ENVIRONMENT IMPACT OF ECO-ENGINEERED VERSUS CONVENTIONAL FOOTWEAR

Abstract

The objective of the circular economy is to definitively change the way in which we produce and consume, it consists of doing more with less, and it brings us back to simplicity, trying to break the dependence: production-consumption of raw materials, making the most of each material and extending its useful life. Through eco-design, it seeks to generate circular products that allow the easy separation of all materials, providing new ways of their management and processing to avoid elimination at the end of their useful life so that they can be recovered to start a new life, �closing the circle�. In this study, the carbon footprint generated by the materials and manufacturing processes of the classic shoe vs the "eco-engineered" version was analyzed. The type and source of the materials that make up the footwear are of major influence. Thus, a textile material obtained through recycling was chosen for the upper. The sole used to obtain the footwear product was recycled TPU. The carbon footprint was analyzed with LCA software, GaBi. The LCA was performed on the materials and process for each type of footwear. The Carbon footprint for the eco-engineered version presents values between 65-80% lower than the conventional version. These values depend on the type and amounts of materials and whether this footwear is repaired / recycled.