How can we
help?

Contact – Sales

+49 (0) 29 41 / 76 06 - 0
vertrieb@ism-europa.de

Contact – Press

+49 (0) 29 41 / 76 06 - 0
presse@ism-europa.de

Contact – Human Resources

+49 (0) 29 41 / 76 06 - 0
jobs@ism-europa.de

Society

Solid growth,
not at any price

As one of the leading companies of the industry, we have the ambition to continue to grow profitably. In this way, we can continuously raise environmental standards, secure jobs in the long term and effectively improve working conditions.

In doing so, it is our goal to make a meaningful contribution to society beyond our entrepreneurial activities.

ACT IN AN ECONOMICALLY
SUSTAINABLE MANNER

In terms of responsible and sustainable corporate governance, we are committed to a fair and resource-conserving global economy. We act responsibly in our core business and, as an expanding, healthy company, make our contribution to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

  • We develop innovations and use our brands as accelerators of positive change
  • We take responsibility for the consequences of our actions on others and for our ecological footprint
  • We do not limit ourselves to specific sustainability areas and drive improvements in all areas in which we operate
  • This is how we find solutions to challenges that we cannot overcome alone
  • Through it all, we remain authentic, admit when we do not live up to our own expectations, and adjust expectations and goals when we have reached them or reach them earlier than planned

Triggering change processes

Share ideas

We develop concrete approaches to solutions in our networks and thereby contribute to the global vision of a just and resource-efficient world economy.

 

 

 

SUPPORT KNOWS NO (COUNTRY)BORDERS

We take responsibility. For our fellow human beings and the society. Irrespective of where they live or work. With regular fundraising campaigns, e.g. for Médecins Sans Frontières or Aktion Lichtblicke, we also put our words into action. We do not take the necessary financial resources from a fixed annual budget, but determine the number of projects supported at our own discretion and personal conviction. But not only monetary donations can help. We regularly support various associations and organisations with essential donations of clothes and goods. Voluntary work, memberships and involvement in national and international cooperations and networks round off our commitment.

“We are convinced that global challenges can only be solved through international cooperation, strong organisations and the contribution of all, be it individuals or companies.”
Julia Krämer-Gümüs

Charity Logos- Aktion Lichtblicke and Médecins Sans Frontières

Economic success ...

For ISM, success does not just mean using resources and thinking and acting in a profit-oriented manner, but also investing responsibly in the environment, sustainable projects, employees and technology to improve environmental standards and working conditions.

Employees

Sustainable product development

Technology

Carbon neutral logistics

... for a sustainable future

  • Only as an economically successful company do we have the opportunity to give something back to the world and improve it in a sustainable way

  • Continuous growth enables us to invest in sustainable projects for a healthier future (photovoltaic system for the generation of emission-free regenerative electricity, switch to carbon neutral parcel shipping, purchase of new machines to improve working conditions and reduce the workload of employees)

  • Our employees receive continuous training and are familiar with the latest developments in the sustainability sector as well as in climate and environmental protection and implement this knowledge in all relevant areas

  • Feedback from our global customers and partners keeps us up-to-date and enables us to embed this knowledge in our value chain

  • Our sustainability approach extends along the value chain and encourages our suppliers to use and produce sustainable materials

WE ARE REINVESTING

ISM-reinvestment

OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Questions & Answers

Sustainability subjects such as environmental protection and human rights are incredibly extensive, multi-faceted and very complex. Therefore, we have answered questions that we are frequently asked as compactly as possible.

Why do you not produce more vegan shoes?

We have many ideas and are on the lookout for new materials and innovations across the globe. Nowadays, we can offer things that would not have been possible two years ago. Leather is a very sustainable product, after all we make beautiful and long-lasting products from meat production “waste”.

Vegan footwear – that sounds great at first, but it also means that plastics are used that have a questionable eco-balance. Most footwear advertised as vegan is made of plastic. Whether that is better is debatable. Vegan does not mean eco-friendly.

Will there be an Albatros shoe that is made 100% from an old shoe?

We are working on this challenge. Shoes are very complex products. We hope that our 2025 goal will lead us there. But another aspect is also very important from our point of view when we talk about circularity, namely longevity. One of the best ways to make a product more sustainable is producing a long-lasting product. That is our aspiration at all times.

Can safety footwear be made entirely from recycled materials?

