As a traditional company, ROHDE has upheld high quality standards for over 150 years, ensuring the durability of our shoes. Sustainability has always been rooted in our company philosophy and is very close to our hearts. Yet we are aware that we must constantly develop new innovations to become even more sustainable. That's why we work continuously to reduce our impact on the environment, so that we can give something back to nature. Find out here what we do to realize our vision of a greener future.

Our Contribution to Climate Protection.

In cooperation with ClimatePartner, we have calculated our greenhouse gas emissions, are continuously reducing them, and have offset the remaining emissions through recognized climate protection projects. To achieve this, we have implemented the following 3 steps, which we update regularly:

1. Calculate

First, we calculated our Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF), meaning the CO₂footprint of our company and thus our climate-damaging emissions. This includes, among other things, our annual consumption of heat, electricity, and water, as well as business travel and our employees' commutes. This data was divided into 3 categories, so-called scopes, based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG). These distinguish between direct, self-controlled emissions; indirect, purchased energy; and indirect, upstream and downstream emissions.

2. Reduce

Based on this overview of our consumption, we were able to develop targeted strategies to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. For example, by building a photovoltaic system to reduce our electricity consumption and use renewable solar energy in the future, installing truck airlocks to save heat in our shipping department, and offering our employees the option of flexible home office days. We update our CCF regularly, giving us an overview of the success of our measures and allowing us to identify further areas for improvement. 

3. Offset

However, reduction measures alone are not enough. There are always emissions left over that we currently cannot avoid. That's why we invest in offset projects that work on sustainable ways to save or minimize greenhouse gases. This way, we consistently offset exactly the amount of CO₂emissions we have generated. Offsetting is an important step in holistic climate protection: it promotes sustainable development in countries of the Global South, so that progress doesn't have to rely solely on fossil energy.

Our Climate Protection Projects:

We have selected the following offset projects to compensate for our CO₂ emissions. They comply with the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and make an important contribution to achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals.

Expansion of Renewable Energy in Asia

This climate protection project is made up of several individual projects and supports the expansion of renewable energy in several Asian countries. It funds wind energy projects in India, Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, and Turkey. It also supports  solar energy projects in India and China, hydropower projects in Turkey, China, and Sri Lanka, and biogas and biomass projects in India, China, and Thailand. 

All projects in the portfolio meet strict international quality standards – certified according to the Gold Standard or the Verified Carbon Standard. Independent auditors regularly verify that the CO2 savings are correctly recorded and documented. This ensures that every emission reduction really reaches where it counts.

In addition to the direct climate protection contribution, the projects promote renewable energy supply in regions that have so far been heavily dependent on fossil fuels – while also creating local jobs. This makes this commitment more than pure CO2 compensation: it is an active contribution to a more sustainable future.

MADE IN EUROPE

We believe that sustainability is determined not only by resource-efficient production processes, but above all by high-quality materials, timeless designs, and the durability of the products. Our shoes are designed in Germany and manufactured in Europe. With geographically nearby suppliers and materials sourced partly from Europe, we ensure the shortest possible transport routes during the production and processing of our shoes.

Climate-Friendly Shipping

We ship all our parcels with DPD. DPD has been taking measures to protect the environment since 2006, has invested in climate protection projects since 2012, and has set itself the goal of reducing its CO₂emissions by 30% by 2025. To achieve this, the company uses sustainable delivery concepts such as the smart city logistics concept at central micro-locations, as well as innovative technologies and energy sources. 

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Manufacturing and Materials

When selecting our materials and manufacturing our shoes, we adhere to the highest standards and regular controls that ensure sustainable, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible production. Our partners therefore follow specific guidelines during manufacturing, such as ISO 14001, the REACH Regulation or Cads (Cooperation for Assured Defined Standards in Footwear and Leather Goods Products e.V.).

Leather Working Group

The majority of the tanneries and traders we source our leather from are certified by the LWG (Leather Working Group). The LWG is a global non-profit organization whose work focuses on the environmental impacts of leather production and helps make these more transparent. This includes, among other things, ensuring that no potentially critical substances are used. To this end, the LWG has developed an audit protocol for sustainable and responsible leather production.

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Sustainable Materials

We make sure to use as many renewable raw materials as possible. The deep footbeds of our shoes, for example, are made from natural cork, a natural recycled material obtained from the bark of cork oaks in Portugal. For production, we also use regenerative natural rubber from the sap of rubber trees instead of synthetic latex.

The soles of our sustainable GREENYS are made from partially recycled rubber. There are also models whose felt upper material consists of 50% recycled wool.

Recycled Packaging

Our shoe boxes are made from 100% recycled material and printed with water-based inks. This makes them reusable and recyclable.