IMPROVING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY
European Journal of Materials Science and Engineering, Volume 9, Issue 3, 2024
PDF Full Article, DOI: 10.36868/ejmse.2024.09.03.175, pp. 175-182
Published: September 20, 2024
Catarina S. ABREU1, , Abílio P. SILVA1,*
1 Centre for Mechanical and Aerospace Science and Technologies (C-MAST), Universidade da Beira Interior, Rua Marquês d’Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001, Covilhã, Portugal
* Corresponding author: abilio@ubi.pt
Abstract
The article presents a circular economy proposal as a way to promote greater sustainability in the footwear industry. As part of the work, we analysed the essential components for a shoe and the materials used in the production of footwear. Currently, new proposals have emerged for footwear that use materials derived from waste and the forwarding of specific end-of-life products. These new concepts are associated with added value and targeted marketing towards sectors of society more concerned with the industry’s environmental impact. This reinforces the interest in the positioning of the footwear industry in relation to the circular economy. The purpose of this article focuses on the last phase of the circular economy – recycling, educating, and valuing the role of the consumer through the collection, treatment and forwarding of used footwear materials with the aim of reducing waste in landfills but simultaneously increasing awareness of the footwear industry.
Keywords: footwear industry, sustainable materials, life cycle, circular economy.
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