by mathilde.bogen -

14 | Mind Map & Discussion 1

In this blogpost I discuss the first two main areas of my mind map and some of the main problems within the areas.

MATERIALS

The big amount of different materials used in shoes are what makes the shoes difficult to recycle, but also difficult to produce sustainably. It can be challenging for consumers to understand what kind of materials they should look for if they want to choose a better option for the environment. It is also important to take in consideration the chemicals used in the production of the shoes. There are instances where vegan leather used in shoe production involves specific toxic chemicals. Even if a product appears to be more environmentally friendly due to the materials used, the overall production process of the shoe may not fulfill the promise of being a greener choice. The effects of the chosen materials must also be compared. While leather is not environmentally friendly, leather shoes tend to have a long lifespan.

Room for improvement: Make it easier for consumers to understand what kind of shoes are more sustainable.

CONSUMPTION

With the growing awareness around sustainability it has become more common to buy second hand clothing, but it is not as common to buy second hand shoes. People might think it is a bit more difficult to buy used shoes because of various reasons. First off, the hygiene aspect is a bit different from used clothing. Some might find it less appealing to buy used shoes then to buy used clothes. Secondly, it might be more difficult to know the condition of used shoes when you can’t speak to the former user and wear and tear might not be immediately visible. Some types of shoes, due to lighter usage, might be easier to buy second-hand than others. Additionally, people might be sceptical beacuse they think that used shoes are already shaped to the previous owner’s feet, which might make them less comfortable for the new owner. There might be a difference between peoples thoughts of buying used shoes from private people through second hand apps for example compared to buying used shoes from a second hand store. When buying from a private seller, you can often get more detailed information about the condition of the shoes and learn more about the previous owner, which can help reduce some concerns.

Room for improvement: Provide more product information about second hand shoes.

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by mathilde.bogen -

02 | Footwear materials

The main focus this week has been to learn about the most common materials that shoes consist of.

Footwear are mostly made out of leather, textile and different synthetic materials (Smith, 2022). Approximately 40 materials are used in the manufacturing of shoes (Yanet Hernandez Perez, 2022). The combination between the cost of materials and the characteristics of a material is crucial when materials are chosen.

More than 60% of the emissions from the global footwear industry come from the manufacturing and raw material extraction. For the synthetic and textile shoes, the manufacturing stage represents the biggest area of the life cycle. For leather shoes, the raw material extraction and processing account for over 50% of their climate impact (Quantis, 2023).

Here is an overview over the material share of footwear:

LEATHER

Cow leather is the most common material that is used for making shoes. It lasts long and it is flexible. Leather is elastic and can be stretched, but it is also resistant to tearing. Leather is a relatively expensive material compared to other materials. Synthetic leather is also a pretty common material in the shoe industry, but it is usually less durable than real leather. Synthetic leather consists usually of a base textile covered with a plastic material.

TEXTILES

There are many different kind of textiles that can be used on a shoe, for example cotton, wool, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, rayon, lycra amongst others.

RUBBER

Rubber is used to make the sole of the shoes. Rubber reduces the risk of slips and helps to get a good grip. The material is durable and waterproof. Rubber is a natural product that is mainly harvested from the rubber tree that exists in some tropical countries.

FOAM

There are two kinds of foam that are used for the sole of the shoe – open cell foam and closed cell foam. The open cell foam is letting air and water free to enter and exit, while the closed cell foam is completely closed off from the environment not letting anything enter the material. Open cell foam is usually softer and closed cell foam is usually dense. Open cell foam is often used in the upper back of the shoe (by the heel) and in the tongue (the adjustable part behind the laces). Closed cell foam is usually used in the sole.

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REFERENCES