AKU Makes Long Term Commitment With A Carbon Footprint Systematic Approach

AKU, the Italian footwear manufacturer known in the outdoor industry for its first-to-market low environmental impact practices, is leading the way once more with the adoption of a Carbon Footprint Systematic Approach.

This approach is a certified system that calculates the equivalent emissions of all AKU’s products as outlined by the brand’s Product and CSR Manager Guilio Piccin in this video.

AKU has always followed the single rule: ‘Learning to React Responsibly’. It’s from this that the brand has chosen an approach that analyses the entire life cycle of a product in each of its three phases: Upstream, which covers the production of raw materials; Core, which considers the impact of the factories where AKU footwear is made and Downstream, which analyses the consumer phase and the end of life of the product.

In the Upstream phase, the brand analysed more than 800 components used to make all the products in the AKU collection, from leathers, laces, footbeds, soles, fabrics, padding, glues and packaging. In short, everything that makes up AKU’s boots and shoes. For each of these components the material composition was established, along with exact weight and recycled content

In the Core phase calculations are made of the carbon equivalent emissions generated during the transportation of raw materials from suppliers to AKU’s factories and during the future production phases, including energy and water consumption, direct and indirect emissions, and waste production.

In the third phase, Downstream, focus is on the transportation of the finished products from AKU to the customer, use in the field and disposal at the end of life.

The result: AKU has all the data needed to calculate the carbon equivalent emissions of all its products over their entire lifecycle.

The system has been verified by an external body and certified according to internationally recognised standard: IS0 14067. Why this system and why the external audit? It provides AKU with reliable data to make relevant responsible choices. For example, in 2017, the Environmental Product Declaration provided AKU with the information that the Bellamont Plus has a carbon footprint of 28.86kg. In 2020, the calculation AKU made using the Carbon Footprint Systematic Approach on the Bellamont III Plus revealed how changes made in the choice of suppliers and raw materials reduced the emissions down to 25.46kg, almost 12% less.

This is the path that AKU has committed to follow whilst adhering to the rule: Learning to React Responsibly. AKU will continue to move in this direction with the ultimate goal to reduce its footprint and involve everyone who chooses to work with the brand.