Boot lab: sustainability

We considered the use of materials from renewable resources (not biodegradable) for the shell and cuff (RNW), the use of recycled materials (REC, mainly in the sole) and whether it can be disassembled for recycling (designed for recycling, DR). The ‘designed for recycling’ aspect was evaluated according to whether it was possible to separate the components of the boot (shell, cuff, buckles and mechanisms) using a simple screwdriver. The use of rivets to fix the cuff to the shell or to attach the buckles, components made from materials with different compositions (e.g. parts co-injected with TPU and polyamide) and glued parts were all evaluated negatively. The presence of rivets also means parts can’t be easily replaced if they break, making it necessary to replace the entire boot (in other words, it’s not ‘designed for repair’).