Leaving things better than we found them
As we continue our journey, we are committed to standing by our belief in doing what is right for people and the planet - in leaving things better than we found them.
In 2021, we concluded an in-depth materiality analysis to review and understand our priorities when addressing our environmental and social impacts, risks and opportunities.
We worked with an external consultant to identify the environmental and social issues that are most significant for Dr. Martens. The assessment included a detailed review of industry best practices, peer benchmarking and long-term trend analysis. Internal (employees and management) and external stakeholders were also engaged through a series of interviews and surveys to determine the materiality of key risks and opportunities to Dr. Martens. External stakeholders included industry associations, customers, key Tier 1 and 2 suppliers and non-profit organisations. The findings were reviewed by the Sustainability Committee, chaired by our CEO.
In total, we identified twelve priority areas, with an additional eight to manage and maintain.
Key areas
Land, biodiversity and ecosystems impacts of raw material production.
Environmental impacts from supply chain manufacturing processes.
Modern slavery, human rights and labour rights in the supply chain.
Circular economy (resource efficiency, durability, repair, end of life).
Innovation in design and sustainable materials.
Chemicals management and product compliance (product safety).
Packaging materials and design.
Responsible treatment of suppliers.
Energy and climate (Net Zero and climate risk).
Waste management (reduction and recycling).
Diversity, equity and inclusion.
Volunteering, charitable support and local communities.
Other areas to manage and maintain
Animal welfare.
Local procurement.
Air and water management and impacts.
Store concept: resource efficiency and sustainable materials.
Job creation, human capital and employee development.
Pay, employee wellbeing and benefits.
Occupational health and safety.
Economic and social development
in supply chain communities.
This work formed the basis for the development of our long-term sustainability commitments, and it enables us to focus our resources and efforts in the areas where we can make the most impact. Below you can find some of our key sustainability commitments, including our Net-Zero by 2040 target which was approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. For a full list of our commitments please refer to our latest sustainability report.
- Net-Zero GHG emissions across the value chain
- 100% of footwear made from sustainable materials
- 100% products sold have sustainable end of life option
- 100% of the natural materials in products from regenerative agriculture
- Remove fossil-based chemicals from our products
- 100% packaging from recycled or other sustainably sourced material
- Minimise waste, and ensure zero waste to landfill across the full value chain*
*Our operations, Tier 1 and key Tier 2 suppliers.
