Eco-Innovation in Footwear: A Comprehensive Study on Sustainable Materials, Life-Cycle Assessment, and Market Adaptation

Abstract

The footwear industry faces mounting pressure to reduce environmental impacts across materials, manufacture, use and end-of-life. This paper synthesizes recent advances in eco-innovation for footwear focusing on sustainable materials (recycled polymers, plant and fungal-based leather alternatives, biodegradable polymers), life-cycle assessment (LCA) evidence, and market adaptation strategies (design for circularity, corporate initiatives, consumer acceptance). A systematic review of the literature (2018–2025) plus illustrative LCA findings from recent case studies is used to (1) identify major impact hotspots in footwear value chains, (2) compare trade-offs among emerging materials, and (3) highlight business and policy pathways to scale sustainable footwear. Key findings: component manufacture and material selection are dominant contributors to cradle-to-grave impacts; bio-based and biodegradable alternatives (e.g., PHAs, fungal mycelium, plant leathers) show promise but face durability, scale, and supply-chain challenges; and market success requires integrated product redesign, clear footprint labeling, and extended producer responsibility. We conclude with a research and policy agenda to accelerate circular, low-carbon footwear systems.