What is Shoe Sustainability?
Latest Key Insights
Experts Discussing Key Issues Around Sustainability
ARTICLE: how companies can lessen their global footprint while increasing their bottom line. Find 8 easy steps to greater sustainability here!
FOOTWEAR INNOVATION VIDEO: An in-depth discussion on sustainability and recyclability of footwear through the lens of Adidas' Futurecraft Loop
PODCAST 154: FDRA's Footwear Innovation Advisor Tiffany Beers joins Shoe-In Show as the crew discusses updates on renewable materials
KICKS OVER COFFEE: Xavier Vital, SGS, Sustainability expert, discusses simple steps to shoe sustainability at no real cost over coffee with FDRA
Latest News
Top News Articles We've Seen Around Sustainability
FDRA's new Shoe Waste Program is focused on creating a waste diversion program that proves a return on investment for both brands and manufacturers. It is aimed at optimizing material use and manufacturing practices as well as helping factories understand and implement recycling programs. Contact info@fdra.org for more information.
FDRA helped create the Material Exchange — a platform focused on helping brands and material suppliers cut down on material waste prior to usage through better material selection, as well as helping brands be able to see sustainability specs of materials before development begins. ME will help eliminate tons of material waste over time.
Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing Organizations
Non profit groups that focus on footwear material development and the manufacturing processes
The SAC is transforming the apparel, footwear, and textile industry through standardized measurement. For the first time, factories around the world can use the Higg Facility Social & Labor Module to measure social impacts of the value chain. And with the Higg Facility Environmental Module they can assess environmental impacts.
Members of the global cotton supply chain are now collectively addressing the negative impacts of mainstream cotton production by supporting this globally recognised definition, generating market demand for Better Cotton, and sharing information and knowledge to enable continuous improvement on everybody’s part.
The Responsible Wool Standard is an independent, voluntary standard. On farms, the certification ensures that sheep are treated with respect to their Five Freedoms and also ensures best practices in the management and protection of the land. Through the processing stages, certification ensures that wool from certified farms is properly identified and tracked.
BLUESIGN traces each textile’s path along the manufacturing process, making improvements at every stage from factory floor to finished product...As a solution provider and knowledge broker, BLUESIGN acts as an independent verifier to secure trust and transparency. Corresponding to this approach, BLUESIGN encourages the industry to increase their efforts in sustainable processes step by step.
Textile Exchange is a global non-profit that works closely with our members to drive industry transformation in preferred fibers, integrity and standards and responsible supply networks. We identify and share best practices regarding farming, materials, processing, traceability and product end-of-life in order to reduce the textile industry’s impact on the world’s water, soil and air, and the human population.
Resources for Measuring and Reporting Sustainability
& Legal Marketing Requirements
Below are guides and standards your company can use to better understand and measure sustainability
Resources for Biobased and Recycled Certifications
In the coming months and years, there will be a large movement to verify sustainability claims—especially with retailers requiring more and more product information for their websites. Here are some important programs to learn about as you explore working with a third-party lab to certify your material claims.
Learn about the USDA's BioPreferred Program, created to increase the purchase and use of biobased products, which reduces our nation's reliance on petroleum, increases the use of renewable agricultural resources, and contributes to reducing adverse environmental and health impacts.
View Webinar: The USDA BioPreferred® Program: Certified Biobased Content Brings Transparency to Natural Claims, presented by Kate Lewis, Senior Program Analyst from the USDA BioPreferred Program.
Learn about The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and Global Recycled Standard (GRS) goals to increase the use of recycled materials and protect the environment.
Global Shoe Sourcing E-Series
February 22 – 25, 2021
FDRA Shoe Supply Chain Digital Summit
On-Demand Access thru 2/15/2021
FDRA is the footwear industry's business and trade association. In all, FDRA supports nearly 500 companies and brands worldwide, representing 95% of total U.S. footwear sales, making it by far the largest and most respected American footwear trade and business association. Contact us if we can assist with your business, or you have questions about this site.
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