In 2022, global footwear market revenue reached $381 billion, with estimates that it will eclipse $450 billion by 2027.1 But of the 23 billion pairs of shoes manufactured every year, 90 per cent are believed to end up in landfill.2 And once in a landfill, it takes between 30 and 40 years for just one pair to decompose, and a common sneaker midsole made from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) can last up to 1,000 years.3
Wedged between rapid industry growth and mounting concern over the industry's environmental impact, bids for sustainability riff on the basics: material innovation, clean-tech-enabled manufacturing, transparent supply chains, and circular design models.
Looking to crack the code of sustainable footwear, Swiss running brand On4 is the latest athletic apparel company
