As an outdoor shoe brand, we live from and with our environment. Nature is the source of all the unforgettable outdoor experiences that make life worth living. As a traditional company that has been manufacturing shoes primarily in Europe for over 100 years, it is therefore a fundamental concern for us to work for its preservation. We have thus made our corporate responsibility a central part of all our activities. We understand sustainability as a long hiking tour – with numerous stages. Step by step, we approach the summit. We are constantly working to reduce the burden on the environment and nature, to increase social and environmental standards, and to make the way we interact within our organization appreciative and safe. We are ambitious and persistent in the various tasks related to sustainability. In our first sustainability report, we have detailed our commitment. From now on, we will publish our progress every year.
FOR NATURE AND MAN
Get up, grab your equipment and lace up your hiking boots. Take a deep breath and feel the fresh air. The anticipation of immersing yourself in nature with a firm step is something very special! We make products for these moments. That's why it goes without saying that we are committed to protecting nature. Sustainability is an intrinsic part of our business model. To this end, we take responsibility for future generations and have been strategically improving our impact on people and the environment for over ten years. We are committed to the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and support the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. We will also join the UN's "Race to Zero" initiative.
Step by step, we are climbing towards our goal: a future worth living for generations to come.
- Annika Jestädt, Head of CR at LOWA
SUSTAINABILITY
WITH SYSTEM
With the help of a double materiality analysis, we have analysed the impact of LOWA on people and nature as well as the influence of external factors on our ability to do business. Annika Jestädt, Head of Corporate Responsibility, explains: "For the analysis, LOWA management worked together with our experts from Germany, Italy and Slovakia. We considered the entire value chain and used the analysis to define the impact categories, opportunities and risks."
The double materiality analysis thus forms the basis for LOWA's sustainability strategy.
Four areas of action were derived from the results, where we at LOWA have the greatest leverage:
Product - We are strengthening sustainability in our products.
Supply chain - We take responsibility for the entire supply chain.
Environment and climate - we reduce our impact on nature.
People and company - we live our corporate and social responsibility.
LOWA contributes to eight Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations
WE MAKE OUR PRODUCTS MORE SUSTAINABLE
We are continuously expanding our quality and sustainability standards for our shoes - from the design to the end product. To this end, we are developing our own product sustainability guidelines and will only launch products that meet these requirements on the market from 2027. Our focus is on durability and the use of materials with a low environmental impact while maintaining consistently high performance. We increase longevity by producing durable, washable and repairable shoes. We always use the levers in such a way that they achieve the best results for the respective product. "We make our sustainability efforts verifiable by certifying products and materials," explains Veronika Becker, CR Manager at LOWA.
WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR SUPPLY CHAIN
Together with our suppliers, we regularly and systematically check compliance with environmental and social standards along the entire value chain. All our production sites are externally audited according to the standards of the Fair Wear Foundation. "The protection of our employees throughout the entire supply chain is particularly important to us," says Mária Srnková, CR Officer LOWA Production. "To ensure that our Code of Conduct is applied and adhered to, we have also successfully established a whistle-blowing system." We also actively minimise risks by introducing a supplier development programme with audits and countermeasures.
WE PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE
Through continuous improvement in the design and production process, we optimise our use of resources and thus minimise our environmental impact. Waste is reduced or added to a further life cycle. We have committed ourselves to being climate-neutral by 2050. To achieve this, we plan to halve direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) in the medium term and significantly reduce indirect emissions in our value chain (Scope 3). We are also focussing on renewable energies: At our Jetzendorf site, 50 per cent of our energy consumption is already covered by our own photovoltaic systems.
WE CONNECT PEOPLE AND COMPANIES
We take our responsibility for all people in our entire value chain very seriously. To this end, we create safe and inclusive workplaces at all locations where employees feel welcome and valued. We also attach great importance to equal opportunities and anti-discrimination. We ensure compliance with our Code of Conduct through regular audits and the successful implementation of an anonymous contact point. We do our part for a responsible society and are committed to helping socially disadvantaged people. For example, we support the organisation Outdoor Against Cancer and educational projects in various countries.
LOWA combines long-standing traditions with high environmental and social standards. Our sustainability is rooted in clear value systems, regionality and our own production facilities. We set ourselves ambitious but realistic goals, which we approach transparently and consistently with high data quality. "The use of high-quality, durable materials and socially responsible production conditions are not just a promise, but an integral part of our corporate culture. Step by step, we are climbing towards our goal," says Annika Jestädt, Head of CR at LOWA. "In this way, we are playing our part in creating a future worth living for generations to come.
Our Fields of Action
PRODUCTS
We are continuously making all our products more sustainable.
We are constantly expanding our quality and sustainability standards from design to the end product. To this end, we are developing a product sustainability guideline.
From 2027, we will only launch products on the market that meet these requirements - with a focus on durability and materials with a low environmental impact while maintaining high performance.
DELIVERY CHAIN
- We take responsibility for our supply chain.
- Together with our suppliers, we regularly and systematically monitor compliance with environmental and social standards along the entire value chain.
- We rely on established standards of the Fair Wear Foundation.
ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE
We minimize our environmental impact and contribute to climate protection.
We have committed ourselves to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. To this end, we are joining the UN "Race to Zero" initiative and demonstrably reducing our emissions to a minimum.
At the same time, we are optimizing our use of resources and working on solutions for the circular use of materials.
PEOPLE AND COMPANIES
- We create an inclusive and safe working environment.
- At LOWA, everyone should feel welcome and valued. We attach great importance to equal opportunities and anti-discrimination.
- We support socially disadvantaged people through projects at national and international level.
As an industry leader in the age of globalisation, LOWA consciously applies a philosophy of “Made in Europe” to guarantee the best product quality, fair wages and social benefits for employees. The company also wants to ensure its comprehensive know-how and the control over technologies remain in its own hands. By producing footwear in Europe, LOWA also benefits from much shorter delivery times. Another critical aspect is the continuous quality controls during every stage of production.
Safeguarding technological know-how:
Developing and producing high-quality outdoor footwear is a complex process that requires a high degree of handicraft. By making its footwear in Europe, LOWA can maintain a close relationship between its production operation and its research and development department. One benefit of this decision is the company’s ability to produce a completely new prototype within one day at its base in Jetzendorf.
Lowering transport costs and emissions:
The proximity of production facilities to LOWA’s primary markets in Europe keeps transport distances short. This, in turn, reduces emissions and eliminates high transport costs.
Influencing the value chain:
By producing in Europe, LOWA can influence the entire value chain. Since July 2019, nearly 95 percent of production capacities have been covered by wholly-owned LOWA subsidiaries. This enables LOWA to shape the selection of the materials, production methods and employment conditions.