The LIFE GREENSHOES4ALL project on excessive waste from the footwear industry has been shortlisted by the European Commission. The project was shortlisted as a finalist in the LIFE awards, an EU funding instrument for environment and climate change.
LIFE GreenShoes4All project, The footwear industry produces a significant amount of CO2 and non-recyclable waste. It tackled this problem by applying the Environmental Footprint of the product monitoring method. By setting targets on raw materials, plastic waste and emissions, the project promoted ecological design and the development of greener products. Significant reductions in CO2 emissions were achieved through the production and sale of sustainable footwear. Moreover, it pioneered recycled materials for the production of environmentally friendly footwear, leading to lasting change in the industry.
The LIFE GreenShoes4All project, coordinated by the Portuguese Footwear Technology Center CTCP, involves the European Confederation of the Footwear Industry CEC, the Spanish Technology Center INESCOP, the Spanish Footwear Federation FICE, APICCAPS, AMF and ATLANTA companies.
The overall objectives of the project are the implementation of rules for the classification of the ecological footprint of products, the creation of innovative eco-design concepts and ecological production processes for footwear production with high transfer potential to other sectors (e.g. leather goods, clothing, etc.). Testing new recycling approaches in the value chain to reduce the amount of raw materials and waste generation. It also aims to contribute to the creation of a single market for ecological products, demonstrating the high added value of the developed methodology for producers, retailers and consumers and enabling the beneficiaries to gain experience and knowledge leading to new services and products for commercialization.
“LIFE GreenShoes4All aims to create a domestic market for ecological products by promoting the use of innovative methodologies and rules for the classification of the environmental footprint of products,” said Maria José Ferreira, head of the CTCP R&D Department.
Within the framework of LIFE GreenShoes4All, it underlines the “development of innovative models of ecological footwear and components” as well as “eco-design, recycling and more sustainable production methods”; the strategy will also guarantee the transfer of knowledge to other sectors of activity.
As part of the LIFE Program, GreenShoes4All has been selected as one of the three finalists for the European prize of the LIFE Awards 2024, with the winner to be decided after voting.
