Ecology-Friendly Production - Birki's has worked to optimize their manufacturing processes so that
inefficient production and waste could be reduced to a minimum.
For the production of cork-styles, Birki’s uses only solvent-free
adhesives. They have continuously supported their suppliers in the
development and improvement of these adhesives. Since the
mid-90s they have permanently increased the proportion of solvent-free
adhesives and now, their production is 100% solvent-free.
The fusing of Alpro-foam and Alpro-cell materials used to make their
sandals is carried out using waterbased propellants, in a process
that exceed industry standards. To release the shoes from their
molds, they use chlorinated hydrocarbon-free separating agents.
The solvent content of those has been reduced by 100% over the
last few years. This entire process is 100% chlorofluorocarbon
(CFC)-free.
Eco-Friendly Cork - Most Birki’s footbeds are made of a cork-latex mixture. Cork is
natural, renewable, recyclable, biodegradable, resistant to wear
and temperature. Harvesting cork from the Portuguese cork-oak
tree is done by hand to ensure care is given to both the precious
tree and premium bark. This extra care allows the tree to naturally
reproduce its bark in the future.
Energy Recovery & Solar Technology - Solar thermal technology helps Birki's minimize consuption. Simply using
the residual heat that’s generated during production alone has led
to 90% reduction in overall energy usage of their manufacturing
equipment over the last 10 years. With the help of combined heat
and power cogeneration, they transfer this residual heat to use it in
the drying process of our cork-latex footbeds. Thus, accumulated
energy is used up to the last molecule, energy efficiency reaches
top marks.
Their in-house buckle production is equipped with solar panels
on the entire south-facing front of the state-of-the-art building.
Solar power is converted into electrical energy and used to heat
the water, needed for buckle production. Conventional, energy-wasting
water heating methods are no longer needed, nor utilized. Smart use of energy means less overall consumption.
Recycling - Birki's shoeboxes and shipping cartons have always been fully
recyclable. In the production of clogs, sandals and punchedout
soles made of Alpro-cell and Alpro-foam there is always a
certain percentage of waste material. This excess material is not
discarded. It is re-used for example to cover the floors of playgrounds
or sports arenas.
Ecological Compensation Areas - Birki's created large ecological compensation areas for each and every
building that they moved into. Today all of these compensation
areas are officially designated nature reserves. Moreover,
many of these biotopes are fully integrated into the premises of all
our companies.