Increasingly concerned with sustainability and meeting an international action trend based on the principles of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), the companies of the footwear chain have been seeking the certification of Sustainable Origin, the only such program for this business activity.

Created by the Brazilian Association of Footwear Industries (Abicalçados) and the Brazilian Association of Leather Components, Footwear and Artifacts Companies (Assintecal), the program certifies companies that adopt sustainable practices in the economic, social, environmental, cultural and sustainability management pillars. Yesterday, the 4th, it was Calçados Beira Rio's turn to receive its certification at the maximum level, Diamond, and Calçados Bibi to be recertified at the same level.

The delivery of the recertification for Calçados Bibi took place at the company’s headquarters, in Parobé/RS, during The Good Morning Bibi event, and was attended by the CEO of Abicalçados, Haroldo Ferreira, and also the board of directors and employees of the company. During the event, the president of Bibi, Andrea Kohlrausch, highlighted the sustainability commitments that the company will develop until the year 2030. "With Sustainable Origin, Bibi is recognized and communicates its performance and responsibility towards a more sustainable world. Given this and thinking strategically in the future, always aiming at the improvement and enhancement of activities and performance in the market, the brand has mapped the commitments it wants to perform in different areas until 2030,” he said.

Commitment

Bibi's Supply and Sustainability manager, Ismael Fischer, stressed that the footwear company seeks to promote economic growth on all fronts of the business, both in industry and retail, in an economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable way. In the economic field, among the results that the brand hopes to achieve by 2030, is to expand the franchise network to reach 250 stores in Brazil and 100 abroad. In the environmental field, Bibi hopes to achieve annually 100% compliance of products manufactured in the Reach Standard (Regulation No. 1907/2006 European Parliament) regarding toxicity. Other issues include a 20% reduction in waste generation during new product development and industrial operations by the year 2025. On the social side, the brand wants to promote the constant professional qualification of young people from local communities, through the program "Bibi Talent Factory", culminating in the hiring of at least 30% of the program participants. Another goal is to achieve, annually, an average of 8.8 hours of training and capacitation courses per employee.

Beira Rio

Debuting in Sustainable Origin with the maximum certification, Beira Rio was also certified yesterday afternoon, with the presence of the company's management, the press, and the CEO of Abicalçados. On the occasion, the president of the group, Roberto Argenta, highlighted that the company seeks to be a reference in the footwear sector, also attracting its network of suppliers. “By encompassing economic, social, environmental and cultural aspects, the initiatives developed followed the pace of an unprecedented market moment, where the appreciation of the human being and its direct relationship with the commitment to the planet are inseparable," Argenta said.

Argenta also stressed that the company maintains sustainability throughout its structure and that the concern for the environment is a priority in all company processes – from the choice of raw materials to the correct disposal of waste, through a selection of suppliers aligned with sustainable practices. In Beira Rio, the leftovers of the inputs are collected and transformed into new products. After going through an innovative process, up to date with environmental norms and laws and following the concepts of the circular economy, all that would be discarded gains a new life. The material gives rise to a multitude of items, such as bases for shoe insoles and shapers that ensure the quality and beauty of products that reach consumers.

In stores around the world, these materials still take the form of puffs, displays, hangers and even exhibitors. 100% of Beira Rio's packaging is made of recyclable materials, 93% of the composition of its corrugated are recycled material and 100% of the bushings, brown paper and plastic used are also made of recycled material. The company's socioenvironmental culture also includes selective waste collection, rainwater harvesting and the use of translucent tiles, which helps save electricity.

Sustainable Origin

Based on international best practices in sustainability, Sustainable Origin covers indicators in five dimensions: economic, environmental, social, cultural and sustainability management. In order to join, companies must be associated with Abicalçados or Assintecal. The program already has companies such as Vulcabras, Piccadilly, Bibi, Beira Rio, Boxprint and Caimi & Liaison which are certified, and more than 50 others in the process of implementation, such is the case of Schutz, Usaflex, Ramarim, Via Marte, Redeplast, Calçados Ala and Bebecê. With audits accredited by SGS, Bureau Veritas, ABNT and Senai, the certification has four levels of evolution: Bronze (for companies that meet the minimum of 20% to 30% of the proposed indicators), Silver (40%), Gold (60%) and Diamond (80%).

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