Impact method
Every MOEA product shows a carbon footprint, in kg CO₂e per pair. Here is how we calculate it, what it covers, and where its limits are.
The short version
- Every model gets a carbon footprint, in kg CO₂e per pair, from a simplified life cycle assessment (LCA).
- The calculation covers six stages, from raw materials to end of life, plus packaging.
- It draws on ADEME’s Base Empreinte® v2.01, FAIRLY MADE® material LCAs (2023–2024) and LCAs provided by our suppliers.
- The result is an order of magnitude, not a certification.
Why do we display the carbon footprint of our products?
Manufacturing a pair of shoes requires raw materials, energy, and transportation. But greenhouse gas emissions are not limited to this stage: they are generated throughout the product’s entire life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to the end of the shoes’ life, including their manufacturing and distribution.
In order to better understand this impact and integrate it into our design decisions to reduce it, we developed an eco-design tool in collaboration with Sami, a specialist in measuring the carbon footprint of organizations and products.
Thanks to this tool, we estimate the carbon footprint of each of our shoe models. The impact is expressed in kilograms of CO₂ equivalent (kg CO₂e) per pair of shoes.
This indicator allows us to:
- improve transparency regarding the carbon impact of our products;
- identify the main sources of emissions;
- integrate eco-design principles into the development of our collections.
How do we estimate the carbon footprint?
The carbon footprint of each model is estimated using our eco-design tool, which performs simplified life cycle assessments (LCA). This method evaluates the greenhouse gas emissions generated throughout a product’s life cycle.
The calculation relies on two complementary types of data.
1. Product-specific data
Each product reference is modeled component by component (upper, lining, laces, soles, etc.). For each element, we specify the material used as well as the corresponding quantity of material.
2. Reference environmental data
Emissions associated with materials and manufacturing processes are estimated using the ADEME Base Empreinte® database version 2.01, life cycle assessments of materials conducted by FAIRLY MADE® (2023–2024), and those carried out by other consulting firms and provided by our suppliers.
Life cycle stages considered
The displayed carbon footprint corresponds to an estimate covering the main stages of the product’s and packaging life cycle.
| Stage | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 1. Raw material production | Manufacturing of the materials used in the shoe (textiles, polymers, rubber, etc.). |
| 2. Component manufacturing | Transformation of materials into the various parts that make up the shoe. |
| 3. Upstream transport | Transport of materials and components to manufacturing sites. |
| 4. Product manufacturing | Production of the shoe in the manufacturing workshop. |
| 5. Distribution | Transport of finished products to warehouses and distribution markets. |
| 6. End of life | Treatment of the product at the end of its life (recycling, incineration, or landfill). |
Understanding the displayed result
Emissions generated across all life cycle stages are added together to obtain a global estimate expressed in kg of CO₂ equivalent per pair of shoes.
The tool also allows us to identify the contribution of different parts of the product, for example:
- the upper
- the sole
- the linings
- the laces
- assembly
- transport
- use
- packaging
- end of life
This analysis helps us identify the main emission sources and guide our design choices. We specify that, even though concrete impact-reduction initiatives are implemented (such as Second Life), the calculations are mainly based on average data.
Limitations of the estimate
The carbon footprint displayed is an estimate based on the data available at the time of calculation.
Some data may be:
- specific to our suppliers (primary data), such as actual factory energy consumption or the processes used to manufacture a material;
- derived from industry averages (secondary data), used when specific data is not available. These averages come from recognized databases such as ADEME’s Base Empreinte®.
The results should therefore be interpreted as orders of magnitude that help identify the main environmental impact sources. The estimates may evolve over time as data and calculation methods improve.
In addition, to compare the environmental impact of different materials, it is necessary to use a common reference basis. In 2023, together with FAIRLY MADE®, we simulated the carbon footprint of an ORIGIN pair made from animal leather, using an average value corresponding to chrome-tanned bovine leather produced in Asia.
In this simulation, all other parameters of the model were kept identical (lining, sole, manufacturing processes, production location, etc.). On this basis, we estimate that a pair of MOEA ORIGIN sneakers emits on average around 78% less CO₂ equivalent than a comparable pair made from animal leather.
ORIGIN: around 78% less CO₂e than a comparable pair in animal leather.
For two of our bio-based materials, PALMSKIN and SEAWEEDSKIN, we do not yet have a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) carried out by an independent third party. Palm and seaweed fibres are also not listed in the databases we work with, including ADEME’s Base Empreinte®. We therefore had to estimate their impact using proxy data: in our simulations, these fibres were replaced with recycled cotton. To avoid underestimating the impact of these materials, we also deliberately overstated the transport distances. As a result, these estimates carry a wider margin of uncertainty than those for our other materials. We will update them as soon as more specific data becomes available.
Finally, the carbon footprint is one indicator of a product’s environmental impact. It does not reflect all possible environmental impacts, such as biodiversity, water consumption, pollution, etc.
Transparency and responsible communication
Environmental communication about products is regulated in France by several legal frameworks, notably the AGEC law (Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy) and the Climate and Resilience law, which aim to ensure the reliability and transparency of information provided to consumers.
We therefore provide this page to explain the methodology used to estimate the carbon footprint of our products. This indicator is intended to inform our customers and improve our practices. It does not constitute an environmental certification nor a guarantee of reduced environmental impact.
