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Birkenstock Australia

OVERALL

Owned
USA
Rating
Criticisms

Footwear importer and distributor

Footwear is made in Germany.

Company Ownership

Birkenstock Australia Pty Ltd   AUS     website   email      
  Birkenstock GmbH & Co. KG   
   owns 100% of Birkenstock Australia Pty Ltd  
GER     website   email   facebook   twitter

Footwear

Germany's largest footwear manufacturer was established in 1774 and was a sixth-generation family company. In 2021 private equity firm L Catterton and Financiere Agache, the family investment firm of Bernard Arnault - chairman and CEO of luxury conglomerate LVMH - acquired a majority stake. Birkenstocks are manufactured exclusively in Germany. While most of their sandals are made with leather, they do have vegan options.

      L Catterton Management Ltd   
       owns 60% of Birkenstock GmbH & Co. KG  
USA     website   email      

Private equity firm

In 2016 LVMH merged its private equity arm with American private equity company Catterton to create L Catterton.

       »    LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA   
             owns 40% of L Catterton Management Ltd  
FRA     website   email   facebook   twitter

Luxury goods

World's largest luxury goods company. Wines and spirits, perfumes, cosmetics, fashion and leather goods, watches and jewellery, plus a retail division. Chairman Bernard Arnault and his family, through Groupe Arnault, own about 47% of LVMH.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Birkenstock Australia Pty Ltd
Environment 5/5 for packaging performance
This company received the highest packaging performance level of 5 (Beyond Best Practice) in its 2022 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO (2022)
Birkenstock GmbH & Co. KG
Social 7/100 in 2022 Ethical Fashion Report
Baptist World Aid Australia's '2022 Ethical Fashion Report' assessed 120 companies on their efforts to mitigate against the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation in their supply chains, as well as protect the environment from the harmful impacts of the fashion industry. Assessment criteria fall into five main categories: policy & governance, tracing & risk, auditing and supplier relationships, worker empowerment and environmental sustainability. This company received a score of 7/100.
Source: Baptist World Aid Australia (2022)
Business Ethics 2/5 on Good On You
This company owns brands rated 'Not good enough' by Good On You, whose rating system considers the most important social and environmental issues facing the fashion industry to assess a brand's impact on people, the planet and animals.
Source: Good On You (2020)
Business Ethics Sustainability claims
This company has sustainability claims on its website.
Source: company website (2017)
L Catterton Management Ltd
Business Ethics Part owned by LVMH, which has criticisms
This company is 40% owned by LVMH, which has several criticisms and an overall Shop Ethical rating of 'F'.
Source: Shop Ethical (2020)
Business Ethics UN Principles for Responsible Investment signatory
UNPRI is a set of six principles direct institutional investors may adopt to consider environmental, social and corporate governance issues when investing. UNPRI is a voluntary agreement.
Source: UNPRI (2020)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Wholly-owned subsidiary

Contact Details

Address 113 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill, VIC, 3068, Australia
Phone 03 9486 9334
Freecall 1800 623 423
Email info@birkenstock.com.au
Website www.birkenstock.com.au

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