Future steps
At VIA VAI, we look beyond shoes; we look at the impact we can have on people, the environment, and society. On this page, you can discover our plans for the future: the concrete plans and ideas with which we shape responsible entrepreneurship and challenge ourselves every day to make the better choice.
Our efforts so far
We've been seriously working on a more sustainable future for some years and are proud to present the results of our efforts below.
Materials & product
- We and our suppliers are members of the Leather Working Group, through which we promote responsible production.
- We have created exclusive limited-edition shoes using surplus leather.
- Every shoe features a QR code linking to further information about materials and production.
- The product page now includes details on heel height, sole thickness, shaft height, and shaft width (for boots). This helps prevent unnecessary returns.
Lifespan & upcycling
- To extend the lifespan of our items, we designed our own shoe care collection. These products are made from 99% natural ingredients.
- Through our partnership with 95%, we give rejected shoes a second chance. See more below.
- We have expanded our shoelace collection, which now features over 30 varieties. This makes it easy to give your sneakers a fresh new look, thereby extending their lifespan.
- If a customer has a pair of shoes with a minor defect, we offer repair services*. These repairs are carried out by either our in-house cobbler or a local cobbler—an even more sustainable approach. This extends the product's lifespan and prevents unnecessary waste.
* if within warranty period. Contact customer service for more information.
Shipping & packaging
- To prevent unnecessary waste, our orders no longer include a return label.
- Our shipping labels have also been modified; they are now smaller, resulting in reduced material usage.
- We redesigned our shipping boxes to minimize waste as much as possible, specifically focusing on box sizes. The better the fit for our items, the less void-fill material is required. Additionally, the shipping box features a QR code that allows you to easily register your return. This marks the first step in phasing out the paper return form.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
CO² reduction
When focussing on sustainability, reduce, reuse and recycle are wellknown key words. We're always striving to reduce our impact on the environment by taking a critical look at our production process and material consumption. For the reuse and recycle aspect we work together with our partner 95percent. Shoes with slight imperfections that normally would not pass our strict quallity control, are checked, cleaned, and if neccesary repaired by experienced shoemakers.
In 2025 we reduced 8.253 kg CO² by upcycling and recycling shoes together with 95percent.
Future focus
People, planet, prosperity
Corporate responsibility
Wat is corporate responsibility?
Wat is corporate responsibility?
Corporate social responsibility is about more than just fashion. It is about taking responsibility for the impact that VIA VAI has on people, the environment, and society.
Corporate responsibility starts with respect for people: from safe working conditions to fair wages. In addition, corporate responsibility means using raw materials consciously. Last but not least, sharing resources is a central part of corporate responsibility.
Click on the tabs to read more about the different components.
People
People
Our people make the difference. We strive to promote sustainable employability on a daily basis by offering our people an inspiring and pleasant working environment every day.
- We have created healthy workplaces with adjustable office chairs, sit-stand desks, and desk bikes. This encourages us to stand at our desks a few times a day or hold competitions on the desk bikes.
- Our team has access to OpenUp, a mental wellbeing platform offering tips and advice on your health and vitality.
- For our daily vitamins, fresh fruit is provided every week, and we enjoy a communal lunch every day.
We enable all our employees to follow education and training programs, so that personal development is always in motion. - Our manufacturers have signed a Code of Conduct, which sets out obligations and restrictions. This guarantees a safe and healthy working environment, as well as fair pay and equal treatment.
Planet
Planet
In our processes, we take a critical look at the conditions under which our products are manufactured, the materials used, the amount of waste generated, and the accommodation of our premises.
- Our consumer shipping boxes are made from 100% recycled paper. We also offer different packaging sizes for our webshop to limit the use of cardboard. Additionally, custom-sized boxes are more efficient to transport, which reduces CO₂ emissions from transport.
- Your VIA VAI order will be shipped climate-neutrally by DHL. DHL emits as little CO₂ as possible by using electric delivery vans. In addition, the CO₂ emitted is offset by investment in nature restoration. Since 2023, all parcels to consumers have been shipped not only climate-neutrally, but also fossil-free.
- Our building is equipped with 142 solar panels, making us completely self-sufficient. We also use LED lighting and have electric charging stations available for our fully electric vehicle fleet.
- Our complaint pairs (shoes with minor damage) go to our partner 95percent, where they are checked, cleaned, and repaired if necessary by experienced shoemakers. These pairs are then offered at a discount on the 95percent webshop. In this way, we prevent unnecessary waste.
Prosperity
Prosperity
At VIA VAI, we look beyond our business. For example, we support various social causes. VIA VAI has a permanent partnership with Nova Zembla, Les Cajoutiers Senegal, and Villa Pardoes. Not only do we support these partners materially and/or financially, we also like to roll up our sleeves and participate in volunteer activities.
- Nova Zembla is a foundation whose mission is to support disadvantaged people in Bulgaria by providing them with clothing and shoes. This is because a significant proportion of the population in Bulgaria lives below the poverty line. We donate certain surplus stocks and rejected products that are still fit for purpose to this foundation.
- Villa Pardoes offers truly unforgettable free vacations for families with a seriously, possibly life-threatening ill child aged 4 to 12 who would love to take their minds off their illness for a while. For brothers, sisters, parents, grandfathers, and grandmothers who dream of a carefree week together. To forget everything for a while. We donate a financial contribution to this foundation every year and, in addition, several times a year, all our employees take part in volunteer activities at Villa Pardoes.
