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.
Explore our five-star promise and our portfolio of aspirations that we are working to achieve in our 2024 Responsible Business Summary Report - Caleres Cares...Feet First.
Letter from our President and CEO
Caleres is committed to operating responsibly, protecting the environment, supporting our Associates and working to ensure accountability in our supply chain. As of 2024, 95% of our products included at least one environmentally preferred material. We also continued our efforts to diversify suppliers and strengthen resiliency in our supply chain while expanding economic opportunities to new geographies. Our brands and our Associates continue to innovate and inspire, all while lifting communities and the footwear industry. Our long-standing pledge of quality craftsmanship includes creating sustainable and lasting value for all our stakeholders. Our work here is never done, and we strive every day to uphold the values that drive our company’s culture and our success.
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.
- Led by Famous Footwear, our brands reached a $2 million milestone in donations to Soles4Souls made by customers rounding up their purchase at the register. Famous Footwear customers also donated more than 70,000 pairs of gently used shoes in stores.
- Naturalizer debuted its global inclusivity ambassador collection, propelling the brand’s commitment to a more comfortable and inclusive environment for women’s shoes.
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.
- 95% of Caleres-owned products contain at least one environmentally preferred material.
- Caleres was named by Newsweek’s to the America’s Most Responsible Companies list for the fourth consecutive year.
Curious, creative people working in an inclusive and empowering environment continue to propel our company forward.
- Seven Community Resource Groups (CRGs) were active throughout the year in providing support to Associate communities including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Parents/Caregivers, People with Disabilities, Women, new Associates and the Environment.
- Caleres remains committed to the ongoing growth and development of our Associates. More than 64,000 developmental, technical, role-based, and compliance learning courses were taken by Caleres Associates via our online learning platform.
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 $1.2 million in grants and matching gifts, with an additional $200,000 donated by our brands and distribution centers.
- In response to the devastating California wildfires, Caleres donated freight services to transport supplies, provided warehouse space, and contributed more than 5,000 pairs of shoes.
By holding our suppliers to high standards and taking part in industry and NGO initiatives, we help drive continuous improvement.
- 96% of the leather we purchased was sourced from suppliers certified Gold or Silver by the Leather Working Group Oeko-TEX® Leather Standard, or ICEC Sustainability certified.
- Our supplier diversification strategy aims to strengthen resiliency and mitigate risk in our supply chain, while expanding economic opportunities to new geographies.