Business

The Evolution of the PUMA Sustainability Reports

A Comparison of the PUMA Sustainability Reports from 2002 till 2017

September 01st, 2018
Alexandra Diaconu, News from Berlin
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Every year, PUMA AG, one of the world’s leading sport lifestyle companies, producing footwear, apparel and accessories for categories such as Football, Running, Motorsports and Golf presents an annual report on its sustainability activities.

Rudolf Dassler started producing sports shoes in 1920, together with his brother Adolf. The Dassler brothers founded in 1924 the sports shoe factory Gebrüder Dassler in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Due to disagreements, Adolf started to build his own business and founded Addidas after the Second World War. On October 1st, 1948, Rudolf Dassler registered the Puma Rudolf Dassler Schuhfabrik in the commercial register. Today the company distributes its products in more than 120 countries and employs more than 11,000 people worldwide.

In the first report posted on the official website, www.puma.com from 2002 the principles of the Environmental and Social Policy are mentioned. There are 5 Principles: Transparency, Dialogue, Sustainability, Social Accountability and Evolution, known under the name S.A.F.E. (Social Accountability & Fundamental Environmental Standards). Under the slogan “A child in danger is a child that cannot wait”, PUMA started a program that rigorously condemns child labor as being exploitative. In 2002 the company also decided to be more careful with the environment and to ban PVC (which contains chlorine, that during waste incineration may produce toxic dioxines and furanes), toluene and solvent-based adhesives from all their product ranges.

PUMA has always devoted to spread the influence of the United Nation’s International Day of Peace on September 21 each year. It initiates a global ceasefire and non-violence and promotes the theme “Peace One Day”. In 2008, PUMA.Peace held international football matches all over the world with the topic “One Day One Goal” to celebrate the UN International Day of Peace. The games took place in all UN member’s state, and in many participating countries that were having conflicts.

For this initiative, in 2010 PUMA has received “the Best Corporate Social Responsibility Award” in recognition of the PUMA.Peace project’s contribution to the world peace. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Mr. Joel Bouzou, the “Peace and Sport” founder and chairman praised that sport promotes regional communication and information exchange. More than 500 guests from political, sports, private sector and civil society attended this event. PUMA’s CEO and chairman Jochen Zeitz said: ”PUMA.Peace advocates to create a more peaceful world through a series of projects. Each of us can bring about change for the world, whether by individuals, businesses or strategic partnership approach. In addition, PUMA’s unique positioning makes people work hard for one dream: creating a better world for future generations.” The PUMA.Peace project convinces people around the world that sports is a common language around the world, and it assists in setting up regional communication, information exchange and friendship between different regions.

In 2018 PUMA’s CSR is still focused on the same main projects and is developing more strategies to help reduce the chemical use and discharge, by using natural and eco-friendly fabrics. PUMA wants to be a raw model because “People involved in sports are in direct contact with their environment“. They are committed to reduce water use and CO2 emissions that lead to climate change and at the same time to promote human rights through workers health and safety. Overall, PUMA is committed to promoting creativity, to being environmentally and socially responsible, and to contributing to peace through sports.

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News from Berlin