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The fast fashion industry significantly impedes sustainability by its rapid production cycles, low-cost products, and heavy carbon footprint. Nowadays, circular economy (CE) has become an interesting concept, which follows the "take-make-dispose" model and allows products, materials, and resources to be in use as long as possible. There is a paucity of research in the identification of circular economy strategies (CES) and mapping them based on their interrelationships, which is very important from a managerial perspective. In this vein, this study identifies nine CES and analyzes their causal relationships using the Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method in the context of fast fashion footwear manufacture. The key contributions include providing actionable insights for implementing CE practices, enhancing the sustainability of the footwear industry, and offering a strategic roadmap for industry stakeholders. The results and implications of this study will guide footwear industry decision-makers in making a strategic map considering the cause-and-effect interrelationships among the CES for implementing CE business practices in the footwear industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Founded as a family-owned business in 1894, Bata Corp. has grown to become a major player in the footwear sector, with a presence in more than 70 countries. In India, the company established itself as the primary producer of affordable, durable footwear, with the result that the majority of generation X and millennial consumers remember growing up with Bata shoes, having worn them in their school days and often into early adulthood. Unfortunately, childhood memories can be difficult to translate into glamour; as a result, Bata struggled to position itself as a fashionable modern brand. This case study delves deep into the nuances of repositioning a heritage brand, and explores how Bata eventually succeeded in repositioning itself as a premium contemporary brand. The paper highlights the challenges associated with balancing legacy brand associations with desired image. It also shares valuable insights regarding the evolution of India's fashion and footwear industry, changing consumer behaviour in emerging markets, and the increasing globalisation and democratisation of fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are recurrent in the footwear industry, resulting in absenteeism. This study aimed to quantitatively analyze the influence of overtime work and physical recovery time on the occurrence of WMSD-related absenteeism using a system dynamics model. As ergonomic methods have limitations in quantitatively simulating the behavior of these relationships, the integration of computational modeling techniques has emerged as a methodological alternative to bridge this gap. Methods. An ergonomic work analysis (EWA) was developed in a production cell of a large company. A model of causal relationships (causal loop diagram) and a simulation model (flow and stock diagram) were then developed, where three scenarios for overtime and physical recovery time were analyzed. Results. Working an additional hour resulted in a 42% increase in physical overload, leading to 7.62 leave requests per year and 78.7 days of employee absenteeism. Increasing the physical recovery time by 15 min reduced the overload to 36.5%, resulting in 6.8 leave requests per year and 71.1 days of employee absenteeism. Conclusions. Properly managing excess workload and providing adequate physical recovery for professionals is necessary to mitigate the productivity impacts of absenteeism in the footwear industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fashion and accessories companies have long been aware of the importance of the role of female consumers in the performance of their businesses. For this reason, they are at the center of consumer behavior studies in this area. At the same time, the internet has been presenting itself as a very important tool to strengthen retailers of the most diverse products, including fashion. In 2021, e-commerce sales growth reached 27% compared to 2020 (webshoppers -- 45th edition). The 46th edition of webshoppers, which covers the first quarter of 2022, further reinforces the growth trend, indicating 6% over the same period of the previous year. Taking into account this information, this article seeks to analyze the behavior of the female footwear consumer from Rio Grande do Sul. The present work begins with a review of points deemed important for contextualization, such as: consumer behavior, the history and current panorama of retail, and a brief visit to the history and current panorama of the footwear industry. To measure these issues raised, an empirical research was applied with consumers from Rio Grande do Sul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), a crucial elastomeric resin, finds extensive application in the footwear industry. Conventional chemical foaming agents, including azodicarbonamide and 4,4′-oxybis(benzenesulfonyl hydrazide), have been identified as environmentally problematic. Hence, this study explores the potential of physical foaming of EVA using supercritical nitrogen as a sustainable alternative, garnering considerable