London: A collaborative initiative, ‘Closing the Footwear Loop’, launched by 14 major brands, aims to tackle environmental challenges in footwear production by promoting a circular economy, reducing landfill waste, and creating sustainable practices within the industry by 2026.
A notable collaborative initiative titled “Closing the Footwear Loop” has emerged as a significant effort by 14 fashion brands to address the environmental challenges associated with footwear production. This initiative seeks to transition the footwear industry from the prevailing ‘take-make-dispose’ model to a more sustainable circular system that encompasses the entire value chain.
The footwear industry currently faces a major challenge, with an astounding 90% of shoes ending up in landfills. Each year, approximately 23.8 billion pairs of shoes are produced globally, contributing substantially to environmental waste. Compounding this issue is the complexity of shoe construction, with each pair comprising up to 60 different materials, including plastic, rubber, adhesive, and fabric. This complexity often makes the reuse and recycling of these components difficult, hindering progress towards greener practices within the industry.
The brands participating in “Closing the Footwear Loop” include notable names such as adidas, DEICHMANN, Dr Martens, Footwear Innovation Foundation, Inditex, lululemon, ON, Otto Group, Puma, Reformation, Target, Tommy Hilfiger, Vivobarefoot, and Zalando. These companies have committed to a series of core objectives aimed at fostering sustainability within footwear production. Key initiatives include:
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Detailed mapping of European footwear waste streams, in collaboration with Circle Economy, to gather crucial data on volumes, materials, rewearability, and recyclability, with a report and business case assessment expected by 2025.
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Development of a roadmap towards circular footwear design with the assistance of Fashion for Good Alumni circular.fashion, outlining principles for material selection, durability, recyclability, repairability, and responsible chemical management, with guidelines anticipated by 2025.
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Validation of end-of-use innovations, which will include trials and impact assessments to address current challenges and encourage industry-wide adoption, with recycled material outputs anticipated by 2026.
Katrin Ley, Managing Director at Fashion for Good, articulated the significance of this initiative, stating, “The footwear industry stands at a critical turning point. With billions of shoes produced annually and 90% ending up in landfills, ‘Closing the Footwear Loop’ represents our most ambitious effort yet to reimagine how we design, use, and dispose of shoes.” She highlighted the collaborative nature of this effort, suggesting that by uniting 14 leading brands, the initiative is not merely responding to a challenge but is also constructing a framework for transformative change within the industry.
Source: Noah Wire Services
