Mediu inconjurator
We constantly strive to reduce the environmental impact of our operations while increasing the positive impact we have in our global communities. We have a responsibility to be an environmentally responsible neighbour and conserve resources for future generations through sustainable development.
ECCO follows the principles of reduce, reuse, repair and recycle to measure its impact on the environment. Our ECCO Environmental Management System (EEMS) and our Lean production methods foster a continual improvement, waste-elimination culture that involves all employees. Together, we work to increase our energy efficiency, decrease water use and waste, prevent pollution, reduce and reuse materials, and recycle waste from our tanneries and shoe factories.
We Own and Manage Every Step
ECCO owns and operates the production of leather, the production of shoes and retail stores worldwide. This enables us to fully integrate best environmental, health and safety practices and design into all our businesses and operations. We can develop new initiatives and implement sustainable solutions efficiently throughout our operations.
Continuous Progress
Continuous progress requires continuous effort and commitment. Our ECCO Environmental Management System (EEMS) and Lean production help us safeguard the environment, reduce costs and improve operational efficiency around the globe. We set continuous improvement goals for environmental performance and we assess and audit our progress on a regular basis.
We Work Together
We look to our employees for ideas and suggestions for improvement. Our management systems and business strategies help employees, customers and business partners communicate, share innovations and implement solutions. We all work together to be good environmental stewards and to improve the health and safety of our employees and local communities.
Go Green Team
At ECCO's regional office in the United States, a Go Green Team works internally to raise awareness about sustainability issues. The team is made up of employees who want to make a difference in their work environment. The employees brainstorm, develop ideas, and act as ambassadors to encourage and support environmentally-friendly initiatives. The team calculates both the environmental savings and the general cost savings that can be realised through certain measures such as recycling printer toner cartridges and eliminating unnecessary use of electricity.
ECCO Environment, Health & Safety Policy
The ECCO Code of Conduct states in Commitment 9: ‘ECCO aims to be a leader within the environment, health and safety and supports sustainable development’. The ECCO Group is committed to this policy globally inasmuch as ECCO manages the entire value chain from tanneries and shoe factories to sales subsidiaries and shops. The ECCO Group controls the entire leather and shoemaking process from rawhides to consumer.
External Environment
The ECCO Group aims to take active measures to minimize environmental impact wherever technically and financially viable. To ensure continuous improvement of our environmental performance, we will:
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Promote the four R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle.
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Optimize the use of raw materials and energy, minimize the use of natural resources and minimize waste.
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Contribute to the ECCO Group’s global climate initiatives by focusing on the CO2 impact (carbon footprint).
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Minimize the use of restricted chemical substances in ECCO products and – wherever possible – use a suitable and safer substitute. The ECCO Group applies a uniform standard, the ‘ECCO Criteria for Restricted Chemical Substances in ECCO Products’. These criteria meet or exceed all applicable laws or requirements in the markets where ECCO products are sold.
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Establish at least one committee in every business unit to handle environmental issues and to ensure employee involvement.
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Educate and train employees to conduct their activities in an environmentally responsible manner.
Occupational Health & Safety
The ECCO Group’s most important resource is its human resource. The ECCO Group wishes to promote and strengthen a physically, psychologically and socially healthy working environment for all employees. To ensure continuous improvement of our occupational health and safety performance, we will:
- Minimize the use of restricted chemical substances in ECCO’s production processes and – wherever possible – use a suitable and safer substitute. The ECCO Group applies uniform global criteria for restricted chemical substances in ECCO production processes. These criteria are as a minimum based on EU laws and legislation.
- Take effective measures to prevent accidents and minimize the recurrence of accidents.
- Work with employees to ensure a healthy and safe working environment.
- Establish at least one committee in every business unit to handle health and safety issues and to ensure employee involvement.
- Educate and train employees to conduct their activities in a healthy and safe manner.
Involvement & Dialogue
The ECCO Group will inform, educate and engage employees in our efforts to optimize environmental, health and safety performance. Each employee must take personal responsibility towards the continuous improvement of environmental, health and safety issues. The ECCO Group will openly cooperate and support ongoing dialogue with authorities, customers and neighbours, and at all times meet or exceed all applicable laws or regulations concerning the environment, health and safety.
Monitoring Performance
The ECCO Group will review the ECCO Group Environment, Health and Safety Policy on an annual basis to ensure its alignment with current business operations. The ECCO Group will routinely promote, monitor and assess the company’s environmental, health and safety performance through KPIs and the Global Audit Programme.
Bredebro, 14 March 2011