SUSTAINABLE FOOTWEAR

How BIRKENSTOCK contributes to a sustainable environment

The protection of our natural resources is one of the most pressing issues of our time. We are committed to environmentally friendly operations. For us, sustainability is not a marketing-driven fad, but rather an expression of our corporate ethos. Environmental protection has long been paramount at BIRKENSTOCK. We constantly work to improve production processes, products, packaging and logistics.

One of our most important raw materials is cork – a natural and sustainable product that boasts high elasticity, outstanding cushioning, and excellent heat and sound insulation. The cork layer is reproduced and can therefore be harvested again and again without harming the tree.

The cork is obtained from the bark layer of the cork oak. At least five centimeters of thick bark is stripped from the cork oak – a process that, depending on weather conditions, can only be repeated every seven to nine years. A single tree can provide 100 to 200 kilograms of cork during its life. To ensure that the cork is hygienically clean, the bark that has been removed is cooked thoroughly in tanks. It is then cut into strips that will be used to punch the bottle corks.