W
ith a slew of new legislation being enforced banning
sales of footwear made with toxic chemicals, and
pressure building for businesses to meet their
ambitious sustainability goals, corporate eco-forward
initiatives will be top of mind across the industry
in the year ahead. To keep pace with new demands,
brands and material suppliers alike are focusing on
design and development of footwear with a lighter environmental impact.
According to Accenture's Accelerating Global Companies toward Net
Zero by 2050 report, many companies are not on track to meet net zero
goals by 2050 and need to accelerate. e report concludes that "reaching
net zero will require urgent and profound transformations, as it is about
EQUAL
FOOTING
Topo Athletic shoe with
eVent StormST plant-based
membrane technology.
Photo:
Topo
Athletic
14 • January/February 2025 sportstyle • sportstylemag.com
FOOTWEAR DESIGN
NEW
REGULATIONS
AND
TECHNOLOGY
ADVANCEMENTS
DRIVE
SUSTAINABILITY
EFFORTS.
BY
EMILY
WALZER
