Brand Responsibility
We feel part of a single ecosystem — social and environmental. We feel responsible for its balance.
As a company, we are responsible for the development of our production activities, and for the impact they have on the natural environment and the way we interact with our entire community. Our actions aim to achieve a balance between what we ask for and what we give back — envisioning a future where the logic of consumption is increasingly guided by the principles of awareness and responsibility.
This is why, when we talk about sustainability, we prefer to use the word responsibility. This is why, when we talk about consumers, we prefer to call them informed users — clear in their language, conscious in their choices.
Choosing AKU means choosing footwear designed to last, with transparent information on materials and supply chain, and with a verifiable approach to reducing environmental impact. Our commitment has been ongoing for years and translates into measurable actions through three internal working groups dedicated to product, industrial processes, and community.
Our Responsibility Journey
| 2011 |
ACT RESPONSIBLE The ACT RESPONSIBLE project launched with the creation of the Product, Operations, and Community Teams. Responsibility was integrated across all company operations. Ten years later it became a dedicated office: the CSR team. |
| 2013 |
STIFTUNG WARENTEST The Trekker Lite GTX was rated by Stiftung Warentest as the trekking shoe with the best performance and lowest level of pollutants on the German market. |
| 2014 |
PACKAGING ENTERS THE PROJECT We began rethinking packaging: POP materials became petroleum-free, cellulose became FSC® certified, and plastic tapes were replaced with paper alternatives. |
| 2015 |
DESIGN TO REDUCE Bellamont Plus was born: DANI Zero Impact leather, chromium-free, with process emission offsetting. The “Designed to Reduce” approach took shape — integrating emissions reduction directly into the shoe design stage. |
| 2017 |
EPD The Bellamont Plus obtained the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) — the first shoe in the world to achieve this milestone. |
| 2018 |
DESIGNED TO REDUCE: MINIMA The Minima project was born, developed to minimize materials and energy consumption and promote recycled components. In 2020 it received the ISO Award Gold in the urban outdoor lifestyle category. |
| 2021 |
PRODUCT CARBON FOOTPRINT We certified the CO₂e calculation of each AKU model according to ISO 14067. Carbon footprint measurement is now a permanent feature of product development, updated annually. |
| 2023 |
ORGANIZATION CARBON FOOTPRINT We calculated the organization’s Carbon Footprint according to ISO 14064-1, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 — covering the entire value chain, not just what happens inside our factories. |
| 2025 |
SCIENCE BASED TARGETS INITIATIVE Our decarbonization goal is validated by the Science Based Targets initiative: −58.5% of Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2034. First completed project: installation of the photovoltaic system at our Montebelluna, Italy headquarters. |
Product
When it comes to the PRODUCT, AKU is committed to finding design and production solutions that have a reduced environmental impact, while keeping the quality and technical functions of the product intact. We pay particular attention to the safety and origin of raw materials, as well as to the regeneration and reuse of various product components.
Traceability
AKU’s commitment to shortening the supply chain has resulted in concentrating more than 85% of production in company-owned facilities in Italy and Romania, limiting the environmental impact of goods transport. It is also possible to trace the geographical origin of 100% of product components — raw materials and semi-finished parts — guaranteeing the user complete transparency.
Safety
Research is aimed at reducing or completely eliminating the main chemical substances that are potentially harmful to human health and the environment. A key objective is the use of DANI Sustainable Leather, obtained through a certified process of chrome-free tanning and retanning of full-grain hides from European cattle.
DANI Sustainable Leather Chrome Free — Certified nubuck leather of Italian origin, fully waterproof and breathable, processed in compliance with European environmental protection standards. The result is a highly aesthetic product, technically rich and designed to grow with time and use.
Independent testing by the German foundation Stiftung Warentest on the Trekker Lite II GTX highlighted the low environmental impact of the product’s main components — hide, fabric, and felt — which are shared with approximately 50% of models in our collection.
Re-use
One area AKU focuses on at the design stage is the use of recycled materials as new product components. The MOUNTAIN INSPIRED collection’s urban use models feature outsoles made with 30% recycled rubber and midsoles made with 20% recycled EVA, suitably treated to ensure reliability and longevity.
Vibram Eco Step — The ECO STEP outsole of Bellamont Plus is made by Vibram® using recycled rubber. AKU manufactures the midsole in Italy by regenerating pressed EVA production waste, at 20% of the total compound.
Operations
AKU is continuously seeking ways to increase energy efficiency and decrease waste across all operations.
Packaging
We replaced shrink-wrap plastic packaging with recycled cartons for shipments to our Italian customers — eliminating a high-impact material and significantly reducing electricity consumption and CO₂ emissions in the packaging process. We use cardboard for shoe boxes and paper for interior tissue, and we collect and reuse incoming cartons from suppliers.
Annual impact for the Italian market (approx. 15,000 cartons / 3,500 shipments):
- Shrink wrap plastic: 2,500 kg/year → 0 kg (−100%)
- Electricity (shrink wrap machine): 30,500 kWh/year → 0 kWh (−100%)
- CO₂ reduction: −32 tons/year (15 tons from plastic production + 17 tons from electricity)
Energy Consumption
A key goal is reducing electricity consumption across production facilities and decreasing CO₂ emissions. We monitor temperature-operating devices (heating and refrigeration) and air-pressure machines, verifying that electricity consumption stays within set standards and replacing or removing appliances that exceed them.
In 2025, we completed the installation of a photovoltaic system at our Montebelluna headquarters as the first step toward our Science Based Targets commitment of −58.5% Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2034.
Community
AKU supports projects that connect people and the natural environment, with a special focus on nature as both a working and living space.
AKU footwear is worn by professionals who depend on their gear in demanding conditions — from Alpine rescue teams to military and law enforcement units across Europe and North America. We take that responsibility seriously, designing and building every boot to perform when it matters most.
Through partnerships with mountain communities, first responder organizations, and outdoor partners, we invest in the people and places that define the outdoor experience. Our community programs include support for mountain rescue teams, youth outdoor education, and environmental stewardship initiatives in the regions where our products are used.
Responsibility Reports
- Responsibility Report 2025 (PDF)
- Responsibility Report 2024 (PDF)
- Responsibility Report 2023 (PDF)
- Responsibility Report 2022 (PDF)
- Responsibility Report 2021 (PDF)