Shoe professionals are still split on whether the overall industry is living up to the increased marketing of sustainable shoes, according to new findings in the 2023 Shoe Sustainability Progress Report from the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA).
The survey, which asks shoe professionals across the industry to share their opinions and insights on sustainability, found that 79 percent of workers feel their companies are making “meaningful” and “positive” progress towards their sustainability goals. In fact, of those that responded, 60 percent believe that their company’s sustainability strategy is strong.
“The focus on strategy is vital because we are trying to obtain how embedded sustainability is into operations and culture across the industry, versus how much of it is a one-off product launch for marketing purposes,” the FDRA noted in the report. “What we are seeing is perhaps a growing split in the industry. Some companies are making meaningful strides in terms of strategy and execution, some are still working to develop strategy and align teams, others have stalled or stopped pushing due to economic constraints or difficulties.”
As for what’s happening across the shoe industry, the FDRA found that 63 percent of respondents are using more recycled materials than last year, while 68 percent plan to increase the use of recycled materials in upcoming items. When it comes to bio-based materials, 34 percent of respondents said their companies are using more of them than last year, while 53 percent said they plan to increase the use of bio-based materials in coming products, the FDRA found.
“The positive is that over the last five years we see continued progress, priority, and stronger execution,” the FDRA said in the report. “Even in a tough economic environment where costs were cut in 2023, we still see companies moving forward and continuing to craft their strategies.”
The industry seems to be falling short when it comes to traceability, however. The report found that just 29 percent of companies have a full map of all of its material suppliers. While this number is up from 24 percent in 2022, the FDRA noted that traceability is a “large challenge” for the footwear industry, citing that some shoes require 60+ materials and components from multiple suppliers across several continents.
“We do see a split among companies who have stronger control over supply chains and more agility in terms of retail pricing, and those who are more constrained due to market conditions,” the FDRA added. “However, the fact that many have some sort of strategy in place or are discussing one, provides a stronger foundation for our industry than in years past; we are talking less about what we should do, and more about how we execute our plans.”
This report comes as more footwear companies are focusing on — and talking about — their sustainably efforts. Just last month, Caleres introduced the “One Planet Standard,” a new designation the shoe company will give products that meet or exceed 51 percent of the criteria on its Sustainable Footwear Index.
Shoes that meet the new sustainability designation will be identified on Caleres brand websites with a One Planet Standard icon to allow consumers to easily identify products with this achievement – something very important for the company as it aims to capture today’s highly focused consumer.
Last month also saw Rothy’s naming a new VP of sustainability. In this role, the newly appointed VP, James Rogers, will help the eco-friendly shoe company with its efforts to reduce impact on the environment and oversee efforts to become more circular.
To read the full 2023 Shoe Sustainability Progress Report, click here.
