Footwear Insight

12 • Footwear Insight ~ March/April 2023 footwearinsight.com A BETTER FUTURE Eco Innovation A LOOK AT SUSTAINABILITY STORIES AROUND THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY. B uilding upon the eco-innovation of its INDEX.01 model introduced two years ago, Salomon has introduced an update — the new INDEX.02. Like its predecessor, the INDEX.02 is a 100% recyclable running shoe. It's also 10% lighter (263grams) and the brand says its comfort and performance are enhanced thanks to improvements in the midsole geometry, foam quality and upper construction. e shoe has a suggested retail price of $180. "Our goal is to provide the same level of performance as the rest of our road run- ning shoes and we're getting there," says Laurent Coudurier, Salomon Footwear R&D Manager. e INDEX.02 features a unique con- struction that allows it to be disassembled at the end of its life, so that the shoe materials can be recycled and used to make a new product. A QR code on the tongue of one shoe allows the shoe owner to easily scan it and register it aer purchase, making it easy to return it for recycling at the end of its life. Like the INDEX.01, when INDEX.02 shoes are sent back for recycling in Europe, the materials will be used in the construction of Salomon alpine ski boots. Analyzing the Lifecycle "We started researching materials for the INDEX.01 shoe about five years ago, looking to reduce its impact," says Coudurier. " To assess the environmental impact of the original INDEX.01 recyclable running shoe, Salomon's Footwear development teams compared the impact of the INDEX.01 with the Sonic 3 shoe from the brand's road running range. e lifecycle analysis showed that the impact of the shoe is reduced by 44%, which the brand says offers encouragement to develop more footwear products following this circular economy concept. "e INDEX.01 is a great start for sustain- able footwear: we can test this new, simple design and its performance on the road, and test out the collecting and recycling process," explains Olivier Mouzin, Footwear Sustainability Manager, Salomon. "The lifecycle analysis validates our work and encourages us to develop more footwear products following this circular economy concept. With the INDEX.02, Salomon is aiming to improve the quality, comfort and perfor- mance of a fully recyclable shoe. n Salomon's Recyclable Shoe Salomon INDEX.02

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