The European footwear sector has taken another step towards a sustainable transition with the launch of ECOSTEP, a four-year Horizon project that aims to establish a comprehensive ecodesign framework for footwear

ECOSTEP (Ecodesign Criteria for Sustainability in Footwear and Testing Methods for Evaluation of Performance) is a four-year Horizon Europe project that aims to establish a common framework for designing, assessing and validating more sustainable footwear products.

The project is led by CETEC (the Spanish Plastic and Footwear Technology Centre) and involves partners from Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal and Spain. The European Footwear Confederation (CEC) is also a partner.

This launch comes at a time when the footwear industry is facing increasing environmental and regulatory pressure. With billions of shoes produced each year, companies are facing mounting challenges concerning emissions, resource usage, waste and chemicals. Meanwhile, evolving European regulations are prompting changes in product design, manufacturing and consumer communication.

However, there is still no common understanding in the footwear sector of what sustainable footwear should look like in practice. “Through ECOSTEP, the sector is bringing together manufacturers, researchers, consumer representatives and sustainability experts to collectively define what sustainable footwear should mean in practice and how it can be credibly demonstrated”, argues explained Carmen Arias, Secretary General of the European Footwear Confederation (CEC).

In practice, ECOSTEP will develop the footwear sector’s first comprehensive ecodesign framework in order to provide companies with the practical tools they need to design more sustainable products and respond to evolving European environmental regulations. The project will also deliver an AI-enabled digital platform that combines the functionalities of Life Cycle Assessment and Digital Product Passport to support sustainability assessments, compliance, and supply chain transparency.

Through collaboration with industry, researchers, policymakers and consumer organisations, ECOSTEP aims to accelerate the footwear industry’s transition towards a more circular and competitive future.

Image Credits: cec-footwearindustry.eu