Leather wastes in the Portuguese footwear industry: new framework according design principles and circular economy

Abstract

Leather shoes are the main category of footwear products done in Portugal, representing around 75% of all products in this industrial sector. The wastes produce by the footwear industry are very aggressive for the environment and requires new approaches from all stakeholders, including sectorial organizations and politicians. This exploratory research will be done using data from the sectorial organizations APICCAPS and CTCP, data from the National Agency for Environment and also from a field research (cases of Portuguese footwear companies). If the footwear companies will perceive the competitive advantages of being “green”, then they will incorporate the design principles and they will make the sustainability be an essential part of their strategies, including new approaches according the four R’s: Reduce; Reuse; Recycle and Re-thinking or (Re)Design. This is something very important, mainly when the footwear companies are dealing with more conscious consumers and with the new environmental requirements.