Who Owns Skechers?

Skechers has implemented sustainability initiatives focused on facilities, packaging, and materials. The company's approach is documented in its corporate social responsibility materials.

Facility Certifications: Skechers operates LEED Gold-certified facilities, including its headquarters in Manhattan Beach, California, and its distribution center in Rancho Belago, California. The Liege, Belgium distribution center has a BREEAM Very Good rating. The Taicang, China facility is pursuing LEED Platinum certification. These certifications are independently verified by the U.S. Green Building Council and BRE Group.

Packaging: Skechers reports that 96 to 100% of outbound shipping cartons are composed of recycled materials, and 100% of shipping cartons are recyclable. Factory master cartons use soy- or water-based ink. These metrics are self-reported by Skechers and have not been independently audited.

Materials: Skechers offers an "Our Planet Matters" collection featuring footwear made with recycled materials including recycled polyester, organic cotton, and recycled rubber. However, this collection represents a small percentage of Skechers' total product volume. The company has not published targets for increasing the percentage of recycled materials across its full product line.

Supply Chain Ethics: Skechers works with contract manufacturers in China, Vietnam, and India. The company has a Supplier Code of Conduct and conducts supplier assessments. However, Skechers does not publish the results of these audits or detailed information about factory conditions. The company is not a member of the Fair Labor Association.

Cruelty-Free and Vegan Status: Skechers does not market itself as a cruelty-free or vegan brand. Some Skechers products use leather and other animal-derived materials. The brand has not obtained certification from Leaping Bunny, PETA, or The Vegan Society.

B Corp Status: Skechers is not a certified B Corporation.

Carbon Emissions: Skechers has not published specific carbon neutrality targets or Scope 3 emissions data. The company's sustainability reporting focuses on facility-level energy efficiency rather than comprehensive carbon footprint measurement.

Skechers' sustainability profile is limited compared to competitors like Allbirds and On Running, which have made carbon labeling and sustainable materials central to their brand positioning. Skechers has not obtained independent third-party sustainability certifications beyond its LEED and BREEAM facility ratings.

Skechers has received limited independent industry awards. The company's recognition comes primarily from business performance rankings and trade publication coverage.

Footwear News Achievement Awards: Skechers and its executives have been recognized by Footwear News, a leading footwear industry trade publication. Robert Greenberg has received Footwear News Person of the Year recognition. These awards are from a trade publication rather than an independent testing organization.

Market Position Recognition: Skechers' position as the third-largest footwear brand globally has been noted by market research firms including NPD Group (now Circana) and Statista. The company's surpassing of Adidas in certain U.S. market share categories has been reported by financial media including Bloomberg and CNBC.

LEED and BREEAM Certifications: Skechers' distribution centers have received independently verified green building certifications. The Rancho Belago facility is LEED Gold certified, and the Liege facility has a BREEAM Very Good rating. These are legitimate third-party certifications from recognized organizations.

Skechers has not received product quality awards from independent testing organizations such as Consumer Reports, Which?, or Good Housekeeping. The brand's recognition is primarily based on sales performance and market position rather than independent product testing or design awards.

Skechers has faced several notable controversies and regulatory actions.

FTC Shape-ups Settlement (2012): The Federal Trade Commission charged Skechers with making unsubstantiated health claims about its Shape-ups toning shoes. Skechers advertised that Shape-ups would help users tone muscles, burn calories, and improve cardiovascular health. The FTC found no scientific evidence to support these claims. Skechers agreed to pay $40 million in consumer refunds and was prohibited from making unsupported health claims in future advertising. The settlement also covered related toning products including Resistance Runner, Tone-ups, and Tone-up Boots. This was one of the largest FTC settlements related to footwear marketing claims.

Supply Chain Labor Concerns: Skechers' reliance on contract manufacturing in China, Vietnam, and India has raised concerns about labor practices. The company does not publish detailed factory audit results or wage information for its supplier factories. Labor rights organizations have criticized the footwear industry broadly for working conditions in Asian factories. Skechers has a Supplier Code of Conduct but is not a member of the Fair Labor Association and does not publish factory addresses.

Tariff and Trade Policy Impact (2025 to 2026): U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports have significantly impacted Skechers' cost structure. As a company that manufactures the majority of its footwear in China and Vietnam, Skechers faces higher import costs than competitors with more diversified supply chains. The company has accelerated efforts to shift production to Vietnam and India, but the transition is ongoing. In 2025, Skechers reported increased costs due to tariffs and warned that continued trade tensions could affect consumer prices.

Dual-Class Share Structure Criticism: Corporate governance advocates have criticized Skechers' dual-class share structure, which gives the Greenberg family majority voting control. Critics argue this structure limits shareholder influence and reduces board accountability. The company has maintained the structure, arguing it provides stability and long-term strategic focus.

Current Status: Skechers continues to operate as an independent public company despite the Shape-ups controversy and ongoing supply chain concerns. The $40 million FTC settlement was paid and the case closed. Tariff pressures remain an ongoing challenge. The company has not faced major product safety recalls of its footwear products.