FOOTWEAR SUPPLY CHAIN

AND SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS

INTRODUCTION
Footwear companies are fast waking
up to the value of implementing
sustainable and environmentally aware
business practices across their supply
chains to reduce the ecological impact
of their business operations, whilst
boosting customer loyalty and
revenue.

Growing consumer demand for more

sustainable products, boosted by
increasing numbers of millennials and
Gen-Z consumers prioritising
sustainability, is increasingly being felt
by footwear brands.

Sustainability has traditionally been a

challenge for the footwear industry as
shoes typically contain materials that
are hard to separate and decompose
and may also use harmful chemicals
during production. Yet with the
innovations occurring in textile
development, manufacturing and
supply chain management, footwear
brands are increasingly able to position
themselves as leaders in the
SUSTAINABILITY DRIVES BUSINESS INNOVATION & VALUE
sustainable market.
In committing to becoming more transparent, secure and efficient, we
SGS has the expertise and the recognise that brands, retailers and their supply chains face an increasing
industrial knowledge to help you take number of challenges.
the first steps towards your corporate
sustainability commitments, meet Our supply chain and sustainability solutions consider the environmental and
consumer demand and increase the social impact of operations as well as product life cycle thinking, from the
desirability of your products. selection of raw material and use of technologically innovative production
methods to retailing and disposal of the end product.
SPECIALISED FOOTWEAR
PRODUCT TESTING SERVICES We put product safety, quality, functionality and value for money, as well as the
FOOTWEAR PRODUCT TESTING environmentally and socially sustainable production of footwear products, at the
Physical, chemical & safety testing for heart of our service. From VOCs issues with adhesives, excessive chromium VI
finished footwear and components, in leather or risk of phthalates in plastic accessories in children’s footwear to the
based on defined standards, environmental management of production facilities and workers’ occupational
regulations and client requirements, health & safety, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
to give you confidence about the
conditions and performance of your
footwear products.

■ Adhesive strength - toe, middle, heel

■ Toe bonding strength
■ Flexing endurance
■ Tensile strength
■ Sole skid/slip resistance
■ Water penetration resistance
 CHROMIUM VI TESTING
Chromium VI poses significant risk to human health and its presence in leather
products prevents their sale in many parts of the world. Our testing and
prevention services range from component and final product chromium VI
testing to accelerated ageing chromium VI testing. In addition, our
chromium VI audit provides you with an assessment of where chromium VI
may be produced in your facilities and recommends the necessary steps to
reduce its formation.

FOOTWEAR OPERATIONAL OPTIMIZATION TECHNICAL SERVICE (FOOTS)

Be more competitive with SGS FOOTS – an analytical tool that helps
organizations to proactively identify root causes and implement solutions. A
quality management system is the bedrock of good business, but it needs
ongoing effort and improvement. With analysis options for every stage of
production, SGS FOOTS delivers clarity from pre-order to post-production and
the opportunity to create a culture of ongoing improvement.

MOULD PREVENTION
Mould growth is one of the most significant and potentially costly issues within
the leather and footwear supply chains and its prevention in the manufacturing
site, storage and packing area is crucial for footwear industries.

Our On-Site Mould Prevention Assessment measures and evaluates the

moisture content, humidity and ventilation of your manufacturing site, storage
and packing areas; assess mould management, general housekeeping and
monitoring of packaging materials and make recommendations to facilitate
continuous improvement. We also offer Mould Prevention Awareness Training
for your workforce and Mould Prevention Related Testing services to give you
greater understanding of mould related issues on products and raw materials.

PPE FOOTWEAR TESTING

Testing of protective and safety footwear according to national and international
standards, incorporating safety toecaps and under-foot protection; with
additional testing capability against other physical risks, such as cutting by
chainsaws or environmental hazards associated with chemicals, heat and
electricity.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY SOLUTION

Acting on behalf of buyers worldwide, we help to reduce your sourcing risks by verifying manufacturers’ capability to meet
contract requirements for quality, quantity and delivery terms to ensure engagement in lawful, humane and ethical
manufacturing.

TECHNICAL CONSULTANCY
Delivered by footwear experts within our global technical platform, our consultancy offers you product specification support at
pre-production stage, technical requirements advice for accessing emerging markets, and store returns.

VOC SERVICE
Chemicals used in the manufacturing of footwear product usually contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). Products and
Packaging Materials may emit VOC from the Chemical Residues which could constitutes health risk to the workers in the
supply chain and consumers. We can offer on-site sampling and testing,
upstream VOC control solution, root cause analysis and awareness training
services in tackling the challenges.
 REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
Our testing, inspection and certification services can verify product compliance with one or more regulation, for as many
markets as you require, such as:

■ Canada: CCPSA
■ China: Product Standards
■ EU: REACH, Restricted Substances, SVHCs & Directive 89/686/EEC for PPE
■ Korea: KC Mark Regulations
■ Taiwan: CNS Regulations
■ US: CPSIA, California Proposition 65, plus Washington State’s CHCC
© SGS Group Management SA – 2019 – All rights reserved - SGS is a registered trademark of SGS Group Management SA.

ACCREDITATIONS
Our laboratories are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025, accredited by the CPSC for testing against CPSIA requirements, and an EU
notified body (0120) under the PPE Directive for Article 10 & 11 Certification. Our inspection services are ISO 17020
accredited, and our audit services ISO 17021 accredited. We are qualified to test according to wide range of national and
international standards, including:

■ China: GB, GB/T, HG/T, QB/T

■ France: NF
■ Germany: DIN, LFGB
■ UK: BS
■ USA: AATCC and ASTM
■ International: ISO, CEN, EN
WHY CHOOSE SGS?
We use the very latest technology in our testing equipment, administered by a team of experts in our specialist laboratories.
We work alongside you, listening to your specific needs, to provide you with the data and proof that you require for your
customers. Combining global expertise with local knowledge, we provide advice on how to improve the performance of your
products to not only meet the appropriate standards but to exceed the expectations from today’s consumers.

CONTACT US
Contact the Global Softlines Development Office today to discuss your specific requirements.
Email: Global.SL@sgs.com