Footwear
Germany's largest footwear manufacturer was established in 1774 and was a sixth-generation family company. In 2021 private equity firm L Catterton and Financiere Agache, the family investment firm of Bernard Arnault - chairman and CEO of luxury conglomerate LVMH - acquired a majority stake. Birkenstocks are manufactured exclusively in Germany. While most of their sandals are made with leather, they do have vegan options. Became a public company in 2023.
Company Ownership
Birkenstock Holding plc
GER
L Catterton Management Ltd
owns 52% of Birkenstock Holding plc
USA
Private equity firm
In 2016 LVMH merged its private equity arm with American private equity company Catterton to create L Catterton.
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA
owns 40% of L Catterton Management Ltd
FRA
Luxury goods
World's largest luxury goods company. Wines and spirits, perfumes, cosmetics, fashion and leather goods, watches and jewellery, plus a retail division. Chairman Bernard Arnault and his family, through Groupe Arnault, own about 47% of LVMH.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Jan 2022)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Birkenstock Holding plc
Praise
Criticism
Information
Baptist World Aid Australia's '2022 Ethical Fashion Report' assessed 120 companies on their efforts to mitigate against the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation in their supply chains, as well as protect the environment from the harmful impacts of the fashion industry. Assessment criteria fall into five main categories: policy & governance, tracing & risk, auditing and supplier relationships, worker empowerment and environmental sustainability. This company received a score of 7/100.
This company owns brands rated 'Not good enough' by Good On You, whose rating system considers the most important social and environmental issues facing the fashion industry to assess a brand's impact on people, the planet and animals.
Source: Good On You
(2022)
This company has sustainability claims on its website.
Source: company website
(2017)
L Catterton Management Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
This company is 40% owned by LVMH, which has several criticisms and an overall Shop Ethical rating of 'F'.
Source: Shop Ethical
(2020)
UNPRI is a set of six principles direct institutional investors may adopt to consider environmental, social and corporate governance issues when investing. UNPRI is a voluntary agreement.
Source: UNPRI
(2020)
Company Details
Type:
Public company
Founded:
1774
Employees:
4,300
(2021)
Subsidiaries: