Sustainability at Daniel Footwear

Long before it was trendy to do so, the Daniel brand has been a pioneer of ‘slow fashion’ and has been championing European based, family run factories for decades.
The decision to use these factories was the focus on quality, unique design, and the support of luxury tradesmanship in Europe. We pride ourselves on our strong and enduring partnerships with some of the best factories in Italy and Spain to create the Daniel label to this day.
As we look to the future, we want to ensure that these factories are becoming more environmentally aware as we all become more focused on sustainable production. We believe in staying true to craftsmanship, legacy, and supporting the people who continue to produce our shoes.
Along with this we want to support other sustainable businesses, focus on the use of environmentally friendly packaging, and make sure we’re providing an eco-friendly delivery service.

What is slow fashion?

In simple terms, slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion. We’ve taken the time to design timeless styles with trend longevity, crafted from the highest quality materials that will stand the test of time, meaning they can we worn time after time and season after season. Designed for durability and timeless appeal, slow fashion footwear helps reduce waste and supports fair labour conditions as well as a reduction in CO2 emissions due to less product being manufactured and transported over time. By choosing slow fashion shoes, you contribute to a more sustainable future, ensuring your wardrobe reflects your values. Shop the Daniel brand now for sustainable and ethically made shoes that make a difference.

Shoes made to last, cleaning top tips

Although we design our shoes to last, they might need you to take extra care of them to keep them looking their best. We want you to love your Daniel shoes for a long time – follow these top tips for keeping your shoes clean.

1 Use protector spray where possible on shoes (and bags!) to avoid damage. This can be reapplied every couple of months to clean shoes.

2 If removing dirt, use a soft brush or damp cloth depending on the fabric

3 Avoiding using any harsh chemicals on your shoes that can degrade the shoe

4 Ensure shoes fit well to avoid excessive wear and tear – see our size guide here

5 Store shoes in a cool, dry place

6 Rotate your shoes where possible and give them time to breathe

Supporting Sustainable Brands

Online and in-store at Daniel Footwear we have been championing environmentally responsible brands to sit alongside our own Daniel label.

Veja

Ethically Sourced Materials:

Veja sources organic and eco-friendly materials from fair trade family farms in Brazil and the Amazon.

|

Social Responsibility:

The brand collaborates with a charity that provides employment opportunities for marginalized individuals, aiding their reintegration into society.

|

Low-Waste Production and Energy-Efficient Manufacturing:

Veja prioritizes low to zero-waste practices throughout its production process. The brand emphasizes low-energy consumption during manufacturing.

|

Recyclable Packaging:

Veja uses recyclable packaging to minimize environmental impact.

Birkenstock

Natural and Sustainable Materials:

Birkenstock uses eco-friendly materials like cork, natural latex, jute, leather, wool felt, copper, and brass.

|

Eco-Friendly Production Processes:

The brand is committed to environmentally responsible manufacturing, emphasising energy-efficient practices.

|

Durability and Repairability:

Birkenstock designs its footwear for long-lasting wear and repairability, significantly reducing waste.

Lauren Ralph Lauren

Protect the Environment:

Lauren Ralph Lauren uses a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in it's direct operations, and supply chain.

|

Live On Promise:

The brand designs timeless pieces built to last, while investing in circular systems and innovation, and connecting consumers to services that enable product longevity and reuse.

|

Sustainable Materials:

Lauren Ralph Lauren aims to have 100% of their tanned leathers Leather Working Group certified by the end of 2025. They also aim to add more lines to their collection of Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certified® products.

Marc Jacobs

Recycled Materials Integration:

Marc Jacobs uses recycled materials in select product lines to enhance sustainability.

|

Eco-Friendly Packaging:

The brand focuses on reducing packaging waste with sustainable packaging materials.

|

Ethical Sourcing Practices:

Marc Jacobs is committed to ethical sourcing of raw materials to ensure responsible production.

Coach

Recycled and Upcycled Collections:

Coach incorporates recycled materials and upcycled collections in their product lines.

|

Sustainable Manufacturing Practices:

The brand invests in sustainable manufacturing facilities and processes.

|

Social Responsibility Initiatives:

Coach supports various social initiatives and ensures fair labor practices in their supply chain.

Charlotte Simone

Ethically Sourced Materials:

Charlotte Simone uses ethically sourced materials for their fashion products.

|

Sustainable Fashion Practices:

The brand is committed to reducing waste and promoting longevity in their designs by doing 2 collections drops per year.

|

Eco-Friendly Packaging Solutions:

Charlotte Simone utilises sustainable packaging to minimise environmental impact.

Vivienne Westwood

Preferred Materials:

Vivienne Westwood only sources animal leathers in accordance with their Animal Sourcing Principles and the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare. They are actively reducing the use of virgin animal leathers in favour of alternatices such as recycled polyester, partially or fully bio-based PU leather, and innovations such as bamboo and apple fibres.

|

Sustainable Packaging:

The brand's shoe boxes and other packaging is made from Remake paper, which is uncoated, and composed of 40% recycled pulp, 30% virgin FSC-certified pulp and 25% leather by-product, and made in a factory which uses 100% renewable energy.

|

Reimagining Waste:

Vivienne Westwood never destroys unsold goods, and aims to source materials to reflect demand; their overstock from seasonal fabric sits below 5%. Their first priority is to re-introduce leftover material back into the design stage for upcoming collections.

Packaging

Over the past five years, we've committed to enhancing the sustainability of our e-commerce operations in response to growing online sales. Our dedication to eco-friendly practices is evident in our fully recyclable web order packaging, crafted from recycled materials. When shopping in store instead of plastic carrier bags we have committed to using paper bags – all fully recyclable. Additionally, every insert in our parcels is printed on recycled and recyclable paper. By integrating these sustainable measures, we aim to reduce our environmental footprint and contribute to a greener future. Shop with us and support our mission for sustainable e-commerce.

Our partners

For our delivery services we try and choose a service that provides sustainability measures that match our values. We are currently using Royal Mail for UK delivery, and DHL for International delivery.

Royal Mail Sustainability Measures

Net-Zero by 2040:
Royal Mail has committed to reach net zero emissions by the year 2040 with ‘steps to zero’ plan.

|

Operating ~ 7,000 electric vans:
Making theirs the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet among postal/parcel operators.

|

Procuring 100% renewable electricity for their estate.

Use of biofuels:
e.g. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in heavier trucks.

|

Reducing emissions per parcel delivered:
down from ~206 gCO₂e to ~165 gCO₂e.

|

A large reduction in waste:
They’ve achieved a ~24% reduction ahead of their target; and diverting 97% of waste from landfill.

DHL Express Sustainability Measures

Carbon Neutrality Goals:
DHL Express aims to achieve zero emissions by 2050, with interim targets such as reducing logistics-related emissions to below 29 million tons by 2030.

|

GoGreen Program:
This program includes carbon reporting, carbon reduction, and carbon offsetting measures to support environmental sustainability.

|

Electric Vehicles:
DHL is expanding its fleet of electric delivery vehicles, aiming for 60% of its last-mile delivery vehicles to be electric by 2030.

Alternative Fuels:
The company is investing in alternative fuel sources such as biofuels, hydrogen, and renewable natural gas to reduce reliance on traditional fossil fuels.

|

Certifications and Standards:
Adhering to international sustainability standards and obtaining relevant certifications to demonstrate commitment to environmental responsibility

|

Fleet Optimization:
Implementing advanced route planning and optimization technologies to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.