Responsible Business
Our long-standing pledge to quality craftmanship includes creating sustainable and lasting value for all our stakeholders. What it really comes down to is caring - about people, ethics and integrity, our shared planet, and about healthy financial performance. Caring is so integral to our business that we champion it as one of our core company values.
The Caleres story is most simply defined by the company’s mission: Inspire people to feel great...feet first.
In our 2025 Responsible Business Summary Report, you can explore our five-star promise, learn about the 2025 Responsible Business Aspirations we achieved, and see the new aspirations we have set forth for 2026-2030.
Letter from our President and CEO
Thank you for reviewing this summary of our responsible business efforts, progress, and priorities. In 2025, we reached two important milestones in our continuing journey to uphold our commitments to social and environmental responsibility. We effectively achieved (93% or greater) our 2025 Responsible Business Aspirations, set in 2019. And, I’m pleased to announce we have set forth new aspirations for 2026-2030, which reflect our learnings and are informed by marketplace best practices.
Along the way, our Associates, along with our expanded portfolio of brands – that now includes the iconic Stuart Weitzman brand – continue to innovate and inspire, all while lifting communities and propelling the footwear industry forward.
Creating enduring value for all our stakeholders remains central to who we are. The commitments outlined in this report reflect our belief that responsible business is integral to our growth and success. We’re energized by what we’ve accomplished and committed to deepening our impact in the years ahead.
Jay Schmidt, President and Chief Executive Officer
At Caleres, we care passionately about helping people feel great...feet first. That comfort arises from both our product portfolio and our five-star promise for delivering excellence: Caleres Cares...Feet First.
Fit means more than how great our shoes feel on your feet. Every bit as important is how well our brands align with your values.
- The newest member of the Caleres portfolio, Stuart Weitzman, partnered with Vital Voices, a nonprofit that invests in women leaders dedicated to social impact, on its second annual Bold Movers program to support women advancing in their careers and overcoming obstacles to growth.
- Vionic introduced its first well-being ambassador, world-class athlete and wellness advocate, Gabby Reece. Merging her lifelong dedication to movement, balance and high performance with the brand’s commitment to innovation, the collaboration has deepened conversations around well-being and created Vionic’s most advanced walking shoe to date, “The Gabby.”
step up for the earth
The One Planet Standard is a designation we give only to shoes that meet or exceed 51% on our Sustainable Footwear Index. We developed this standard to be comprehensive and consider the sustainability of a product across its entire lifecycle including these six key pillars: sample reduction, materials, packaging, supplier initiatives, brand philanthropy, and end-of-life solutions.
VIEW OUR SUSTAINABLE FOOTWEAR INDEX
Caleres creates sustainable value by governing and operating with integrity and transparency.
- Caleres effectively achieved (93% or greater) its 2025 Responsible Business Aspirations, set in 2019, and set forth new aspirations for 2026-2030. The next set of aspirations builds on what we’ve learned, aligns with evolving global best practices and focuses our ambitions where we can have the most positive impact.
- Caleres was included in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for the fifth consecutive year. The list focuses on a holistic view of corporate responsibility that considers 30 KPIs across all three pillars – environmental, social and corporate governance.
Curious, creative people working in an inclusive and empowering environment continue to propel our company forward.
- Seven Community Resource Groups (CRGs) facilitated learning opportunities, volunteer activities, cultural moments and sustainability-focused events. Communities include BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Parents/Caregivers, People with Disabilities, Women, Newcomers and the Environment.
- More than 400 Caleres Associates have participated in our tuition reimbursement program, including 105 people in 2025. The program provides up to $5,000 for undergraduate and other eligible coursework and up to $7,500 for graduate work per calendar year.
We give back to people and communities in need and work to advance the profession and professionals of footwear.
- The Caleres Cares Charitable Trust provided over $1 million in grants and matching gifts, with an additional more than $100,000 donated by our brands and distribution centers. These donations championed causes aligned with our core values and supported organizations our Associates care about.
- Caleres continued its partnership with Soles4Souls to provide shoes to students facing homelessness. In 2025, Caleres and its customers contributed more than $720,000 and nearly 120,000 pairs of shoes, helping divert more than 153,000 pounds of unwanted shoes and clothing from landfills.
By holding our suppliers to high standards and taking part in industry and NGO initiatives, we help drive continuous improvement.
- 100% of our Strategic Tier 1 factories, which represent 92% of our footwear sourcing volume, participated in the FDRA Footwear Factory Zero Waste Program in 2025, an increase from 83% in 2024. On average, 79% of waste was diverted by our Strategic factories, exceeding our initial goal of 50%.
- In 2025, our supply chain transparency rate, which measures the accuracy and reliability of factories’ audit disclosures, was 82%, surpassing the industry average of 66%.
2025 Aspirations and Our Progress
Five years ago, we shared our first set of ambitious Responsible Business goals. We have achieved seven of those 10 aspirations and reached 93%+ of the remaining three.
2030 Aspirations
Caleres continues to strengthen the systems, processes and technologies that support more accurate sustainability data, greater transparency and better decision-making. These investments, coupled with further alignment with global best practices, helped shape our new sustainability aspirations, which are grounded in a clearer understanding of our operational and supply chain impacts and opportunities for continued progress.
As part of this work, we are establishing our first specific goals to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions and expanding our focus across our value chain. This includes working with supply-chain partners to advance environmental stewardship, respect for human and labor rights, and more circular approaches to resources.
Together, these efforts reflect a more disciplined and accountable Responsible Business program, one rooted in better data, continuous improvement, and shared responsibility for long-term progress through 2030 and beyond.