Sustainability in Footwear Production
Waste accumulation:
Shoemakers have always tried to make their Wares as durable as possible. Now the specifications are all about quality and durability. We need to manage post-consumer waste- what happens at the footwear's end of life. While textiles may biodegradable, leather and polymers in general are not, and these remain out of sight for very long time. Efforts to reduce this problem include. incineration to produce electricity and deconstruction. to recover materials for repurposing. This end of life problem needs to be considered at the design stage. There is also a growing market. for footwear that is already manufactured from recycled materials, such as when in vehicle tyres are used for soling materials. There are many barriers that must be overcome during end of life waste management, for example, products manufactured from recycled material must still meet current legislation on restricted substances.
Many footwear manufactures are now offering the sustainable option of repair and/or refurbishment and a number of specialist repairers is also operating independently. This sector is largely involved with welted footwear, and its construction provides for the relatively easy deconstruction of the shoe for re-soling and re-lining. The footwear can be repaired to "as new" condition, with some brand owners even ensuring that the process is done on the same last that was used during manufacture, Such work is a very sustainable and cost-effective option and it has the added bone bonus of a consumer being able to keep a favorite pair. of shoes for, in some cases, many decades.
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Designing shoes with ultimate recycling or re-use in mind is also becoming more feasible, and lessens the potential environmental impact of product. However, this is not a simple matter, a as footwear is generally a complex multi-material multi-component product. The fewer materials used in its construction, the more likely it is to be recyclable by the consumer or end-user. When it is not possible to make a recyclable item of footwear, it could at least be designed so as to have less impact on mainstream waste disposal systems. This wat would include the use of biodegradable materials, compostable. packaging and materials designed to break down rapidly in the anaerobic conditions of landfill.
Monitoring restricted substances:
It is important to monitor and eliminate the use of restricted substances in all stages of the product supply chain. This aspect of sustainability is one that is governed by legislation so, regardless of a company's stance on environmental issues. it is something that is must be carefully managed.
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