At Nubikk we believe in sustainability and our responsibilities as a company for the environment and society. As Nubikk we aim for corporate transparency, close relationships with our partners and trying to minimize our footprint.
We know that sustainability is an ongoing process and that there is always room for improvement.
We believe that world-class manufacturing begins with respect for people and the environment (planet). Therefore, we strive to work with suppliers who share our commitment to respecting the environment and factory workers.
One of the benefits of manufacturing handmade shoes in Portugal is to support local factories in Europe and reduce transportation distances (transportation pollution), compared to producing and shipping from countries further away from Europe such as Asia.
Sustainability is just as much about social standards as environmental issues, hence, working with factories in Portugal gives us the confidence that the EU law regulations and working conditions have to be met.
In other words, we work with factories/suppliers that respect and uphold the rights of employees and workers throughout the supply chain by ensuring they are treated fairly, provided with safe, healthy and respectful workplaces and guaranteed a minimum wage.
PRODUCTION
LEATHER WORKING GROUP
Currently, our main leather suppliers are members of the ‘Leather Working Group’ (LWG).
The LWG seeks to improve sustainability within the leather manufacturing industry by providing suppliers with guidelines for continual improvement.
Our goal for the upcoming years is to only work with suppliers that are part of the 'Leather Working Group'.
MATERIALS
We do not use fur, the skins of exotic animals (such as crocodile & python), or those of endangered species. The leather used by our tanneries comes from animals that have been raised for the food industry also known as a byproduct, and whose skin we recycle. We are also very sensitive to animal welfare and only purchase our materials from the most highly-regarded suppliers who can provide the best possible traceability.
As mentioned above our main leather suppliers are members of the Leather Working Group for more transparency and sustainability. Additionally, the newly introduced Nubikk clothing line is made of 100% organic cotton and is also produced in Portugal.
SOLES
Our main sole supplier from Portugal is one of the most sustainable sole suppliers on the market. They work with 100% renewable energy and recover/reuse 72% of their waste. Besides being manufactured sustainable, the soles are also very lightweight and durable.
At the end of 2019, we introduced our most sustainable sole ever, Yucca.
Yucca is a 100% Natural rubber (Pura Latex®) sole, which is made of 100% natural rubber from the Hevea tree. Being made of 100% natural latex makes the Yucca sole also 100% recyclable.
Natural latex comes from the milky sap harvested from the rubber tree. Rubber tappers strip a thin layer of bark off the tree to release the latex and collect it from cups. This latex is then processed to become a wide variety of products, from rubber tires to latex mattresses, and of course soles.
CORPORATE
Minimizing our environmental footprint as Nubikk involves understanding our environmental impacts—what they are and where they occur.
SHOEBOX
Therefore, we introduced a new shoebox beginning of 2019 which "may not be the prettiest box... BUT it will make a positive change for the world."
Made of recycled paper and is 100% recyclable again. We believe that every little effort counts and makes a big difference in the long-term. For this reason, we want to walk this path to a sustainable future together with you and every shoebox.
CERTIFICATES
As mentioned, we work with factories that respect environmental factors, working conditions and constantly look for (technological) improvements. Hence, these are some of the sustainability certificates that our partners have:
- SA8000
- BSCI Social Aspects
- UN Global compact
- Audits WCA
- Iso 9001 Environmental Management Systems
- Iso 14001 Quality Management Systems
PLASTIC-FREE
Along with the 100% recyclable Shoebox, we are on a mission to make Nubikk 100% plastic-free. Correspondingly, all plastic stickers inside of our shoes are replaced by recycled paper stickers.
All webshop orders or rather packages are shipped plastic-free, with the usage of paper tape and no plastic filling materials. Currently, we are busy implementing plastic-free deliveries also for our wholesale customers.
WEBSHOP
Equally important are the orders of our webshop where we look for constant sustainable improvements.
Accordingly, we transitioned to shipping boxes that perfectly fit our shoeboxes to avoid using unnecessary carton usage and plastic filling materials. Within the box, we only include a packing slip, whereas other documents/information are provided digitally to minimize paper usage. Additionally, our customers from the Netherlands can make use of our paperless return system now.
SIZE ADVICE
Furthermore, we joined forces with ShoeSize.Me to provide better sizing advice (“My Nubikk Size”) to our online customers based on other shoe brands they have in their closet. In the hope that we can reduce orders with multiple shoe sizes, returns based on wrong shoe sizes and therefore reduce extra packaging and shipping pollution.
PRODUCT PRESENTATION
Besides, good sizing advice product images are one of the most important elements of selling online to avoid disappointment. Hence, we include high-res pack shots of every product with multiple angles and pictures that show how you can wear them.
We also added the “Creative World Of Nubikk” page to our website where we showcase Instagram pictures of models / Nubikk fans wearing our products for more inspiration.
REPAIR POLICY & SUPPORT
Nubikk strives to deliver perfect products, but sometimes it can happen that something is not as it should be or gets defected. We will always look first to repair the damage/defect by an expert to reduce unnecessary waste. Only if repair is not possible, an alternative solution will be offered.
Also, we provide customers with free shoe components such as eyelets, cones, shoelaces, etc. when necessary to extend the product lifetime of our shoes. Products returned/exchanged with a beauty error are not thrown away but get a second chance through an internal sale or a local sample sale.
Last but not least, we provide shoe care advice and shoe care products on our webshop and physical store to extend the product life cycle of your Nubikk shoes. Nubikk's own protect spray and cleaning soap are 100% natural water-based solutions and are eco-friendly.
