They are made from petroleum byproducts and are treated with chemical compounds. Most sneakers use synthetic rubber in the soles. And unlike leather, it’s not biodegradable.Īs an alternative: Look for vegetable tanned leather, Piñatex, recycled PET or textiles such as hemp, jute, wool or organic cotton. It’s typically made from plastics like polyurethane and PVC, which contain their own harmful chemical ingredients. Synthetic leather, which is used in the liner of most sneakers (as well as vegan footwear) may be more eco-friendly than leather, but it’s still not perfect. It is responsible for 65% of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock.Īs an alternative: Look for chrome-free leather, vegetable tanned leather or leather alternatives such as Piñatex, which is made from pineapple leaves.
#Project canvas primary shoe driver#
The beef industry is the largest driver of deforestation globally. It’s also costly to human health, using toxic chemicals and heavy metals like chromium that have been linked to cancer in leather workers.įinally, the majority of leather is cowhide, which has a large environmental impact. The industry has been linked to cancer in leather workers. Facilities need large amounts of water for treatment, and generate significant amounts of solid and liquid waste, which impacts soil and water health. Leather tanning as an industry is environmentally costly. The story behind the primary materials of leather, synthetic leather and rubber have a greater environmental cost than you think. So let’s give your sneakers a quick look. China’s factories are largely reliant on fossil fuels, increasing their environmental impact.
Overwhelmingly, the world’s sneakers come from China: in 2016 they represented 76.8% of the the global footwear manufacturing market.
Where the shoes are made is also a factor. This involves steps like injection moulding, foaming, heating, cutting and sewing. Sneakers have a high carbon footprint as, unlike other types of shoes, they typically have many distinct parts. The production of the materials involved, including leather, nylon, synthetic rubber, plastic and viscose, also takes an environmental toll. While little research has been done on the environmental impact of fashion, one study has found that the production of a pair of running shoes emits 13kg of carbon dioxide. Read more A pair of runners produces 13kg of CO₂
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