Strategies to Make Footwear Sustainable and Circular: A New Walk towards the European Green Rules

Abstract

To stay on pace with Paris Agreement goals on climate change, the 1.5°C pathway and Green Deal objectives, the footwear sector must speed up its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to contribute to an absolute reduction of 50% by 2030 (or equivalent science-based targets) and achieve Net Zero by 2050. Footwear needs to move away from a linear pattern of growing consumption of planet resources towards a sustainable and more circular living where we use less resources and reduce emissions and climate change. To do so, the industry, whole value chain and consumers need to commit and take concrete actions. The objective of this article is to inspire footwear companies to measure their products environmental footprint, using the European Product Environmental Footprint methodology, and present the actions with higher potential of increasing sustainability and reduce the aggregate GHG footprint of new products.