Amsterdam's Fashion for Good launches new footwear sustainability initiative

New initiative to tackle resource-intensive footwear production

Fashion for Good, alongside leading brands like Adidas, Inditex, and Zalando, has announced a new initiative to improve footwear sustainability. This project aims to tackle the complex challenges of shoe production, focusing on circularity and innovation across the footwear lifecycle.

Sustainability in the footwear industry is crucial because the production of shoes is resource-intensive and generates significant waste. Globally, 23.9 billion shoes are produced annually, often composed of over 40 materials. This complex construction of footwear, involving multiple components and materials, makes recycling difficult. 

To address this, Fashion for Good is expanding its work, including its Fast Feet Grinded recycling pilot. The initiative will focus on four key areas: circular design, sustainable materials, end-of-life solutions, and traceability. Through collaboration with industry giants and new innovators, this pilot aims to overcome existing hurdles in sustainable footwear and set a new standard for the industry. 

The initiative focuses on creating circular design guidelines, identifying sustainable material alternatives, developing data on footwear waste for better recycling and repair solutions, and establishing a traceability protocol to support sustainability claims.

Homegrown change-makers in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is home to a growing number of conscious fashion brands and change-makers dedicated to pushing sustainability in the fashion industry. These brands are pioneering eco-friendly materials, ethical production methods, and circular fashion models. 

Amsterdam's innovators, like Fashion for Good’s community and PETERSON STOOP, are driving sustainability in the footwear industry. PETERSON STOOP, a local Amsterdam brand, transforms vintage sneakers by reconstructing them with natural materials like cork and leather. Together these initiatives play a significant role in driving sustainability in the footwear industry.

Other local initiatives, like Amsterdam-based G-Star RAW teaming up with Wageningen University and Dutch Cotton to launch the "Homegrown Denim" project, which focuses on reducing the environmental impact of cotton cultivation. This initiative highlights Amsterdam's commitment to responsible fashion and its role in advancing global sustainable practices in the fashion industry.

Read all about Katrin Ley and her journey with Fashion for Good in Amsterdam