knows and uses the term “sustainability” nowadays, they often have only a rough understanding of the underlying principles.

Sustainability: A Definition

Sustainability is a “principle according to which no more may be consumed than can regrow, regenerate or be made available again in the future” – this is how the Duden dictionary defines the term.  Why sustainable production is so important was explained as early as 1972 by one of the most significant studies on the state and future of the global economy: The Limits to Growth. Report of the Club of Rome on the Predicament of Mankind. This report represents a “milestone in the analysis of the economic, demographic, technological and ecological future consequences of the existing global economic system.” Put simply, based on a computer simulation, this study highlighted the effects that continuous economic growth will have “under the conditions of a planet with finite natural resources.” As a result, a broader public debate on sustainability emerged, and corporate social responsibility came into focus.

In recent years, the issue has gained new urgency as climate change has become even more evident. More and more people are seeking information about how to put a sustainable lifestyle into practice. It is clear that every individual can contribute through their consumption behaviour. However, a large share of the responsibility lies with large companies that manufacture industrially and therefore have a significant influence on humanity’s ecological footprint. At Shoes For Crews, we are aware of this responsibility. That is why we are changing not just individual models, but gradually our entire production process and the materials we use for our shoes. We will look at what this means in practice in the next section.

Challenges of a Green Production Chain

The most important question is: do shoes from sustainable production necessarily have to be significantly more expensive? Our answer is: no! Contrary to widespread prejudice, sustainability does not always mean higher costs. At Shoes For Crews, we have developed a range of quality shoes made from recycled materials that your employees will love. This brings us to one of the most important aspects of sustainable production: resource management. Compared with the other stages of production, the origin, processing, disposal and transportation of resources have the greatest impact on whether production can be considered sustainable. As we have already seen, the concept of sustainability itself is directly linked to the Earth’s finite resources. So how can we improve the way we handle raw materials? Recycled materials are crucial to conserving our resources

• To keep manufacturing costs at an economical level, gradually increasing the recycled content – the proportion of raw materials generated through a recycling process – is of the utmost importance.
• Local production is another important factor, as (international) transportation multiplies the CO2 footprint of a production chain.
• An internal sustainability strategy and objectives, combined with regular monitoring of implementation and adjustments where necessary.

The German Environment Agency characterises the guiding principle of sustainable production as one in which “social responsibility, economic performance and the protection of the natural environment are inseparably linked.” At Shoes For Crews, we are committed to this goal. To maintain our excellent quality-to-price ratio while also minimising our ecological footprint, we have followed an internally developed strategy for years. We will look at what this strategy entails in the next section.  

Transitioning to Sustainable Production

Enabling a green future requires major changes throughout the production process – from material sourcing and manufacturing itself to the product’s arrival at its place of use. We are transitioning our entire shoe range towards sustainability, using environmentally friendly materials and making our supply chain more environmentally conscious. To achieve this, we have developed a strategy as follows:

1. New design and production process
2. Creation of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report and CSR strategy
3. Gradual transition of production
4. Systematic increase in recycled content across all models
5. Establishment of production in the EU (Portugal and Italy)
6. Development and launch of an Eco-Range

As part of this strategy, we publish a sustainability report highlighting our initiatives and achievements in environmental, social and corporate governance matters. You can download the 2021 report here. If you would like further information about our CSR strategy or our Eco-Range, please contact us at any time.