Green Steps

We’re not a newcomer or just jumping on the “green” bandwagon because it is popular. Our 230 year heritage as shoemakers reflect an environmental sensibility that continues to evolve and shape who we are as a brand and as a company.

Birkenstock is a proud supporter of Sustainable Living Roadshow

At Birkenstock, we understand that protecting our planet and using our limited natural resources wisely is something we all need to do a better job of. We believe that change is inspired from the ground up, which is why we have decided to support Sustainable Living Roadshow (SLR) in their creative and authentic mission to provide communities nation-wide with a fun, inspiring and relevant message of hope and change.

Sustainable Living Roadshow is a collective of skilled entertainers and expert educators in the area of environmental sustainability and social responsibility with the shared goals of providing sustainability education and resources to communities across the globe. With over 500,000 miles of collective eco-touring experience in a fleet of renewable fuel vehicles, SLR presents off-the-grid eco-carnivals and interactive learning villages designed to help individuals and their communities adopt more healthy and sustainable lifestyles. It is up to us all to create a future that will be safe, healthy and prosperous for our children and we are dedicated to improving the quality of life and our planet, one step at a time. Please stay tuned for more information regarding the SLR tour and Birkenstock's commitment towards creating planetary change for our community.

Quality Materials and Low-Waste Production

First are the goods — the stuff our product is made out of — and our production techniques. Sensibility, economy and conservation have always been part of the process:

Birkenstock footbed components

Cork, latex and jute are some of the few sustainable raw materials used/available in the footwear industry. Of these components, cork is actually really cool stuff. Did you know?

• Cork trees hold the ground water and provide cover and shade for smaller plants and animals and therefore are an important basis for traditional agricultural and farming economies.
• Cork is a valuable natural resource with many uses.The bark can be peeled away and it will grow back.
• Today every part of the cork harvest is put to use. Leftovers from the bottle cork stamping process are ground down in various sizes and then sorted by quality.
• Birkenstock ground cork comes from the first quality by-products of the wine industry.

Low waste production

There is little waste from our production processes:

• Cork latex mixture (the main component of the Birkenstock footbed) is made in small batches to minimize any waste. Any excess is recycled.
• Scrap leather is used in the production of other materials, such as an alternative footbed liner material called LEFA.
• Left-over EVA from the sole production process is broken down and further processed for use in children’s playgrounds, sport fields and sound barriers along freeways.
• Three large heat recovery systems recover the heat produced and use it to dry the cork footbeds, doubling the energy efficiency of the machinery.

Recycled materials

Our footwear is packaged in boxes made of 90% recycled paper and printed with inks that are environmentally friendly.

Birkenstock manufacturing and production must comply with stringent recycling and waste laws in Germany where the manufacturer is responsible for all the packaging components and their recyclability.

Learn more about this waste reduction at der Grüne Punkt. Take a look at the bottom of a Birkenstock shoe box and you will see the der Grüne Punkt logo.

Birkenstock Repair

You can repair your Birkenstock footwear — what a great concept in an age of disposable everything, including cheap shoes that clutter our closets or end up in garbage and then landfill!

If you properly take care of your Birkenstock shoes, they will provide you with continued comfort for many years

Find a local retailer who can help give new life to and keep your Birkenstock footwear in top shape.

Donate Your Old Shoes

When your Birkenstock footwear finally reaches the end of the road, recycle them!

Contact your local shoe retailer, as many offer ways to donate your shoes to either a worthy local organization or an organization such as Soles4Souls.

You too can coordinate a shoe drive by contacting friends, family and neighbors and by donating some of the shoes you have in your closet; you would be surprised how your gift of something so basic that most of us take it for granted can impact a life.

It's easy. Get a box and start collecting, and you’ll be surprised at people’s generosity!

Birkenstock Values

We strive to be authentic and naturally eco-friendly, not eco-chic. We didn't just jump on the green bandwagon; we actually have a history of being a company with a conscience.

Birkenstock USA, LP is a Marin County Green Business, which is part of the larger six county organization of over 600 businesses in California.

We're recognized for:

• Demonstrating continuous compliance with applicable environmental regulations.
• Conserving energy, water, and other materials.
• Implementing sound environmental practices that prevent pollution and waste generation.
• Sharing environmentally responsible practices with other businesses in our community.

Support Your Local Community

Since we're all part of the community where we live and shop, please visit our store locator to find a retailer near you who can best take care of your Birkenstock needs.

Our retailers, who are independently owned, share many of these same values and belief in the product…that is what attracts them to the Birkenstock Brand.  You can support a local business and find the best place to shop for, repair and care for your Birkenstock footwear.  And meet some nice folks at the same time!