WhatTheyThink

Premium Commentary & Analysis

Are Shoes the Next Frontier in Sustainability for Textiles and Apparel?

We’ve been writing about sustainability issues in textiles and apparel and some of the advances that are being made, as well as the barriers—addition to Fast Fashion being one of the latter. But we haven’t really addressed a big segment of the market: shoes. In this article, we delve into some of the advances that will make shoes more sustainable, and also caution our readers not to become over-consumers—of shoes or anything else!

Monday, October 24, 2022

A recent CBS News article caught my eye. Can you imagine sneakers made from cotton and corn? Well, that’s just what Reebok is doing. Maybe not seaweed quite yet, but cotton and corn is better than non-renewable fossil fuel feedstocks, right? Especially if they can deliver the durability we demand from our sneakers. The article notes, “Following a trend in industries ranging from software to food, Reebok is going sustainable. The footwear company launched a pair of sneakers Tuesday that are made entirely from natural products. Allbirds and Nike have been doing this for years.” At least to some extent…

This was not a simple creation. Reebok’s Bill McInnis spent five years in the lab working out the best solution. The article notes that 20 billion pairs of shoes are produced annually and roughly 300 million end up in landfills. Probably an underestimate!

A common objection to using corn-based feed stocks is that it takes away from the world’s food production. McInnis is quick to point out that the corn Reebok uses is milled from corn typically used to feed livestock, and then fermented into a bio-based product that is eventually molded into a shoe sole.


Continue reading your article
with a WhatTheyThink membership.

WhatTheyThink Annual Membership

Less than $4/week.

Get unlimited access to in-depth commentary and analysis covering the latest trends, emerging technologies, operational strategies, and key events across every segment of today's printing industry.

Stay informed. Stay competitive. Stay ahead.
WhatTheyThink Day Pass

$5 for 24 hours

Unlimited access to all of WhatTheyThink. Get your Day Pass

Already a member?
Sign In

About Cary Sherburne

Cary Sherburne is a well-known author, journalist and marketing consultant whose practice is focused on marketing communications strategies for the printing and publishing industries.

Cary Sherburne is available for speaking engagements and consulting projects. To get more information contact us.

Please offer your feedback to Cary. She can be reached at [email protected].

Recent Articles from Cary Sherburne

U.S. Hemp Goes International

U.S. Hemp Goes International

While the U.S. domestic textile industry is struggling to grow, the U.S. farming industry could play an important role in making textiles more sustainable with arrangements such as the recently announced deal for Panda Biotech to provide U.S. grown hemp fibers to the Indian textile market. Read More

Strategic Planning Spurs Growth at AlphaGraphics Kansas City

Strategic Planning Spurs Growth at AlphaGraphics Kansas City

When Haley Haar took over AlphaGraphics in Kansas City, the business generated about $600,000 annually. Today, she has led the company in a growth path approaching $2 million in annual revenues through careful strategic planning and a deep understanding of customer needs and requirements. Read More

Tariffs and Textiles: Will They Help Bring Back U.S. textile Manufacturing?

Tariffs and Textiles: Will They Help Bring Back U.S. textile Manufacturing?

So supposedly, a goal of U.S. tariffs on products imported from other countries, including textiles, apparel, and footwear, was to incentivize bringing manufacturing back to the States. Of course, setting up a new factory takes time and money; it doesn’t happen overnight. But it seems that producers had other ideas…the results may surprise you. Read More

Textile Turmoil: What’s the Latest in the World of Textiles?

Textile Turmoil: What’s the Latest in the World of Textiles?

Nothing better demonstrates the turmoil the textiles and apparel industry is going through than two news items I received in my inbox, basically back to back, stating that the U.S. is holding its own while Europe is losing steam. What else is going on in the industry today? We dive into that here. Read More

Monadnock Introduces Recyclable Alternative to Vinyl for Retail Signage

Monadnock Introduces Recyclable Alternative to Vinyl for Retail Signage

For its entire 207-year history, Monadnock Paper Mills has taken sustainability to heart. As a privately-owned paper mill, the owners live near the mill and take protection of the environment seriously. Most recently, the company has introduced a new, sustainable alternative to vinyl for retail signage, Ultra Hide PC 100 Blockout Poster. In part two of this two-part video, Julie Brannen explains. Read More