Almost all our raw material suppliers are within the EU. For us, keeping things local is a basic requirement in guaranteeing the quality of our raw materials, keeping transportation routes short and ensuring our manufacturing is of high quality and environmentally responsible. We have been very selective in choosing our partners. They share our conviction that short-term profit maximisation and short-lived relationships are not the basis of success, but rather trust, responsibility and mutual respect.
For many decades, we have maintained close cooperation with suppliers such as the Heinen tannery, for example. This fourth-generation family business is not only a pioneer, but also a driver of the leather industry in terms of socially responsible and eco-friendly processing methods. Under the terracare® brand, they also offer sustainable leather that comes from certified organic farms and is processed in an energy- and resource-efficient way. terracare® leather is used in many of our models, such as the HANWAG Alaska in Earth/Brown.
In addition to our skilled craftsmanship and our sustainable designs, which allows most of our boots to be resoled, high-quality raw materials are essential for us. They must be outstanding in terms of durability and quality.
Recycled materials
We are continuously working to optimise our products and use recycled materials wisely - without compromising on durability. Some examples:
For the production of the soles, we work together with the specialists at Vibram® and Michelin – drivers of innovation in their sector with a special focus on the use of environmentally friendly materials, technologies and manufacturing processes.
Our main insole is made of 100% recycled fleece, 100% recycled textiles and 10% recycled viscolatex foam.
The laces of our Tatra, Tatra Light and Banks models are also made of 100% recycled polyester.
High quality leather
One of our most important raw materials is leather. All the hides we use are a by-product of food production. Products from animals that are killed without being intended for human consumption are not acceptable for our manufacturing. We also refuse to work with partners who do not guarantee animal welfare standards and appropriate slaughtering methods.
We source our leather from selected tanneries, mainly from Germany and Italy. For instance, one of our key suppliers is Heinen, a traditional company whose rawhides come from Germany and are processed in an environmentally friendly way. It also means we can ensure that our leather is free from highly toxic chromium (VI) and has been produced responsibly. Here, you can find out in detail how we use leather in our production.
Wool – traditional material with a feel-good guarantee
For some of our winter models we use loden, which is a particularly durable wool fabric. We make this using wool fibres from Central and Eastern Europe, which consist of 80% recycled wool and 20% polyamide.
Membranes
In our PFC-free Eco-Shell models we use hydrophilic PU membrane technology with a warm lining made from 100% recycled polyester. For decades, we have used Gore-Tex®, the membrane produced by the US company Gore who have pioneered durably waterproof membranes since 1976. Being able to guarantee functionality over the entire service life of our boots is fundamental for the demanding applications they are used for and our high standards.
Our commitment
We are also a member of various associations, initiatives and organisations dedicated to minimising negative environmental impact.
HANWAG is a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC). The coalition’s mission is to use the Higg Index to make sustainability quantifiable and transparent to end consumers. There are various tools that can be used along the value chain to achieve this.
Our parent company, the Fenix Outdoor Group, is a signatory of the UN Fashion Charter for Climate Action (UNFCCC): the United Nations’ international environment treaty aims to prevent dangerous disruption of the climate system, slow down global warming and mitigate its consequences.
The Fenix Outdoor Group is also a member of the Swedish Textile Initiative for Climate Action (STICA), which strives to help apparel and textile organisations reduce their climate impact while strengthening their global competitiveness.
In the North American market, we cooperate with the Outdoor Industry Association's Climate Action Corps which means we commit to measuring and reducing our CO2 emissions and sharing our progress yearly.
