Our promise
Great shoes. Fair conditions. Radical transparency.
It's pretty simple. We at Icebug say “yes” to reduced emissions, knowledge sharing, and increased transparency. We say “no” to air freight and greenwashing, and we don't make small ''green collections.'' We say “yes” to what is good for the planet and “no” to actions that are purely about making a profit.
We take the Paris Agreement seriously. Our carbon dioxide emissions will be at least halved by 2030, which in our case means that each pair of shoes we produce must have a climate footprint lower than 6.4 kilos of CO2. We have come a long way but must continue to reduce the climate footprint for every pair of shoes by an average of 0.7 kilos of CO2 per year. This is something we work very hard for every day - and have a clear plan for. We are also involved in several other issues that we believe are important in creating a more sustainable shoe industry. On this page, we list the most important points - and give a promise of what you can expect from Icebug in 2022.
Our promise
NO to air transport.
Switching from boat transport to flight to be able to sell as much as possible during the right period is common in our industry, especially now that delays due to Covid-19 are part of everyday life.
Icebug has not flown shoes from our factories in five years. We have maintained this, even though supply chain issues led to massive delays in about a third of our winter production. It also means you may have to wait for some models or colors this spring. They are currently out boating, for the sake of the planet. In the spring of 2022, we established a webshop warehouse in the USA, to avoid air transport between Europe and the USA for our webshop customers.
Does it make a difference? 🤷🏼♀️
Using boat transport from Vietnam to Europe or North America creates about 0.5 kg of CO2 emissions per pair. It is a smaller amount than would be created if we transported the shoes by truck from southern Europe or Mexico to our warehouses. If we were to switch to air transport, emissions per pair would be at least 20 times higher. Switching from maritime transport to aviation would thus mean that the total CO2 emissions per pair would double.
That's not ok, and it’s why we don’t use air freight.
Our promise
YES to the salary you can live on
The wages and living conditions of factory workers in the shoe industry are important issues. Here's an overview of what it looks like for Icebug:
Icebug has for a long time worked closely with a few factories. At present, we cooperate with three factories in Vietnam for the vast majority of shoe models. We also partner with one factory in China for our safety shoe, Vidar.
To ensure good conditions in the workplaces, we have an ongoing dialogue with those responsible on-site. We participate in and encourage controls carried out by independent organizations.
Since 2020, Icebug has been a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, where brands jointly carry out audits in their factories.
Two of our three factories in Vietnam are already Fair Wear audited by other brands. They share these reports with us. Before August 2022, all four factories will have undergone a Fairwear audit.
Our suppliers make self-assessments (Higg FSLM Facility social labor) which Icebug can take part in. External social audits initiated by other brands are also carried out. Wages, labor rights, and freedom of association are part of the standard evaluation made by third parties.
Based on the facts we have, reasonable living wages are paid by all our factories, and a full-time wage is enough to live on in a specific country.
Covid-19 has made it difficult or impossible to visit the factories. In 2022 we, and our partners, will carry out the long-awaited screenings of our production conditions. Should deficiencies be discovered, we will ensure that they are rectified.
Icebug is often one of several customers at each factory and it is important for us to always take financial responsibility for - at least - our part.
Icebug's support for factories under Covid19: During the Covid shutdown in Vietnam in 2021, Icebug provided support to factory workers who got stuck in their homes due to lockdown. We paid $ 86,500 to Great process, which was 25% of the total cost and Icebug's share of planned production during the first two weeks of the shutdown. This is to cover the salaries of employees who could not work during this period.
If you want to know more, you can look here: https: //www.fairwear.org/
Our promise
NO to the cutting down of ancient forests.
''When the forest speaks, we have to listen''
Icebug has long collaborated with Naturarvet, which works to protect Sweden's last century-old forests. By donating all sales of our online store and our Gothenburg store during the last two years of Black Friday, Icebug is involved in the protection of several hectares of centuries-old forest. But more needs to be done before it is too late.
The Swedish Society for Conservation of Nature recently released a report showing the need to change Swedish forestry. According to the report, we are in the midst of a natural crisis. Intensive forestry, with clear cutting as the primary method, threatens many of the forest's animals, plants and fungi. The forest plays an important role in climate change, but the boundaries of nature must be what governs how the forest is cultivated. A change has to happen. According to the report from the Swedish Society for Conservation of Nature, there are real solutions.
If you want to read the entire report, you can find it here:HERE(NOTE: the report is in Swedish)
We at Icebug are not experts on how forests should be cultivated, we have to say it honestly. However, the need to protect the last remaining natural forests cannot be ignored. More than half of all endangered species in Sweden are directly linked to ancient forests that have not been significantly affected by forestry.
However, only a small percentage of Sweden's ancient forests are protected.
Therefore, we say to let the old forest remain and to use the rest of the forest responsibly. We will continue to be involved in the conservation of ancient forests and continue to donate money for their protection.
Do you want to help preserve the forests? Read more here:https://naturarvet.se/(NOTE: the link is in Swedish)
How Icebug Materials Affect Forests:
Few commodities - livestock, palm oil, soy, cocoa and natural rubber - account for much of global deforestation. Icebug has started a pilot project together with the Danish SPOOR to ensure that the (farm) leather of our shoes is traceable and that its production does not contribute to deforestation. To obtain a natural and sustainable rubber, Icebug has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. We are currently introducing FSC certified rubber into our soles.
Our promise
YES to a carbon dioxide tax.
Icebug says yes to charging a reasonable price for carbon dioxide. What we mean by this is a price per tonne emitted that pushes the industry to move away from fossil fuels. The price of carbon dioxide suggested by leading climate scientists is € 100 / tonne. Icebug follows what we believe is the best thing to do for the world at large, so we have factored this tax into our internal calculations. We have incorporated addressing environmental issues into our business model. The practical side of this was that materials and processes with a higher CO2 value get less and less space in our product portfolio.
Our promise
YES to give back to the planet.
Icebug is a member of 1% for the planet. This means that we have agreed to give at least 1% of our total sales, regardless of whether we made a profit or not, back to projects that protect the planet.
Our first year as members ended in February 2021 and meant that we donated a total of $ 200,000. The largest sums went to Protect our winters ($ 50,000), Naturarvet, focusing on forest protection ($ 45,000) and a pilot project to replace coal power with energy from solar panels on factory roofs ($ 35,000).
We have now closed our second year and have donated about 250,000 dollars, where the biggest gifts have been to the Naturarvet (56,000 dollars), Hej Främling, with their project “out and enjoy” focusing on making the outdoors accessible for immigrants ($ 37,000) and Tuki Nepal, for a micro loan project ($ 20,000).
Our promise
YES to a transparent production chain.
In the spring of 2021, Icebug launched "Follow the Footprints", which made the entire production chain public. Using a QR code found on the tab of each product, here on icebug.it, and on each shoe box, you can easily discover the most important sustainability indicators and see the entire production chain of that particular product.
These key sustainability figures show CO2 emissions and percentages based on the weight of recycled and bio-based material. It is important to be able to show our progress in phasing out oil as a raw material.
Following the footprints has a dual purpose. While it's a way for you as a customer to be able to make more informed choices, we also do it so the rest of the industry can learn from us and make the journey a little smoother. Unfortunately, we are almost alone in sharing this information.
The CO2 footprint for a pair of Icebug shoes in 2021/22 averaged 11.0 kg of CO2. Read more about Follow the Footprints here.
Our promise
YES to making only necessary products.
Our promise
Target: 6.4 kg CO2 per pair.