NUBIKK SUSTAINABILITY
NUBIKK SUSTAINABILITY
At Nubikk we believe in sustainability and our responsibilities as a company for the environment and society. As Nubikk we aim for corporate transparency, close relationships with our partners and trying to minimize our footprint.
We know that sustainability is an ongoing process and that there is always room for improvement.
PRODUCTION
We believe that world-class manufacturing begins with respect for people and the environment (planet). Therefore, we strive to work with suppliers who share our commitment to respecting the environment and factory workers.
One of the benefits of manufacturing handmade shoes in Portugal is to support local factories in Europe and reduce transportation distances (transportation pollution), compared to producing and shipping from countries further away from Europe such as Asia.
Sustainability is just as much about social standards as environmental issues, hence, working with factories in Portugal gives us the confidence that the EU law regulations and working conditions have to be met.
In other words, we work with factories/suppliers that respect and uphold the rights of employees and workers throughout the supply chain by ensuring they are treated fairly, provided with safe, healthy and respectful workplaces and guaranteed a minimum wage.
LEATHER WORKING GROUP
Currently, our main leather suppliers are members of the ‘Leather Working Group’ (LWG).
The LWG seeks to improve sustainability within the leather manufacturing industry by providing suppliers with guidelines for continual improvement.
Our goal for the upcoming years is to only work with suppliers that are part of the 'Leather Working Group'.
CERTIFICATES
As mentioned, we work with factories that respect environmental factors, working conditions and constantly look for (technological) improvements. Hence, these are some of the sustainability certificates that our partners have:
- SA8000
- BSCI Social Aspects
- UN Global compact
- Audits WCA
- Iso 9001 Environmental Management Systems
- Iso 14001 Quality Management Systems
MATERIALS
We do not use fur, the skins of exotic animals (such as crocodile & python), or those of endangered species. The leather used by our tanneries comes from animals that have been raised for the food industry also known as a byproduct, and whose skin we recycle. We are also very sensitive to animal welfare and only purchase our materials from the most highly-regarded suppliers who can provide the best possible traceability.
As mentioned above our main leather suppliers are members of the Leather Working Group for more transparency and sustainability. Additionally, the newly introduced Nubikk clothing line is made of 100% organic cotton and is also produced in Portugal.
SOLES
Our main sole supplier from Portugal is one of the most sustainable sole suppliers on the market. They work with 100% renewable energy and recover/reuse 72% of their waste. Besides being manufactured sustainable, the soles are also very lightweight and durable.
At the end of 2019, we introduced our most sustainable sole ever, Yucca.
Yucca is a 100% Natural rubber (Pura Latex®) sole, which is made of 100% natural rubber from the Hevea tree. Being made of 100% natural latex makes the Yucca sole also 100% recyclable.
Natural latex comes from the milky sap harvested from the rubber tree. Rubber tappers strip a thin layer of bark off the tree to release the latex and collect it from cups. This latex is then processed to become a wide variety of products, from rubber tires to latex mattresses, and of course soles.
CORPORATE
Minimizing our environmental footprint as Nubikk involves understanding our environmental impacts—what they are and where they occur.
SHOEBOX
Therefore, we introduced a new shoebox beginning of 2019 which "may not be the prettiest box... BUT it will make a positive change for the world."
Made of recycled paper and is 100% recyclable again. We believe that every little effort counts and makes a big difference in the long-term. For this reason, we want to walk this path to a sustainable future together with you and every shoebox.
PLASTIC-FREE
Along with the 100% recyclable Shoebox, we are on a mission to make Nubikk 100% plastic-free. Correspondingly, all plastic stickers inside of our shoes are replaced by recycled paper stickers.
All webshop orders or rather packages are shipped plastic-free, with the usage of paper tape and no plastic filling materials. Currently, we are busy implementing plastic-free deliveries also for our wholesale customers.
WEBSHOP
Equally important are the orders of our webshop where we look for constant sustainable improvements.
Accordingly, we transitioned to shipping boxes that perfectly fit our shoeboxes to avoid using unnecessary carton usage and plastic filling materials. Within the box, we only include a packing slip, whereas other documents/information are provided digitally to minimize paper usage. Additionally, our customers from the Netherlands can make use of our paperless return system now.
SIZE ADVICE
Furthermore, we joined forces with ShoeSize.Me to provide better sizing advice (“My Nubikk Size”) to our online customers based on other shoe brands they have in their closet. In the hope that we can reduce orders with multiple shoe sizes, returns based on wrong shoe sizes and therefore reduce extra packaging and shipping pollution.
PRODUCT PRESENTATION
Besides, good sizing advice product images are one of the most important elements of selling online to avoid disappointment. Hence, we include high-res pack shots of every product with multiple angles and pictures that show how you can wear them.
We also added the “Creative World Of Nubikk” page to our website where we showcase Instagram pictures of models / Nubikk fans wearing our products for more inspiration.
REPAIR POLICY & SUPPORT
Nubikk strives to deliver perfect products, but sometimes it can happen that something is not as it should be or gets defected. We will always look first to repair the damage/defect by an expert to reduce unnecessary waste. Only if repair is not possible, an alternative solution will be offered.
Also, we provide customers with free shoe components such as eyelets, cones, shoelaces, etc. when necessary to extend the product lifetime of our shoes. Products returned/exchanged with a beauty error are not thrown away but get a second chance through an internal sale or a local sample sale.
Last but not least, we provide shoe care advice and shoe care products on our webshop and physical store to extend the product life cycle of your Nubikk shoes. Nubikk's own protect spray and cleaning soap are 100% natural water-based solutions and are eco-friendly.
