Footwear brands step up for circularity
Fashion for Good has launched the Closing the Footwear Loop initiative, bringing together 14 major shoe brands, including Adidas, Puma, and Target, to tackle waste, improve circular design, and establish repair and recycling systems. The footwear industry, worth $439 billion, faces sustainability challenges, with most products ending up as waste. Sourcing raw materials accounts for two-thirds of its emissions. Past efforts, like recyclable and compostable shoes, have been limited in scale. The initiative aims to map European shoe waste streams, develop circular design roadmaps, and explore automation for sorting materials. It collaborates with The Footwear Collective, another circularity-focused group. For 2025, the initiative will refine recycling methodologies, test circular fashion software, and scout end-of-use innovations. Due to footwear’s complex materials and recycling challenges, industry-wide collaboration and data-driven strategies are key to achieving scalable sustainability. Learn more about the program.
Image source: Pexels