Coordinated by the Portuguese Footwear Technological Centre (CTCP), the LIFE GREENSHOES4ALL project, which aims to develop eco-design, recycling and production solutions to reduce the footprint of the footwear sector, has been shortlisted by the European Commission as a finalist for the LIFE Awards, an EU funding instrument for the environment and climate change.

In addition to the CTCP, the project involves other Portuguese partners, such as APICCAPS (Portuguese Footwear Association), the companies AMF and ATLANTA, as well as other major European organisations such as the CEC (European Confederation of the Footwear Industry), FICE (Spanish Footwear Federation) and INESCOP (Spanish Technology Centre).

“LIFE GreenShoes4All to create an internal market for ecological products by promoting the use of innovative methodologies and rules for the categorisation of the environmental footprint of products”, says Maria José Ferreira. According to the head of the R&D Department at CTCP, “the project also aims to test and demonstrate new recycling routes in the EU footwear value chain and to establish and compare, through experimentation, innovative eco-design concepts and ecological footwear manufacturing processes”.

The general objectives of the project are then to implement the rules for the categorisation of the ecological footprint of products, to establish innovative eco-design concepts and ecological production processes for the manufacture of footwear with a high potential for transfer to other sectors (i.e. leather goods, clothing, etc.), and to test new recycling approaches in the value chain to reduce the amount of raw materials and waste production.

It also aims to contribute to the creation of a single market for ecological products by demonstrating the high added value of the methodology developed for producers, retailers, and consumers and by enabling beneficiaries to gain experience and knowledge leading to new services and products for commercialisation.

Within the framework of LIFE GreenShoes4All, “innovative models of ecological footwear and components have been developed”, emphasises Maria José Ferreira, as well as “eco-design, recycling and more sustainable production methods”; the strategy will too guarantee the transfer of knowledge to other sectors of activity.

The LIFE GreenShoes4All project is now one of three finalists for this important European award. The final choice will be made by the general public and can be made on the website www.lifeawards.eu and the project with the most votes will win.

Source and Image Credits: portugueseshoes.pt