Sustainability at BÄR

For the BÄR brand, the same climate protection requirements apply in India as in our home country of Germany. In both India and Germany, we generate more than 60% of our own energy needs from renewable sources. A wastewater treatment plant in Ambur, India, provides impressive treatment of groundwater, saving 16,000 liters per day. This facility also enables energy savings by eliminating the need to pump water from the well. Avoiding harmful chemicals in gardening prevents soil contamination. In 2020, we also saved 81.78 tonnes of CO2, equivalent to driving approximately 400,000 km in a mid-size gasoline car—enough to travel around the world about 10 times.

When leather is properly processed, it is recyclable and biodegradable. Leather is a natural product that has been used for hundreds of years and is extremely durable when properly cared for. At BÄR, we also pay very close attention to the quality and origin of our materials. We therefore source a large proportion of our leather in Europe from suppliers and traditional companies we know, which we regularly assess for quality, performance, and working processes and conditions. We source the other major proportion, including leather such as lining leather, close to our production facilities in India, and are 100% convinced of its quality.

We do not classify people based on culture, beliefs, gender, or sexual orientation. We also stand firmly against child labor, forced labor, and discrimination. Working conditions at our domestic and international operations are regularly audited and certified—see Certificates. Humane and fair working conditions, appropriate compensation, and occupational health and safety are priorities for us as a family-owned company. This applies to our employees, store operators, and suppliers.

BÄR considers supporting social projects worldwide an important part of social sustainability. For example, in 2020, BÄR supported a school for deaf and mute children in India by installing a drinking water filtration system and providing school uniforms and teaching materials. BÄR also supports numerous other social projects:

• regular shoe donations to organizations such as the Invitare Foundation
• support for the Lions Club
• donations of face masks to schools in Bietigheim-Bissingen

For long-term economic sustainability, the BÄR brand invests in the future by supporting young people from the region after they graduate from school, either through vocational training or as part of the world’s unique dual study program. As an IHK-recognized training provider, BÄR has up to 20 trainees and students working in various areas. From product management, purchasing, and accounting to digitalization and web design, all areas are represented, helping to preserve and expand BÄR’s expertise.

Thanks to modern technology and optimized production and project processes, BÄR can implement ideas and new projects efficiently while conserving resources. The introduction of working from home, new spatial solutions, and the latest software enables agile and flexible responses. This creates the freedom to continue developing shoes that are comfortable and durable in the long term.