interest in both academia and industry. The EVA formulations and processing parameters were optimized and EVA foams with densities between 0.15 and 0.25 g/cm3 were produced. Key findings demonstrate that physical foaming not only reduces environmental impact but also enhances product quality by a uniform cell structure with small cell size (50–100 μm), a wide foaming temperature window (120–180 °C), and lower energy consumption. The research further elucidates the mechanisms of cell nucleation and growth within the crosslinked EVA network, highlighting the critical role of blowing agent dispersion and localized crosslinking around nucleated cells in defining the foam's cellular morphology. These findings offer valuable insights for producing EVA foams with a more controllable cellular structure, utilizing physical foaming techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creating functional midsoles for shoes is a challenging task that involves considering different aspects such as stability, comfort, manufacturability, and aesthetics. No single approach exists to design a midsole that meets all these objectives effectively. Therefore, this study aims to introduce a multidisciplinary optimization method to develop custom shoe midsole structures. Our approach involves utilizing generative methods to generate diverse structures and leveraging swarm intelligence to search for optimal designs. Without loss of generality, we use tetrahedral mesh generation to create midsole structures because tetrahedral structures are renowned for their exceptional strength. To enhance the swarm's exploration of the design space and discover more local optima, we developed a swarm behavior that promotes diversity. Furthermore, we created a quantitative measurement tool to evaluate various objectives. In order to test the effectiveness of our generative approach, we analyzed the midsoles generated from our design exploration that performed the best and the worst in relation to each objective. Our findings revealed a substantial difference between them, with scores differing by two to four times. Additionally, when compared to other lattice structures, the tetrahedral midsole structure created by our method demonstrated superior compliance with the foot and better redistribution of plantar stress. The multidisciplinary optimization technique we have proposed is a valuable resource for engineers and designers in the footwear industry, allowing them to develop high-performance midsole structures that meet the needs of both consumers and athletes. Furthermore, this method can be applied to optimize other complex structures in various industries, such as civil, automotive, and aerospace engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shoe manufacturing companies often use overtime work but neglect the impacts and importance of physical recovery time. Ergonomic methods aim to analyze this, but they focus on deterministic aspects, which limits their ability to evaluate working conditions amid variations over time. This research explores how a simulation model can mitigate these limitations and enhance analysis of overtime and physical recovery on worker absenteeism. The objective was developed a simulation model using System Dynamics (SD) to represent working conditions and assess the influence of overtime and recovery time in Brazil's footwear industry. An Ergonomic Analysis of Work was conducted in a large company's production cell. Using SD, were constructed a causal and simulation model to analyze three scenarios. An additional hour of work increased physical overload by 44%, leading to 5, 4 leave requests, and 48 days of absenteeism per year. Increasing recovery time by 15 min reduced overload to 38,96%, resulting in 4, 9 leave requests and 13,68 days of absenteeism. The SD simulation model mitigated the limitations of ergonomic methods in understanding the dynamic relationships over time, emphasizing the importance of actively managing overtime and physical recovery time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the performance of sustainable shoes made with bacterial cellulosic composite and commercial leather shoes using an experimental research design. The two specific research objectives were: (1) to examine the basic material properties of multi-layered bacterial cellulosic materials (MBC), which include green tea-based cellulosic (GBC) mats, hemp fabrics, and denim fabrics, in comparison with those of two-layered leathers (MCP) consisting of calf-skin and pig-skin – commonly used in shoe manufacturing; and (2) to explore wearers' performance in the two types of shoes by assessing quantitative kinematic and kinetic parameters of lower body movements. Design/methodology/approach: This study focused on assessing the basic materials testing and performance of sustainable shoes through a biomechanical approach, in contrast to commercially available leather shoes, through human wear trials. In this study, green tea-based cellulosic (GBC) mats were developed using the optimal combination of ingredients for cellulose growth. Subsequently, the GBC, denim fabric (100% cotton), and 100% hemp fabric were combined to create multi-layered bacterial cellulosic materials (MBC) as an alternative to leather. Additionally, calf-skin and pig-skin leathers were utilized to produce a commercially available two-layered leather (MCP), commonly employed in shoe manufacturing. 