IMPACT OF PORTUGAL’S “GREEN SHOES PACT”

The Portuguese Footwear Association has launched a new initiative, the Green Shoes Green Pact, in which the country’s footwear manufacturers have been asked to sign on to 10 commitments, including energy efficiency, product design and packaging, and would be audited independently. More than 100 companies, representing a business value close to EUR 800 million per year, have already accepted to join this initiative that will be launched this past February. As part of the Pact, the Portuguese footwear industry will develop 50 new products with a better ecological footprint and to implement 25 industrial pilot lines over the next three years. This may involve the use of rice, coffee grounds and apple peel for make shoe parts. Portugal is Europe’s third largest footwear producer after Italy and Spain, and more than 90% of its production is exported. We can provide an article on what results are expected to be achieved and what footwear companies from other countries can learn from this initiative.