At Koel, around 1,500 pairs of shoes are made every day. With this comes responsibility, and we are committed to making small, conscious changes, because we believe that, over time, even the smallest steps can make a meaningful impact.

40% LOW RISK CHEMICALS

In footwear production, adhesives and finishing products play a key role—but they also contribute significantly to environmental impact due to their VOC (volatile organic compound) content.

At our factory in Portugal, we set out to better understand and reduce this impact. Since 2020, we’ve been transitioning from solvent-based to water-based adhesives in our assembly process—a change that has led to a measurable reduction in VOC emissions, improving both air quality and working conditions.

This shift hasn’t been simple. It required new equipment, adjustments in production planning, and adapting to longer drying times. But the data is clear: reducing VOC emissions is possible, and each step brings us closer to more responsible production.

HOW WE CALCULATE IT?

To better understand our environmental impact, we track all chemical products purchased throughout the year using our invoicing system. Each product is analysed through its safety data sheet to assess its composition and VOC content across our production in Portugal.

Products containing 1% or less VOC are classified as preferable, helping guide our shift towards lower-impact alternatives.

+9000 

RECYCLED SOLES

As part of our environmental approach, we have introduced recycled soles into our collections.

Working closely with our long-term sole supplier, we support a recycling process that gives new life to production waste. This includes material from their own manufacturing, such as trimming residues and non-compliant soles, as well as our own rejected or damaged soles.

These materials are collected, ground into small pieces of multicoloured rubber, and reintegrated into the production of new soles. By closing this loop, we reduce waste and move one step closer to a more circular production model.

 -57%  EMISSIONS SCOPE 1+2

In partnership with the Portuguese Footwear Technology Centre (CTCP), we carried out a carbon footprint assessment of our production in Portugal, focusing on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.

Scope 1 includes direct emissions from sources such as fuel, solvents, and gases used in 

our operations, while Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from

 the electricity we purchase. Although Scope 3 emissions—those across the

 wider value chain—are also significant, they were not included in this analysis due to their complexity.

By comparing data from 2015 to 2022, we were able to better understand how our emissions have evolved over time and identify key areas for improvement.

Read about the calculation methodology

36% SOLAR ENERGY

At our factory in Portugal, we generate part of our own energy through photovoltaic panels installed across the roof, with a total capacity of 200 kVA.

This local production allows us to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and lower CO₂ emissions, while also minimizing energy losses associated with transmission. By producing clean electricity on-site, we take another step towards a more efficient and low-impact production model.

Our self-consumption production unit (UPAC) is equipped with a dedicated meter that allows us to track both real-time energy use and total consumption over time. This data gives us greater visibility into our energy performance and helps guide more efficient decision-making.

For the remaining energy we source from external suppliers, we prioritise renewable options whenever possible. While we don’t have full control over these sources, we continuously seek to maximise the share of clean energy in our overall consumption.