37 of the 42 human subjects who participated in wear testing were collected. A paired t-test was conducted to determine whether significant mean differences existed between the two shoe types, a paired t-test was conducted. Findings: To develop a biodegradable and compostable material that could be used as a leather alternative for the footwear industry, we proposed MBC and examined its properties compared with those of MCP, a product often used when making shoes. These findings confirmed the similar properties of MBC and MCP from the material testing and the possibility of using a men's sustainable shoe prototype as a leather alternative, in terms of kinematics and kinetics. Practical implications: The new multi-layered bacterial cellulosic materials (MBC) could be an alternative to commercial leathers such as innovative sustainable material construction, advanced design, and advanced techniques to optimize the overall performance of sustainable footwear. Originality/value: Investigating the integration of smart textile technologies, ergonomic design principles, and personalized customization will contribute to developing MBC and making sustainable shoes using MBC compared with commercial leather shoes. This study provides valuable insights into further refinement and innovation in the sustainable footwear industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This work presents an environmental assessment of two adhesives to evaluate the replacement of the traditional adhesive (PU) used in the footwear industry by a novel adhesive based on a microencapsulation approach (PUMC) which is more favorable from the safety and technical perspectives. The PU adhesive is polyurethane-based, while the PUMC adhesive is polyurethane-based but with its isocyanate compounds microencapsulated, increasing storage life and reducing risks related to the exposure of workers with the adhesives. Methods: The potential environmental impact of the adhesives was evaluated using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. A detailed process model was developed (both for laboratory and for a pilot-scale implementation) to investigate the environmental impacts associated with these processes. The functional unit was one kilogram of adhesive (PU and PUMC adhesives) produced. A cradle-to-customers' gate approach was defined. The system boundary starts from extraction of resources, through material production, until adhesive use. This includes microcapsule production in the case of the PUMC adhesive. This study investigates the important drivers behind the environmental impacts to help guide commercialization efforts. A scenarios study/sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the response of the PUMC adhesive system to the variability of the model, scenarios, and parameters. Results: The results show that the PU adhesive environmental impact is due to acetone and polyol consumption in the production stage. In the PUMC adhesive system, acetone consumption and microcapsule production are the major factors responsible for the environmental impact. Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), dichloromethane (DCM), and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) consumption are the major factors responsible for the environmental impact of the microcapsules' production. A sensitivity analysis was conducted using three alternative scenarios focused on the reduction in material consumption and increase in material recuperation, as well as using an alternative renewable energy source. Although the traditional PU adhesive has a lower impact, it was found that the three alternative PUMC adhesive systems can become comparable to the traditional PU adhesive. Conclusions: This study shows the advance and development of a new technology for microencapsulation of isocyanate in adhesives and its environmental advantages and disadvantages with respect to a traditional product that uses non-encapsulated isocyanate. Finally, it was shown that there is significant potential for minimizing some environmental impacts of the PUMC adhesive, such as optimizing the microcapsules' production stage, increasing the production efficiency to decrease the required material consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current petrochemical-based adhesives adversely affect the environment through substantial volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions during production, contributing to air pollution and climate change. In contrast, vegetable oils extracted from bio-resources provide a compelling alternative owing to their renewability, abundance, and compatibility with adhesive formulation chemistry. This review aimed to critically examine and synthesize the existing scholarly literature on environmentally friendly, sustainable, and high-performance polyurethane adhesives (PUAs) developed from vegetable oils. The use of PUAs derived from vegetable oils promises to provide a long-term replacement while simultaneously maintaining or improving adhesive properties. This quality renders these adhesives appropriate for widespread use in various sectors, including construction, automotive manufacturing, packaging, textile, and