Pillar: Responsibility
At WUD, being responsible means embarking on a life-long journey of responsible decisions to pursue innovation while nurturing our traditions.
WUD combines traditional artisanal methods and techniques carrying forward the historical attention of our family the use of natural raw materials - particularly wood - along with responsible, ISO14001-certified, manufacturing processes to craft superior, durable and comfortable footwear, ensuring the utmost comfort and functionality with our distinctive sole.
Our products are sustainable because of the intrinsic characteristics of the raw materials that we use: wood and recycled rubber used for our soles and outsoles significantly extend the useful life of our products, compared to alternative materials. The research of innovative, recycled and upcycled materials for the uppers complements our commitment to making durable and comfortable footwear, for everyday use.
The material aspect is paramount for WUD, starting from the fundamental component of all our products: our flexible-wooden sole.We have been producing footwear with wooden soles for over 60 years, and our passion has driven us to explore new possibilities, approaching innovation as a continuous process. We have studied, experimented, tested, and refined various anatomical solutions for our soles - The current WUD sole is the culmination of our dedicated efforts.
The essence of WUD is intertwined with wood. We have worked with wood for generations considering it a virtuous raw material for its intrinsic characteristics - lightweight, thermoregulation and resistance - which determine its great ability to withstand wear and degradation.
Wood is, therefore, a perfect natural raw material to ensure maximum comfort and durability, significantly extending the lifespan of our soles compared to alternative materials such as cork or polyurethane and thermoplastic rubbers.
WUD uses FSC-certified natural beech wood together with a repurposed rubber compound made with >60% recycled EVA, to create flexible, anatomical soles, and is designed to be extremely comfortable, breathable and durable, capable of absorbing shocks and vibrations and ensuring proper foot thermoregulation.
Our wood is dried to a moisture content below 20% to increase its resistance during use; it is then cut and shaped to accommodate the flexible insert made of recycled rubber and milled to give the sole an anatomical shape. Once turned and obtained the final size, it is glued on the recycled-rubber outsole.