Loading...
Leather is a durable and renewable material that lasts for many years. It is versatile and is used to make warm, reliable boots and shoes. But, in addition to its many great qualities, traditional leather production can contribute to deforestation and unethical animal farming. In countries like Brazil, the meat industry still leads to deforestation of rainforests – which is devastating to the planet. With this in mind, we are finally launching our first shoes with fully traceable Nordic leather!
Now, they are taking a big step and launching their first collection with fully traceable Nordic leather. "It's about taking responsibility for our climate footprint, animal husbandry, and the forest," says Icebug's sustainability manager Maria Munther.
To take advantage of leather's desirable properties and avoid the unfavorable aspects of traditional leather production, Icebug has started a collaboration with SPOOR – a company offering leather that can be traced back to the individual animal. They supply documentation on animal husbandry from all its suppliers and provide specific climate data for Icebug's products.
“Previously, we used the standard values for leather manufactured in South America when doing our calculations. Now, we can use SPOOR's order-specific climate data, which gives a much lower climate footprint,” says Maria Munther, head of sustainability at Icebug.
Leather from SPOOR has a climate footprint approximately 50% lower than the global average. For Icebug shoes, the switch to Nordic leather, combined with better climate data, can mean a marked reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. So far, this applies to the models made with nubuck leather, but the plan is to make the switch for all models that feature leather.
“We always start with a pilot project. When a venture like this proves so favorable for the climate, the forest, animal husbandry, and social conditions, we are quick to scale up. And, of course, we share what we have learned with other brands in the shoe and clothing industry,” says Maria Munther.
What is Nordic Leather?
Nordic leather is simply leather produced in the Nordic countries. The leather used by Spoor is sourced from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, and the Netherlands. Spoor, part of Scan-Hide, has been helping its partners source traceable leather from Nordic farms since 2020. Not only is this leather fully traceable, but it also supports a leather industry that works to lower its emissions and is based near Icebug’s home country of Sweden.
About SPOOR:
SPOOR is part of the Danish SCAN-HIDE organization. They specialize in offering Northern European, traceable leather from sources where the requirements for animal husbandry and sustainability are high. The hide is marked with a special laser stamp, which makes it possible to see where the animal was raised and more. SPOOR also delivers climate data to its customers.
Icebug and Leather:
Until today, Icebug has mainly used South American leather. Even before partnering with SPOOR, Icebug has been committed to using leather that is ethically produced. All leather used in Icebug shoes has been certified with the Leather Working Group's Gold Standard – an established sustainability label's highest level for sustainable leather. The suede Icebug uses is still sourced from Argentinian sources of LWG Gold Standard, but the company now hopes to find a similar solution for suede as it found for nubuck. Icebug was the first brand to sign the Deforestation-Free Call to Action for Leather – a call where brands take a stand for more responsible leather production.
Icebug and Bio-Based Materials:
Icebug reports the climate footprint calculated in CO2e, the amount of recycled and bio-based materials in each shoe. The bio-based materials used in Icebug shoes include wool, natural rubber, nubuck leather, and suede. Natural materials are often renewable and degradable, while many synthetic materials are made from oil. Producing leather can have a higher climate footprint than, for example, polyester. This can be offset by durability and increased lifespan - if you take care of it.
Icebug is the world’s first climate-positive footwear brand. Based in Sweden, Icebug was founded to save the world from slipping. They also want to get people outdoors more often. Whether you run or walk and at what pace you do things doesn't matter. Getting people off the couch and spending time outdoors creates change. Icebug makes shoes that allow you to be outside, no matter the season or weather.
The vision for Icebug is to be a changemaker for a society where people can thrive on a planet in balance.
Though they didn’t set out to be climate activists, Icebug’s love of the forest and spending time in nature quickly made it apparent that they couldn’t stand by and return to business as usual as the climate crisis escalated. The guiding commitment for Icebug is to do the right thing for people and the planet, even when it hurts their bottom line. They are moving into a new paradigm where growth and profit are not prioritized above everything else. A world where business is a driving force to improve the livelihoods of many and is not fueled by exploiting people or exceeding planetary boundaries. Improving their practices is not enough for Icebug; they are encouraging the rest of the footwear industry to join them in using business as a force for good.