footwear industries. This review intended to perform a comprehensive assessment and integration of the existing research, thereby identifying the raw materials, strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in knowledge concerning vegetable oil-based PUAs. In doing so, it responded to these gaps and proposes potential avenues for future research. Therefore, this review accomplishes more than merely evaluating the existing research; it fosters the advancement of greener PUA technologies by identifying areas for improvement and innovation towards more sustainable industrial practices by showcasing vegetable oil-based PUAs as viable, high-performance alternatives to their petroleum-based counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Falls are a global concern affecting people of all ages; however, older adults are particularly vulnerable to age-related factors and foot-related issues. Footwear is critical for preventing falls, as it provides stability and protection against slips, trips, and falls (STFs). However, a significant gap exists in the systematic exploration of the safety aspects of footwear design for fall prevention in older adults. Methods: This comprehensive review applied a meticulous search strategy encompassing prominent databases, including Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, ResearchGate, and PubMed. This review synthesized and analyzed existing research to bridge knowledge gaps and provide insights into optimal footwear choices for older adults in terms of design features such as fit, fixation, heel height, collar height, slip resistance, and sole/ insole hardness. Results: The results underscore the importance of specific design features for preventing falls among older adults. A proper fit, secure fixation, appropriate heel and collar heights, slip resistance, and sole/insole hardness significantly contributed to fall prevention. These findings offer valuable guidance for optimizing footwear designs to enhance comfort, stability, and safety in the daily lives of older individuals. Conclusion: This comprehensive review fills a critical knowledge gap regarding the safety of footwear designs for fall prevention in older adults. The identified design features play a vital role in reducing the risk of falls and offer practical recommendations for the development of safer footwear. Ultimately, this study contributes to the existing knowledge base and supports efforts to prevent STFs in older adults through improved footwear design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer technology influences the capability to enhance the functionality of manufacturing and product design technologies. Innovations in computational design and digital manufacturing empower designers and manufacturers to create novel representations and algorithms for designing, analyzing, and planning the production of highly complicated products achievable through state-of-the-art technology. Various principles, including computational physics, geometric reasoning, and automated spatial planning, enable engineers to generate entirely new categories of products in the footwear industry. This study aims to review the methods and tools that have been published in the literature for the last twenty years, and provide a better understanding of the parameters, tools, and controls that contribute to the design and manufacturing processes of shoes. The main focus is on highlighting the product design-related trends within the footwear industry. A structured framework becomes apparent in the literature through the grouping and presentation of information. This framework facilitates drawing conclusions about the trends and existing needs derived from in-depth research in the field of footwear. Additionally, it reveals the upcoming methods and tools that will contribute to the enhancement and development of this emerging and promising industry sector. In conclusion, the categorization limitation within the footwear industry could serve as the foundation for exploring key areas to be analyzed further in other industries, for instance, in furniture, clothing, and packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: this article aims to analyze how footwear companies can innovate frugally in convergence with the principles of sustainability. This objective was achieved based on studies that observe the relationship between sustainability and frugal innovation, with an emphasis on bricolage strategies, from a perspective of applicability in the footwear industry, as it is a sector with high environmental impact. Method: the research uses design science research, and made use of a field diary, for greater depth of understanding of the footwear environment, as well as secondary analysis of documents on the internet and transcribed interviews with the seven experts. Results: the study managed to propose two action artifacts, one of them a frugal and sustainable sneaker artifact, and, as a second action artifact, it realized the need for collaborative and constant action between universities and companies in the search for frugal and sustainable solutions, which can benefit both companies, through profitable results, and the university, through longitudinal research and production of articles. Conclusions: the