Footwear importer and distributor
Footwear is made in Germany.
Company Ownership
Birkenstock Australia Pty Ltd
AUS
Birkenstock Holding plc
owns 100% of Birkenstock Australia Pty Ltd
GER
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.
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 Oct 2024)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Birkenstock Australia Pty Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
5/5 for packaging performance
This company received the highest packaging performance level of 5 (Beyond Best Practice) in its 2024 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO
(2024)
Birkenstock Holding plc
Praise
Information
Criticism
15/100 in Ethical Fashion Report
Baptist World Aid Australia's '2024 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 15/100. The average score was 31.3 and the highest score was 90.
2/5 on Good On You
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)
Sustainability claims
This company has sustainability claims on its website.
Source: company website
(2017)
L Catterton Management Ltd
Praise
Information
Criticism
Part owned by LVMH, which has criticisms
This company is 40% owned by LVMH, which has several criticisms and an overall Shop Ethical rating of 'F'.
Source: Shop Ethical
(2020)
UN Principles for Responsible Investment signatory
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:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Contact Details
Address:
113 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill, VIC, 3068, Australia
Phone:
03 9486 9334
Freecall:
1800 623 423
Website: