The challenge
Allshoes’ main challenge in its sustainability journey is to transition from linear to circular products and to reduce their product carbon footprint. The company’s sustainability program was driven by intrinsic employee motivation and data-driven insights gained from Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) provided by Ecochain.
Solution implementation
Ecochain Helix, played a pivotal role in measuring Allshoes’ environmental impact and identifying key hotspots. The project began with the Ecochain team guiding Allshoes through the intricacies of using the Ecochain Helix software to measure their environmental impact. This involved a comprehensive assessment of Allshoes’ operations, focusing on Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and a detailed evaluation of Scope 3 emissions, which accounted for 99% of the company’s carbon footprint.
Allshoes first aimed to measure their environmental impact accurately to identify areas for improvement. This data-driven approach was essential for setting a baseline and determining the most effective strategies for reduction. With Ecochain’s insights, Allshoes identified material choices as a primary area for impact reduction. Which led to the decision to eliminate leather from their products and increase the use of recycled materials. This led to the redesign of several best-selling models to achieve high impact.
Furthermore, Allshoes collected detailed data from suppliers, including energy, water, and gas usage, and additional certifications for green energy usage. This data was crucial for accurate LCA calculations and helped in making informed design choices. The sustainability specialist at Allshoes integrated this data into the software, with continuous consultancy support from Ecochain.
Results
The project yielded impressive results, with the environmental impact of the new Redbrick sustainable collection being reduced by 52-57% and their Grisport sustainable collection by 42%. These significant reductions validated Allshoes’ approach and were documented in verified reports by Ecoreview, which are now featured in the product passports.
“Because of Ecochain, we have significantly reduced the environmental impact of our products. As a result, we can now offer more sustainable safety footwear options to our customers.” – Anne Jacobs, Sustainability Specialist at Allshoes.
Future outlook
Building on the success of the project, Allshoes aims to become climate-neutral and to further reduce the carbon footprint for all their products. The company plans to extend LCA practices to its suppliers, leveraging Ecochain’s guidance to achieve broader sustainability goals.