footwear industry yearns for low-cost (frugal) innovations that are at the same time sustainable, and demonstrates capacity and interest in meeting social and political demands for sustainable actions; in order to achieve this, greater proximity to the university presents itself as a collaboration that can produce benefits for both, with side effects of positive impact on environmental initiatives, society, and government policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: this article aims to analyze how footwear companies can innovate frugally in convergence with the principles of sustainability. This objective was achieved based on studies that observe the relationship between sustainability and frugal innovation, with an emphasis on bricolage strategies, from a perspective of applicability in the footwear industry, as it is a sector with high environmental impact. Method: the research uses design science research, and made use of a field diary, for greater depth of understanding of the footwear environment, as well as secondary analysis of documents on the internet and transcribed interviews with the seven experts. Results: the study managed to propose two action artifacts, one of them a frugal and sustainable sneaker artifact, and, as a second action artifact, it realized the need for collaborative and constant action between universities and companies in the search for frugal and sustainable solutions, which can benefit both companies, through profitable results, and the university, through longitudinal research and production of articles. Conclusions: the footwear industry yearns for low-cost (frugal) innovations that are at the same time sustainable, and demonstrates capacity and interest in meeting social and political demands for sustainable actions; in order to achieve this, greater proximity to the university presents itself as a collaboration that can produce benefits for both, with side effects of positive impact on environmental initiatives, society, and government policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the Digital Product Passport (DPP) as a key tool for achieving a circular economy. An architecture of the DPP is presented built upon the principles of data spaces and W3C Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs). By leveraging data spaces, the DPP enables secure and controlled data exchange among stakeholders, fostering transparency, traceability, and collaboration throughout the product's lifecycle. The use of decentralized identifiers ensures the uniqueness and verifiability of product-related information, facilitating seamless access and sharing of data. The DPP architecture offers a promising framework for realizing the circular economy by promoting resource efficiency, sustainable practices, and informed decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the current status of work -related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and local musculoskeletal fatigue of workers in the footwear industry, and to explore the correlation among them. Methods All workers from seven shoe-making enterprises in Fujian Province were surveyed using the stratified cluster sampling method from November 2018 to December 2019. The incidences of WMSDs, work fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain were investigated using the Chinese version of the Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire, and correlation analysis was conducted. Results Among the total of 4 139 workers, 3 565 valid questionnaires were collected. The overall incidence rate of WMSDs among shoemaking workers was 56.3%, mainly occurring in the neck (39.6%), shoulders (33.0%), hands/wrist (24.7%), lower back (21.5%), upper back (20.0%), ankle (14.2%), leg (13.2%), knee (11.9%), and elbow (10.7%). The pain score (VAS score) of musculoskeletal diseases in shoemakers regardless of location was (4.3 ± 1.6) points, and the pain degree was mild to moderate. Taking the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) score as the horizontal coordinate and the risk of WMSDs (OR value) corresponding to the score as the vertical coordinate, the model was fitted, and the results showed that the S-shaped function model fit better (R2 = 0.872). With increasing RPE scores, the risk of WMSDs occurrence initially increased gradually, then sharply increased after an RPE score of 12, and finally leveled off. After adjusting for confounding factors such as gender and working time, the OR values (95%CI) for the risk of WMSDs in various body parts were: neck 9.597 (8.168 - 11.275), shoulders 8.258 (7.031 - 9.699), upper back 10.225 (8.487 - 12.391), lower back 5.287 (4.263 - 6.557), elbow 2.544 (2.015 - 3.211), wrist/hand 10.432 (8.753 - 12.433), leg 11.631 (9.305 - 14.538), knee 10.770 (8.450 - 13.728), ankle 14.589 (11.683 - 18.218)(all P < 0.05). The attribution risk (AR) of musculoskeletal fatigue in various body parts ranged from 10.9% to 50.3%, with an attribution risk percentage (AR%) ranging from 55.6% to 86.0%. The correlation coefficients between work fatigue and pain scores by body parts, in order from highest to lowest, were for neck (0.532), ankle (0.512), shoulders (0.490), wrist/hand (0.487), upper back (0.461), leg (0.442), knee (0.433), lower back (0.328), and elbow (0.160)(all P < 