Responsibility Social issues, materials and more
We try to develop and manufacture every product in such a way that its impact on people and the environment is as low as possible. When selecting our materials, we make sure that they are manufactured in a way that conserves resources as much as possible and have the use of chemicals strictly monitored. Our social responsibility is also important to us: for example, we work closely with our suppliers to continuously improve their working conditions.
The 8 health and safety rules of theFair Wear Foundation
In production, we place particular emphasis on fair working conditions. That’s why we partner with the Fair Wear Foundation. Since 2018, we have been one of the few companies to be awarded Leader status due to continuous improvements. Topics that we regularly review and improve are focused on living wages, appropriate working hours and a safe working environment.
Reasonable hours of work
Care is taken to ensure that all workers have at least one day off per week and there is a maximum number of work hours.
Safe and healthy working conditions
Occupational health and safety as well as hygiene measures at the workplace are checked and must be complied with.
No Child labour
Young people may only work after the end of compulsory schooling; at the earliest at the age of 15.
Payment of living wage
In 2021, we also voluntarily paid our workers a coronavirus bonus to secure their existence.
Freedom of association
This includes, for example, allowing workers to join forces and form trade unions for the right to collective bargaining.
No discrimination
No one should be discriminated against in the workplace because of their religion, origin or skin colour.
Legally binding employment relationship
Everyone receives a statutory employment contract so that the employment relationship is regulated.
Employment is freely chosen
No one should be forced to do a specific job.
system partner ofbluesign®
Affenzahn is a proud system partner of bluesign®, since resource-saving and sustainable production is very important to us. In order not to burden the environment unnecessarily, we therefore increasingly try to rely on bluesign® certified materials. The bluesign® label stands for an input-stream management of chemical substances required in the process and serves us as a strict risk management tool.
bluesign®PRODUCT
Our Large and Small friends are bluesign® PRODUCTS, which means that they have the least possible impact on people and the environment in their manufacturing process.
Certified with theGreen Button
This government seal is only awarded to textiles that are produced in a socially and ecologically sustainable manner. 46 binding criteria, from limits for wastewater to a ban on forced labour, must be met in order to receive the Green Button. At Affenzahn, many products are already certified with the Green Button, including all Small Friends and Large Friends of the main collection.
PFC-free impregnation
The water-repellent textile treatment for all our bags is 100% PFC-free since 2019, so you can get to your destination dryly when it is raining.
ECONYL®
The upper material of labeled shoes is mainly made from ECONYL® yarn, a 100% regenerated nylon from pre- and post-consumer waste, such as fishing nets and other nylon waste.
Leather Working Group
We are a member of the Leather Working Group. This means that we make sure to use leather from responsible production for our shoes. The Leather Working Group audits leather manufacturers according to strict standards. Topics such as water consumption, energy consumption, chemical management and wastewater management are reviewed. More information here: www.leatherworkinggroup.com
Organic cotton
The upper and lining material of marked shoes is made of 100% organic cotton. Organic cotton has a lower environmental impact due to the reduced use of chemicals and promotes biodiversity as well as the health of soils and ecosystems.
BLOOM™ foam
Our insole in marked shoes is made of 30% algae foam from BLOOM™. They developed the world's first algae-infused EVA foam for the footwear industry.
Vegan Materials
Marked shoes are made from 100% vegan materials. This is not only good for our environment, it also feels great!
We recycle From bottle to bag
We use fabrics that are 48 % made from recycled PET bottles to manufacture our Affenzahn backpacks. Compared to conventional production methods, this reduces the amount of wastewater, lowers energy consumption, and cuts pollutant emissions.
PET bottles are collected & sorted
The empty PET plastic bottles are collected and taken to a recycling plant. Once there, the clear bottles are selected to undergo recycling.
The bottles are crushed & washed
The bottles are crushed into PET flakes. These are then washed in a water bath.
Pellets are made
The PET flakes are melted down and mixed thoroughly. The hot mass is then formed into thick fibres.
The thread is spun
The finished thread is wound onto spools and transported to the weaving mill.
