1. Circular Design: Thinking from Beginning to End

What happens after a product’s use? This question often goes unanswered in the fashion industry, yet it is crucial for a sustainable future. Today’s footwear production often leads to a dead end, generating massive waste. To change this, the industry must embrace circular economy principles to minimize environmental impact.

“Circular Footwear” requires thoughtful design – shoes can only be recyclable if all materials, including accessories, are carefully and purposefully selected. Sympatex pioneered the Design2Recycle strategy in 1996, promoting pure material products for efficient recycling. These principles are more relevant than ever, emphasizing the importance of considering recycling from the design stage and choosing mono-materials.

The Responsible Design Guide Footwear dedicates an entire chapter to Design2Recycle, providing valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of circular design, along with the significance of mono-materials for sustainable solutions.

Table of Design Guidelines

→ Choose trims and components made of mono-materials, preferably 100% recycled polyester.
→ Keep the design minimalist and consistently use recyclable materials.
→ Prioritize mono-material composition for effective recycling.
→ Reduce reflective materials and focus reflections on specific parts to minimize material waste.
→ Use metallic alternatives instead of PES-based cuts to facilitate recycling.
→ Opt for simple fabrics and minimize complex logo designs.
→ Incorporate trims free of harmful chemicals to avoid disrupting upcycling.
→ Invest in high-quality materials to preserve raw resources for future reconstructions.
→ Shift from high-performance designs to sustainable, essential constructions.

2. Responsibility Beyond Sales

Responsibility has many facets and has been redefined for decades. In the face of the climate crisis and social injustices, it is essential for designers to recognize their responsibility and take action. What responsibility do you carry, both as a person and as a designer? Your design choices impact not only the product but also society and the environment.

We aim to show you how to leverage your work to create not only functional and aesthetic products but also to integrate sustainability, social justice, and ethical principles into your process. At Sympatex, we strive to inspire and encourage you to embrace your role as a changemaker and innovator. Limitations can drive creativity and innovation.

It is vital to address complex and significant topics beyond product design – not as a burden but as a necessary societal discourse that ideally feels like a duty or desire.

3. The Sympatex Footwear Portfolio

A standout feature of our Sympatex laminate solutions for footwear is the use of 100% recycled polyester (rPES) from PET bottles. By utilizing recycled polyester and promoting recyclability, you actively contribute to reducing the ecological footprint while ensuring top performance. With Sympatex, material selection becomes a crucial step toward a more sustainable future in the footwear industry.

Instead of polyurethane foam, we use 100% recycled PES “nonwoven” (NW), combining comfort with sustainability. Our footwear laminate solutions are available in various constructions, including 2-, 2.5-, 3-, 4-, and 5-layer laminates, tailored to specific performance requirements. This flexibility allows designers to create shoes perfectly suited for diverse applications, from hiking and running to work, safety, or everyday use.

4. Sustainability in Shoe Design

Sustainability is a necessity today, and the footwear industry faces the challenge of developing innovative and eco-friendly solutions. A promising approach is the use of mono-materials, ensuring simple and effective recyclability.

The entire collection framework planning process ensures that your designs are both creative, commercially viable, and sustainable. Developing a cohesive and market-ready collection requires trend research, target group analysis, material and color concepts, design development, cost calculation, and production planning. Each of these aspects and decisions must be evaluated through the lens of sustainability.

5. Mono-Materials and Their Benefits

Mono-materials are made from a single type of material, which significantly simplifies their recycling. Unlike conventional shoes, which are often made from a variety of different materials and adhesives, mono-materials allow for easy reintegration into the recycling loop. This reduces material waste and decreases the complexity of recycling processes.

1. Simple Recycling Processes
   
   Mono-materials allow shoes to be recycled directly after their lifecycle, without the need for complex sorting procedures.
2. Sustainable Material Selection
   
   Designers can use recycled or recyclable materials that are environmentally friendly while also enabling aesthetically appealing designs.
3. Reduced Environmental Footprint
   
   Mono-materials minimize resource consumption and environmental impact throughout the entire lifecycle of a shoe.
4. Future and Innovation Potential
   
   Circularity in shoe design is becoming increasingly widespread, not only because of the recycling benefits it offers but also because it meets the needs of environmentally conscious consumers. Sympatex focuses on recycled and recyclable mono-materials that can be efficiently utilized in production with proven technologies. Sympatex products have a significantly lower carbon footprint and water consumption and are already circular. Another focus is on Fiber2Fiber Recycling, where recycled granules from old clothes are used to produce new polyester fibers. By collaborating across the value chain, business models are being developed that enable large-scale industrial recycling.

6. Sustainability as an Opportunity

Responsible design is not just a way to reduce environmental impact – it’s an opportunity to create innovative products that inspire consumers. Brands that embody sustainable values gain trust and build long-term customer loyalty.

The transformation of the footwear industry may be challenging, but every step counts. With a clear focus on responsible design, we can collectively make a positive difference – for the environment, for people, and for the future of fashion.

You can find the Responsible Design Guide Footwear here.

There is also the Responsible Design Guide Apparel. If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to check it out here!