The pillars of sustainability at Melissa
Our journey is built on two pillars: circularity, which values resources through new beginnings, and responsibility, which is our way of caring for processes and people.
Circularity
The pursuit of a circular model inspires us at every stage, from pre- to post-consumption. It begins with the choice of Melissa's raw material: Melflex. Next comes the footwear design process, which factors in the lowest possible environmental impact from the start. Following an eco-efficient production process, the footwear goes out into the world. And, at the right moment, the cycle closes! Making this loop possible is our Reverse Logistics Program — a pioneering initiative in Brazil.
Responsibility
We are constantly seeking to improve the way we produce. From our factories to Melissa stores, we aim to be the best company possible for people and the planet. That is why we are working together to put into practice the profound transformations that the times demand.
Sustainability inspires everything we do at Melissa. Discover our key strengths:
Raw material
Melissa carries out constant, evolving research into new materials and technologies — work that makes our products better over time and sets them apart in the global market.
Melflex is Melissa's starting point: today's best choice for creating fashion with a lower socio-environmental impact and a more circular footprint. The reasons are many — it's a durable, recyclable raw material, produced through a process with a low carbon footprint.
Throughout our history, we've led innovation in plastic footwear. Now, that same commitment to innovation is driving us toward greater sustainability — and it's working. Here are some of our advances:
Made in Brazil
We're proud to be a Brazilian brand with a global presence. We celebrate the creative, skilled people behind every stage of production, and the eco-efficient factories they work in — a responsible way of making fashion, rooted at home.
Eco-efficiency
Eco-efficiency means transforming the way we produce.
It means doing more with less impact by investing in innovation and using resources intelligently. We have excellent examples of this in action at Melissa.
Water
Without water, there's no life. Simple as that, right? That's why we've adopted conscious practices around this precious resource.
We've put actions in place to ensure conscious, efficient water use across our processes. We continuously monitor our water sources, working to optimize how we use them — and as a result, we've reached low levels of water consumption.
- Rainwater harvesting
- Treatment and reuse of all effluent generated in industrial processes
- Reusing water from production to avoid waste
- Ongoing monitoring of water consumption, always looking for new ways to save
Energy
Since 2021, all the electricity used in our operations has come from 100% renewable sources, verified by the I-REC traceability seal.
Grendene, the company we're part of, runs three of its own power plants, with a combined installed capacity of 3.27 MWp, in Sobral and Crato (Ceará) and Farroupilha (Rio Grande do Sul). Together they supply part of our operations' electricity demand. In 2024 we generated 4.25 GWh through Grendene, avoiding 1,899.97 tCO2e in emissions through this self-generation.
Waste
Melissa's entire production process happens in-house, which gives us full control over how we manage our waste.
We don't send waste to landfill. Instead, we prioritize prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling, and energy recovery before any final disposal.
Transparency
We practice transparency by sharing both our achievements and our challenges — including areas we can improve. Because transparency isn't about being perfect, it's about celebrating and sharing what we learn along the way, in an honest dialogue that involves the whole fashion industry.
Recognition: Since 2020, we've taken part in the Fashion Transparency Index Brazil (ITMB). In the comparative edition released in 2024, we topped the list for progress in transparency across Brazil's fashion industry.
Melissa's progress in the Fashion Transparency Index (ITMB):
Suppliers: We're constantly refining our policies and control mechanisms for suppliers. Our commitment is to maintain a network that's transparent, responsible, and aligned with global sustainability best practices.
Safety: We use materials that undergo rigorous testing and follow a restricted substances control policy. That means Melissa is non-toxic and safe — for the people who make it and the people who wear it.
Carbon footprint
Walking lighter on the planet
We work with concrete targets for reducing GHG emissions, and we're proud of the numbers we've already reached: each pair of Melissa generates just 254g CO2e* — a smaller footprint than conventional footwear**.
To reach that result, we carefully mapped our emissions across the entire production journey — from raw material extraction all the way to the final consumer.
Through eco-efficient processes and the conscious choice of Melflex as our raw material, we've managed to significantly reduce our emissions. GHG Protocol certification reinforces how we treat emissions as an ongoing commitment — a journey that shows it's possible to keep strengthening our brand without growing our carbon footprint.
Sustainability certifications
Our certifications, audited by independent bodies, prove Melissa's commitment to more sustainable practices. These seals confirm that our actions — from material choices to in-factory processes — follow rigorous social and environmental standards, making our production increasingly responsible toward people and the planet.
Melissa. Responsible & circular, building an extraordinary future for us all.