Sustainability in the footwear industry
Sustainability today is an important topic for the shoe industry and is undoubtedly a topic of absolute interest and which is much talked about. When we talk about footwear, sustainability is a very broad subject: it touches on various aspects that impact companies along the entire supply chain from raw materials to consumption.
The opinion of our publishing house is that to talk about sustainability at this time it is necessary to balance two aspects:
- Create an effective story telling capable of attracting the attention of consumers;
- Provide a scientific and quantitative basis for the story.
We believe the era of green washing is over and the time has finally come to address the issue of sustainability in the footwear sector with a serious and precise approach. Getting into further details we think it is necessary to elevate the discussion and focus on methodologies based on LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) which have the objective to investigate, measure and accurately describe the environmental impact of products and footwear organizations.
In this section of our site we will try to achieve two goals:
- Aggregate all the articles on the theme of sustainability that describe case histories ranging from development of materials to projects of sustainable shoes and that talk about companies and events.
- Produce articles similar to white papers that can help to understand in a simple but not trivial way the theme of sustainability in the footwear sector.
Biodegradable shoes

What is meant by biodegradable shoe? Let me say it in a simple way: you put it in the soil, you wait a little while and in the end you can’t find it anymore because it has turned into something else.
Learn more about this topic …
Kiefer von Zoe. Commitment to a sustainable future [Download Sustainability White Paper]
With over 40 years of experience in the shoe industry, Kiefer von Zoe specialises in researching and developing materials for assembly insoles for the most demanding shoe manufacturers and designers.
Read more …Sustainability news from our blog

The “Made in Green” by OEKO-TEX®
The independent international testing institute for textiles and leather, has reviewed the requirements for its products and published new regulations which will become effective on 1 April 2021 after a three-month transition period

The gift from Tacchificio Villa Cortese
It’s always nice to receive good wishes towards the end of the year, during the festive season. It’s even nicer if they are full of meaning and concrete action, like those received from the Lombardy-based heel factory.

Inescop: agricultural by-products as resources for shoes
The Centre for Technology and Innovation applied to the footwear of Alicante develops two projects that are based on the recycling of agricultural materials for the production of footwear

Industrie Chimiche Forestali focusses primarily on circular economy
The development of new products for the footwear sector, made of recycled polymers by more than 50%, highlights the strategic value that ICF assigns to environmental and social sustainability to grow and compete on international markets.

E.C.O. Hide, recycled leather for sustainable products
Italian Converter’s on a roll recycled leather with eco-friendly finishes.

Ogreen, the first eco-sustainable rubber
An international group for the production of articles in rubber, plastic, and silicon, with Ogreen, Oldrati replies to a market that is increasingly attentive to sustainability

Cuoio di Toscana launches its Sustainability Declaration
The green decalogue of the Consortium wants to commit the entire Italian leather supply chain towards natural regenerative solutions and towards circularity for a zero waste model. And it wants to be a guarantor, both towards international brands that use its productions, and towards the final consumer.

Towards the recycled shoe
During Lineapelle Olians, Asoltex and Industria Chimica Mediterranea presented a shoe project made with recycled and recyclable components. A concrete look toward the future of sustainable footwear.

Brazilian Leather Webinar Series: “Leather, automobiles, and sustainability”
The automotive sector is the central issue of the next Brazilian Leather Webinar Series: on November 6, 2 p.m. (GMT)

Alteray Technology®: wow effect in sunlight!
“We can change colour almost as fast as your mood swings”. Alteray Technology®, applies its all metal free own photochromic pigments, allowing fabrics, leathers and many other materials to change colour in sunlight or under UV rays.

The innovative Texon eco-line insole technology
The new line is based on 85% recycled content and is 100% recyclable. Perfect for footwear manufacturers that are looking to boost the amount of recycled material in their shoes, without compromising quality.

The Brazilian leather webinar series
The first edition will take place on September 24th (Thursday), at 2 p.m. (GMT).The Brazilian Leather Webinar Series – Leather Business and Future Consumer is a great project that aims to share knowledge and positive experiences about leather, partner industries, and sustainability.

New DAVOS sustainable projects
Faced with the COVID-19 emergency, the Treviso-based company has worked hard both in terms of management and creativity production, maintaining the proactive and innovative features that has always distinguished it

SALOMON
Fruit of 3 years of research, the new running shoes combine performance with circular design, thus allowing for complete recyclability