One day, your sneakers could be made of sushi and could even decompose in the ground
Not content with having relegated heels, moccasins and other shoe styles to the back of the closet, in recent years, sneakers have managed to become real collector’s items. And this shows no sign of slowing.
Estimated to be worth some US$70 billion in 2022, the global sneaker market is expected to exceed US$100 billion [HK$7,843,675,000] by 2026, according to data published by Statista. But these impressive figures inevitably raise questions about the carbon dioxide emissions and the mountains of waste generated by these coveted objects.
This issue has already been taken on board by some in the industry, who are trying to revolutionise the sector with innovations to make it greener.
You might also like: Can compostable clothes fight against plastic pollution and textile waste?
From salmon to apple to dandelion
Sports brands such as Nike, Adidas, Reebok and Puma are in turn proposing more sustainable sneaker models, but they have not yet found the formula—or the material—that will truly revolutionise one of the most polluting industries.
In the end, it is smaller players who are trying to reinvent with innovations that are each more original—and eco-friendly—than the next. This is the case of brands like Ashoka Paris, which proposes sneakers made of apple and cereal waste; P448, which has launched sneakers made of apple skins from Italian orchards; or MoEa, which focuses on eco-responsible, vegan and recyclable sneakers partially made from plants and fruit.
And there are many other brands interested in the properties of these new sustainable materials—from cactus, to apple, grape and pineapple—which, in conjunction with other fibres, can deliver on resistance and on eco-credentials.