Falke

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS 

• Germany
• Portugal
• Austria
• Hungary
• Serbia
• South Africa
• Asia

This list is based on FALKE’s general communication and should mostly apply to FALKE Sports.

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES 

FALKE Sports manufactures a large proportion of its products in its own production facilities in Germany, Europe (including Portugal, Austria, Hungary and Serbia) and South Africa. Around 89% of legwear production takes place in its own factories. FALKE also works with partners in Europe and Asia.

To ensure fair working conditions, all their factories and direct suppliers in risk countries are regularly audited – either by internal specially trained teams or by external institutes. The system is based on the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct, supported by national regulations. The chemical management aspects are also part of these audits. Any anomalies are addressed with appropriate corrective measures. In 2023, a supply chain software solution was also introduced to digitalise certificate management and traceability.

FALKE relies on long-term partnerships with a small number of selected suppliers and requires comprehensive certifications such as OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) and OCS (Organic Content Standard). Products with the FALKE – WE CARE label contain at least 50% more sustainable materials and fulfil additional requirements in terms of social standards, traceability and animal welfare.

A commitment to social responsibility is also evident internally: the brand offers further training, values diversity and equal opportunities within the company and promotes an inclusive working environment through regular dialogue formats. FALKE also supports local species conservation projects, for example by establishing bee colonies on the company premises to promote biodiversity.

MATERIALS 

• Merino wool (mulesing-free, WE CARE Wool, sustainably managed pastures)
• Angora wool (Caregora™-certified)
• Cashmere
• Camel hair
• Silk
• Vicuña
• Fil d’Ecosse (cotton, mercerised)
• Piuma Cotton
• TENCEL™ Lyocell (FSC-certified)
• Polyamide (including coated with beta-spun technology)
• Polypropylene
• Recycled materials (in accordance with the RCS standard)
• Organically grown cotton (in accordance with the OCS standard)

Read more about the benefits of organic cotton here and find out more about the environmental impact of wool here.

PACKAGING 

In the online shop, FALKE ships almost all socks without additional plastic packaging. Recycled paper is already used instead of plastic for underwear from the FALKE Ergonomic Sports System. Since 2024, FALKE has been gradually replacing polybags with paper packaging using cellulose-based viewing windows.

FALKE still uses plastic hooks in stationary retail, but is currently testing organic alternatives. Some of the hooks are already made from fully recycled material. The use of plastic film in the packaging of finished goods has been reduced by 20%. These are made of polypropylene, which is potentially recyclable.

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS 

In the area of chemicals management, FALKE works with its own RSL (Restricted Substances List) and MRSL (Manufacturing Restricted Substances List), which regulates the use and residue of certain substances in end products and manufacturing processes. All production facilities with wet processes – whether internal or external – must regularly submit waste water analyses based on the ZDHC criteria. In addition to this, the requirements of the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, Annex 6 apply. Dyes and additives are evaluated taking into account the latest scientific findings in order to avoid potentially harmful substances from the outset.

FALKE is certified according to OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 and also uses materials with OCS and RCS certification, for example for organically grown cotton or recycled fibres. Only certified Caregora™ material is used for angora wool. Specific information on the avoidance of microplastics or the use of printing and bleaching agents has not yet been provided. 

According to the brand, as part of a pilot project, the amount of water required in the dyeing process was significantly reduced, which also led to less waste water and lower energy consumption. The temperature in the dyeing process was also lowered, further reducing energy requirements.

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN

FALKE uses material blends for many of its products, particularly in sportswear, to ensure functionality, breathability and durability. For example, merino wool and TENCEL™ Lyocell are used in combination with polyamide – for example in ClimaWool technology. Although these blends improve performance, they make it more difficult to sort and recycle them later on. 

FALKE does not offer a take-back service for used textiles or a take-back system for recycling. The company also has no information about the actual recycling or upcycling of collected goods. However, the brand emphasises the durability of its products as a key sustainability feature.

Ease of repair is not yet a recognised component of product development. The main focus is on quality, workmanship and durability, but without systematic repair offers or design strategies that facilitate subsequent recycling or dismantling.

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS 

FALKE does not offer a public repair service for its products. There is also no take-back system for used or worn-out garments. There is no indication that returned items are collected, sorted or recycled.

Other circular business models or services for product renewal (e.g. spare parts or modular designs) are not part of the current brand strategy. Instead, FALKE focusses on the durability and high quality of its products, which should reduce the need for repairs – a passive form of service life extension, but without directly circular solutions.

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN 

• Germany
• Portugal
• Austria
• Hungary
• Serbia 
• South Africa
• Asia
• FALKE HQ is located in Schmallenberg, Germany.
• FALKE sells and exports to over 60 countries on five continents.

TRANSPORTATION 

• FALKE produces the majority of its items in its own factories in Germany and Europe, which shortens transport routes within the supply chain. Compared to globally outsourced production, this reduces CO₂ emissions upstream. The company strives to continuously optimise its logistics network in order to avoid unnecessary transport of raw materials, intermediate products and finished goods. However, FALKE does not provide precise details on the means of transport or the use of more climate-friendly logistics options.
• In online retail, FALKE products are shipped without additional plastic packaging, which reduces packaging waste. FALKE ships with DHL.

• Merino wool: exclusively mulesing-free, reared in accordance with the IWTO Guideline for Sheep Welfare
• Angora wool: Caregora™-certified, which guarantees compliance with strict animal welfare guidelines
• Cashmere
• Camel hair
• Vicuña wool
• Silk

The exact countries of origin are not named, but FALKE works with long-standing suppliers who are selected and regularly inspected in accordance with its own animal welfare standards. According to the company, the merino wool comes from sustainably managed pastures in compliance with strict animal welfare conditions.

FALKE has its own FALKE Quality Guideline, which sets out the requirements for animal materials. This includes a ban on mulesing and an obligation to provide evidence of animal welfare-compliant conditions.

PRODUCT DESIGN 

FALKE offers a wide range of functional clothing and accessories for men, women and children. In addition to sports socks and underwear, the product range also includes outerwear like gilets, jackets, trousers and shirts – especially for running, trekking, biking and training.

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES 

FALKE follows a classic, seasonal model. The brand regularly takes part in discount campaigns.

TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT 

The FALKE Sports product pages primarily communicate functional features, care conditions and design details. Information such as material properties or fit details are also described. However, in many cases there is no information on the origin of materials or certifications. 

Countries of production or information on the supply chain are not provided on the pages, meaning that traceability at item level is not possible. It is therefore not clear to consumers where exactly the product was manufactured or from which sources the materials originate. Traceability remains general and regulated at company level, but cannot be traced individually for each product in the online shop.

TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESSES 

FALKE provides relatively extensive information about its company-wide processes, standards and goals on its general website and in the ​‘WE CARE’ section. The brand provides an insight into key topics such as chemicals management, working conditions, energy consumption, packaging strategy and use of materials. It also reports on its own production sites and the use of audits in risk countries. FALKE refers to internationally recognised standards such as OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, RCS, OCS, Caregora™, ZDHC and amfori BSCI.

A complete list of suppliers, disclosure of individual production sites or detailed information on relationships with specific suppliers are not made publicly available.

Product-related traceability is not offered. The information remains at a general company level and does not relate to specific items in the shop.

FALKE regularly publishes a sustainability report in which the most important social and ecological key figures, developments and goals are documented. This report is accessible online and is presented in the context of the ​‘FALKE – WE CARE’ initiative. However, it is not a report fully regulated by external standards such as GRI or CSRD, but rather the brand’s own summary of the most important progress.