Choosing responsible materials

In our day-to-day work, responsibility is not an abstract concept. Among other things, it means making concrete decisions about the materials we use to make our footwear, measuring their impact and improving over time.

As part of our Design to Reduce approach, we work with our suppliers to replace virgin materials, whenever technically feasible, with alternatives that reduce the product’s Carbon Footprint and improve chemical management in line with standards such as bluesign®, for example.

In the outdoor footwear industry, this process requires research, development and extensive technical testing. Every new material must meet the same standards of performance, durability and reliability required for use in the mountains. The challenge is not simply to replace one material with another, but to do so without compromising the quality and performance of the footwear—essential requirements for AKU.

Measuring our overall progress

In 2025, 23% of the materials we purchased (excluding packaging) were either certified according to bluesign®, OEKO-TEX® or LWG (Leather Working Group) standards, or were recycled or bio-based according to certifications such as GRS or RCS.

Some of the materials included in this percentage are declared as recycled but are not yet certified. In these cases, we rely on declarations provided by our direct suppliers.

From overall data to individual products

In addition to monitoring its overall raw material purchases throughout the year, AKU also calculates the weight of materials classified as responsible in specific footwear models.

Measuring this figure allows us to understand precisely where and to what extent these materials can be used while maintaining the product’s technical, performance and durability requirements. The possibility of introducing alternative materials can vary significantly depending on the intended use of the footwear. The technical requirements of a fast hiking shoe, for example, differ from those of a mountaineering boot, and consequently the opportunities for material substitution may also vary.

Some examples developed in 2025:

Aira V-Light GTX: 176 g of responsible materials out of a total pair weight of 660 g;
Bellamont IV Suede: 582 g of responsible materials out of a total pair weight of 940 g.

This information is available in the Product Passport for the models for which one has been developed.

Long-term goals

Measurement becomes truly meaningful when it is linked to specific goals. AKU has therefore set two important targets:

By 2030, we are committed to achieving at least 10% by weight of materials with a lower climate impact in new outdoor products.
We aim to increase this share to 50% by 2050.

These targets are published in our 2025 Responsibility Report, prepared in accordance with the VSME standard, where progress will be reported annually.

These are ambitious goals, and achieving them does not depend solely on our design choices. Advances in technologies and materials will play a key role. The challenge is to make recycled or bio-based alternatives available that can deliver performance, durability and reliability equal to—or greater than—those of virgin materials.

A supply chain that grows with us

Every year, AKU engages its suppliers in a data collection process aimed at gaining a clearer understanding of available certifications, newly developed solutions and the level of transparency of the information they provide.

In 2025, the analysis involved 135 suppliers across Europe and Asia: 73% reported having at least one product certification, while the remaining 27% did not yet hold any certifications.

This ongoing dialogue allows us to make increasingly informed purchasing decisions while progressively supporting our suppliers in moving towards higher standards of responsibility and transparency.