0.05). Conclusions There was a strong correlation between local musculoskeletal fatigue and WMSDs in shoemaking workers, which indicated that reducing fatigue levels is a significant preventive measure against WMSDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to test the performance of footwear sub-sector companies using financial ratios (liquidity, solvency, activity, profitability), common size and trend analysis by comparing financial ratios, common size and trend analysis for the 2020-2022 period at PT Sepatu Bata Tbk (Bata) and PT Primarindo Asia Infrastructure Tbk (Bima). This research design is a qualitative descriptive research and uses secondary data derived from the Financial Statements of PT Sepatu Bata Tbk (Bata) and PT Primarindo Asia Infrastructure Tbk (Bima) available on the Website of each Issuer and on the IDX website. The results showed that PT Sepatu Bata Tbk has a better financial performance than PT Primarindo Asia Infrastructure Tbk. However, this study only covers some aspects of company performance, so other more comprehensive research is needed, such as analyzing return on investment, management efficiency, or other factors that affect company performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental impact of wind turbine rotor blades, both during manufacturing and at the end of their life cycle, can be significant. The aim of this study was to define and test a methodology for recycling the waste resulting from their production. Particles of waste from the mechanical machining of rotor blades, which were made up of a glass fibre/epoxy matrix mixture, were used to produce toe caps for use by the footwear industry. The addition of 1 wt.% of particles improved the mechanical properties of the epoxy matrix, with a 5.50% improvement in tension and an 8% improvement in stiffness. Characterisation of the laminates, manufactured by hand lay-up technique, revealed that in the three-point bending tests, the additive laminates showed improvements of 18.60% in tension, 7.50% in stiffness, and 10% in deformation compared to the control laminate. The compression test showed that the additive glass fibre toe cap had greater resistance to compression than the control glass fibre toe cap, with a reduction in deformation of 23.10%. The toe caps are suitable for use in protective footwear according to European standard EN ISO 20346:2022. They guaranteed protection against low-velocity impacts at an energy level of at least 100 J and against compression when tested at a compression load of at least 10 kN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tanning is the process of converting putrescible raw hides and skins into non-putrescible leather. The most common chrome tanning process is not eco-friendly at all. But the increasing demand for leather leads us to find an eco-friendly tanning process. Therefore, the elimination of pollution due to the use of chrome and dyeing material is a matter of concern here. The primary objectives of this study are the reduction of pollution from using chrome and dyeing materials in the tanning process and their impacts on human life as well as the environment. In this study, different types of iron salts, combinations of different iron salts, and iron with chromium salts are used for tanning and no dyeing material is used to give color to the leather. On the other hand, various types of enzymes were applied for the completion of the beamhouse operation. Finally, the physical and thermal properties of various tanned leather were summarized to propagate an eco-friendly new tanning method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leather processing industry produces a significant quantity of waste materials, which can be treated in a manner that is consistent with the concepts underlying the circular economy. This article provides an overview of ways to recycle substances or energy from tannery waste, such as thermal, biological, chemical and other procedures. These approaches have the potential to facilitate the recovery and recycling of a diverse range of recyclable chemical substances like chromium, fats, gelatin vitamins, hydrolysate and minerals, biomass, and microbial waste products for use in other manufacturing operations. All the methods related to leather waste valorization have been discussed in this study to illustrate the recent development in techniques and processes of leather waste. The incorporation of the concept of circular economy has also been depicted. The premise of the circular economy model is that any waste product from the leather industry may be recycled and utilized again in the leather-producing process or in other related sectors. This study demonstrates that the circular economy approach to leather production offers chances for collaboration and innovation across several industries. Collaboration among organizations may lead to the discovery of innovative methods to minimize waste, enhance productivity, and extract value from resources that would otherwise be disposed of. The overview also addresses the state of waste legislation today and how it affects the environment. Technologies for sustainable and intelligent valuation allow for high recycling levels without negatively impacting the natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]