January 10, 2018 Fully Transparent

As the first shoe ever, AKU Bellamont Plus has recently been awarded the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) – an achievement that comes from a rigorous calculation involving all partners along the entire supply chain.

In an industry first, Italian footwear specialist AKU has submitted its bestselling Bellamont Plus to the strict and wide-ranging measurements of the EPD® System. This international certificate takes into consideration every step of the production process to compile a fully transparent picture of the environmental impact of this travel and urban outdoor shoe. This means that every step, from how the raw materials are produced (upstream) to the product assembly and distribution process itself (core) and finally the impact at the end of the product’s life (downstream), finds its way into the report.

To collect this enormous amount of data over a 12-month period, not only AKU but all of its partners along the whole supply chain – like the renowned DANI tannery – also had to be involved.

“We want to give retailers and consumers a documented reassurance that we as a brand have a transparent and responsible approach to product design and production processes,” explains Giulio Piccin, AKU Product and Sustainability Manager, on why the brand undertook this incredible effort.

“Obviously, we will also use the collected data to examine which steps of our production can still be enhanced to reduce the environmental impact and react according to the outcomes of the report.”

As the first brand from the outdoor sector, AKU hopes to set a good example for other brands to follow, examine and improve the environmental sustainability of their production.

AKU at ISPO: Hall A2 300
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