As sustainability gains momentum in fashion, leading brands have partnered with Fashion for Good to launch Closing the Footwear Loop, an initiative focused on advancing circularity in the footwear industry.
The project aims to shift the industry away from the traditional take-make-dispose model towards a circular economy. With approximately 23.8 billion pairs of shoes produced globally each year, the environmental impact is significant. However, the intricate design of footwear, often involving more than 60 different materials, makes recycling and circularity particularly challenging.
Key focus areas include addressing the lack of end-of-life infrastructure, simplifying complex multi-material designs, and establishing unified approaches to circularity. Participating brands include Adidas, DEICHMANN, Dr Martens, Inditex, Lululemon, ON, Otto Group, Puma, Reformation, Target, Tommy Hilfiger, Vivobarefoot, and Zalando, alongside the Footwear Innovation Foundation. The initiative is further supported by ecosystem partners such as The Footwear Collective, the Global Footwear Future Coalition, and the Global Fashion Agenda, ensuring a collaborative effort across the industry.
The project will map European footwear waste streams, develop a roadmap for circular design, and introduce innovations to extend product lifespan and increase the use of recycled materials. While circularity in apparel has seen notable progress, footwear remains a greater challenge due to its complex construction and material composition. This initiative seeks to overcome these barriers through innovation and industry-wide cooperation.
“Closing the Footwear Loop represents our most ambitious effort yet to reimagine how we design, use, and dispose of shoes. By bringing together 14 leading brands, we’re not just addressing a challenge—we’re creating a blueprint for systemic change,” said Katrin Ley, Managing Director of Fashion for Good.
James Carnes, Vice President of Strategy Creation at Adidas, stated in a press release: “We want to be a driver for sustainable innovation, both within the industry and towards consumers. At Adidas, we have an open source approach where we believe in solving problems through collaboration with others. In this line of thinking, our partnership with Fashion for Good reinforces our commitment to sustainability and to building a network that impacts the world of consumers — together.”
Through collaboration, innovation, and systemic change, Closing the Footwear Loop is redefining sustainability in the footwear industry. By uniting brands, organisations, and experts to tackle long-standing challenges, the initiative advances circular design and responsible production, setting a new standard for the industry’s future.
Fashion for Good is a global initiative advancing sustainability and innovation in the fashion industry. By partnering with brands, manufacturers, innovators, and policymakers, it accelerates the shift towards a circular economy. Through cutting-edge technologies, scalable solutions, and industry-wide collaboration, Fashion for Good aims to minimise waste, reduce environmental impact, and promote a more responsible future for fashion.
