Brazilian footwear companies make ESG progress
Brazilian footwear association Abicalçados has said its members have made significant progress towards adopting ESG (environmental, social and governance) practices.
Around 45% of Brazil's footwear production is certified under Origem Sustentável (Sustainable Origin), an ESG certification programme developed exclusively for companies across the footwear supply chain, launched in 2013.
A new survey found 93% of members have adopted environmentally responsible disposal methods for waste, including reuse, recycling, co-processing and other sustainable technologies.
Abicalçados' marketing and strategy manager, Cristian Schlindwein, said: “The share of companies that ensure environmentally appropriate waste management is the highest among the environmental indicators, likely because it was one of the first sustainability initiatives adopted by the industry.”
He adds that, over the past five years, the percentage of companies implementing environmentally sound industrial solid waste disposal practices has increased by 6%.
Across the footwear supply chain, 74% of footwear companies reported conducting regular assessments of their suppliers to verify compliance with legal, environmental, and social requirements, 3% higher than in 2024 and 17% higher than in 2021.
In addition, 70% of companies have implemented restricted substances management programmes, requiring suppliers to test raw materials and components to ensure compliance with substance limits established by regulations such as REACH, the regulatory framework governing the entry of products into the European market.
