Ecology, an important issue
Generally speaking, ecology has become the main subject of the last few years. Indeed all the countries of the world are directly or indirectly confronted with the problems related to the environment. It is therefore natural that the sneakers industry has undergone multiple changes over the past decades. The notion of ecology is a science that studies the relationships between living things. This notion is therefore closely linked to respect for the environment. As we previously announced the sneakers market represents around 47% of total shoe sales. This market is therefore constantly growing. However, as with the entire fashion industry, there are still many environmental issues. At a time when consumers are more and more concerned about the environmental impact of the products they buy, we will see the real impact of this industry on the environment but also the alternatives that exist in order to limit as much as possible
this impact.
A necessary change in the manufacturing process
Globally, the textile industry worldwide alone emits 1.2 billion
tons of greenhouse gases, which exceeds the share of pollution caused by air traffic as well as maritime traffic. The textile industry therefore represents around 10% of global carbon emissions. In addition, in a fashionable market like sneakers, only a small percentage of shoes are recycled. The production of sneakers itself poses a major problem in terms of its impact on the environment. Indeed, the manufacture of these shoes constitutes a real danger for the well-being of the planet. This is due to the chemicals, toxins and fossil fuels used or released during the manufacturing process which are themselves, subsequently, released into the atmosphere, negatively affecting animals, flora and local populations. , causing them many health problems. This manufacturing process has therefore also had a considerable impact on global warming, it participates in the production of a large quantity of carbon dioxide during the transport of raw materials to multiple factories around the world. In addition when exporting to consumer countries. The sneaker industry's carbon footprint is only growing exponentially.
The "green" sneakers, the sneakers of tomorrow?
Until recently, finding shoes without animal materials was a real problem because leather was the basis of all sneakers. In this industry which is growing in importance and size day by day, brands are innovating in terms of materials as we have seen previously, and this while being more respectful towards the environment.
It is a huge step forward and necessary! Because in addition to the abuse and inhuman treatment that animals sometimes suffer. Livestock also has a considerable impact on the environment (deforestation, use of agricultural land, etc.). Thus, in addition to market developments and new consumer expectations shows that it is a real phenomenon of global e and consistent with a collective ecological awareness. To have a concrete example we can cite for Adidas. which in 2015, approached the NGO "Parley for the Oceans" and has since offered a few models based on recycled plastic, which can be recycled 100% and ad infinitum: this is the feat obtained by its famous “Future Craft Loop” made with a single material: plastic.
The delivery of sneakers, the enemy of ecology
Normally, we think that an individual who goes to a shopping center to buy his pair of sneakers is more polluting than a truck full of parcels. However, delivery people sometimes travel long distances to deliver a package to remote and underserved places. The delivery of the product to the consumer therefore raises an important ecological problem on the final ecological footprint of a sneaker.
Indeed if other delivery alternatives are implemented then this impact may be reduced. These delivery alternatives, which are more respectful of the environment, may involve the development over the past few years of ever closer relay points and in strategic places with a lot of daily traffic or even inside many stores. The goal is for these relay points to reduce unnecessary travel as much as possible as well as travel for a single package.
Proximity to consumers' homes makes it possible to travel on foot or by bike and not by car, moreover, delivery to a relay point avoids missing the delivery person who will not have to come back a second time. In addition, this alternative makes it possible to converge the paths and the packet deposits at a few points. Changes in more ecological delivery also involve the development of deliveries by bicycle or electric vehicles.