Safety footwear is a complex product. 200 or even 250 steps are required to make a shoe. The availability of recycled components is a big challenge due to the complexity of the manufacturing. Here, the entire supply industry is still strongly challenged by the need to be able to ensure wide access to sustainable components at marketable prices.

Unfortunately, this is all combined with a lot of research, time and, in particular, raw materials, which comes with a higher price that not everyone is prepared to pay at the moment. We also need better recycling technology. There are more and more initiatives, but most technologies are still in the pilot phase.

What is really exciting is that the industry is facing this challenge together and there is a real exchange between the different stakeholders of the whole value chain, i.e. between brands, suppliers and recycling companies.

Do PUMA’s strict requirements have to be fully complied with?

A resounding yes. Sustainability is one of PUMA’s defined core values and an integral part of any collaboration. Sustainability is consistently implemented and has been deeply anchored in our core processes and products for many years.

Where does ISM produce the shoes?

We mainly produce our footwear in Asia, with China being our biggest country of production. However, one part of our safety footwear is manufactured here in Europe – in Romania, to be precise.

How does ISM ensure that production sites comply with the rules?

We only work with production partners who fulfil our social, environmental, chemical and health and safety requirements, which are set out in our Code of Conduct and PUMA’s sustainability manuals. These requirements apply even if they are stricter than or contradict local standards. We control compliance through our own employees, who are regularly on site, and independent organisations, who audit the factories. In addition, there are regular training sessions and participation in round table meetings to help our partners meet all requirements.

Can ISM produce its products entirely carbon neutrally?

Unfortunately, we are currently not yet able to do this. We are currently establishing our CO2 balance according to the internationally applicable Green House Gas (GHG) Protocol Standard in order to identify significant emission drivers, eliminate them if possible or replace them with carbon-free alternatives. We consciously include the subject of climate protection in our strategic focus and actively set the stage for climate positivity and neutrality on site, in the manufacturing countries and along our value chain. We will report transparently on our progress.

Can all of the materials from the safety footwear be recycled?

We are working on this challenge together with our suppliers, industry partners and our licensor. Unfortunately, many recycling technologies are still in the pilot phase and not yet so developed. However, there is currently a lot of movement in the industry towards circular business models, which we are working on. Moreover, we hope that our EcoDesign project and our 2025 goals will lead us there.

Which specific sustainability measures has ISM implemented in recent years?

Sustainable thinking and behaviour are indispensable if we want to preserve our planet and improve the livelihood and quality of life of millions of people. With us, economic growth and sustainability go hand in hand – with profitable products and development that benefits society and reduces environmental impact.

Overall, we have made great progress in recent years and implemented a wide range of sustainability measures.

In the area of “stakeholder dialogue”, i.e. the transparent communication of our sustainability initiatives, we have so far fallen short of expectations. For the future, we have committed to talk about it more actively and to make communication about it one of our strategic priorities. We will report on our sustainability initiatives transparently on our microsite “Better World”, in trade press and on social networks in the future.

We have communicated with restraint for a long time and quietly created a basis. Now we deliberately speak much more actively to engage consumers, employees, suppliers and the public. Here are some significant  highlights of the last two years:

  • Covering our relevant production partners through social compliance systems such as accreditation through amfori Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), the Social Accountability International (SAI, Standard SA8000), as well as through the Fair Labor (FLA) accredited PUMA Social Compliance Programme. With this coverage we can guarantee that ninety-nine per cent of our products are manufactured under fair and safe working conditions.
  • Increasing the share of certified materials and products with certified sustainable materials such as REPREVE, OEKOTEX, LWG and FSC as well as the renewed increase in the testing scope of our RSL, ReaCh and POP chemical and material tests that we carry out for our whole ALBATROS, FOOTGUARD and PUMA SAFETY range.
  • Investment in vacuum tube lifters and electric belt conveyors to relieve our logistics team. Changing our cardboard packaging to FSC-certified paper and the switch to climate-neutral parcel shipping from 2021.
  • Development launch of our GREEN HEART capsules for ALBATROS and PUMA SAFETY, in which we made even more conscious use of sustainable or recycled materials and paid even closer attention to the supply chains.
  • Initiating the significant reduction (>90%) of our carbon emissions at the Lippstadt site through our investment in a photovoltaic system to generate renewable energy and promote e-mobility

Do you still have questions or are some topics still unclear? Our Sustainability Team looks forward to hearing from you.