Innovation

The innovation consists of a complex software that calculates the carbon footprint of every pair of shoes produced by their clients. This software is an add-in to their principal footwear design program. This way, companies can calculate their carbon footprint from the beginning of the life cycle, the design. Therefore, there is no need to produce a single pair of shoes until the levels of CO2 are acceptable for the company and the market. This way of functioning is known as eco-design and INESCOP is a pioneer in this market and practice.

The calculation is made considering the whole process of the product, from the cultivation and obtaining of the raw materials, the treatment of the raw materials and leathers, all the way up to the manufacturing process as well as the distribution of the products. The software allows companies to calculate a reliable number to measure it's carbon footprint. Wherever the client operates, the software can be used in infinite possible locations just by having the program installed.

The process of calculation is the following: firstly, in INESCOP's labs, a study is carried out about each type of material used in the production of footwear, every step from obtaining the raw materials until the production is measured. The chemicals used and waste generated is also considered. Then, all the information obtained is introduced in the program, that way, when designers select a material, the program calculates the carbon footprint that it generates depending on the volume of material used. To finish with, it is important to mention that with this innovation INESCOP also pursues the sustainable development goals (SDGs), responsible consumption and production (12), since the company creates opportunities to achieve sustainable production and thus offer sustainable products to the consumers, that will be able to change their pattern of consumption. Lastly, the innovation also contributes to measure the carbon footprint and the impact of businesses, providing valuable information to the industry in order to create sustainable indexes, all these characteristics are closely related to the SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Inspiration

As Vicente told us, the innovation came from a change in the consumption patterns, consumers are demanding businesses to review their impact to the environment and they are starting to specially appreciate companies that do care about sustainability. This pattern change created a new necessity for the footwear industry, and as INESCOP is a research institute, companies came to them looking for a technical solution that could be implemented fast and easily in their businesses.

For INESCOP, the idea came out naturally, they provide a very sophisticated 3D design program to many companies in the industry. As more companies asked about a smart and reliable way of measuring the carbon footprint of their products, even before producing one pair of shoes; it became evident that they could combine their design software with a new software able to measure the carbon footprint. From that moment on, they started working with the lab as well as the environment department to develop the best solution possible.

To sum up, Vicente told us the following: “There is a greater consciousness of the role of the companies in the environmental and sustainability goals every day. Consumers are demanding that the industrial processes get more sustainable and ecologic, this new concern must start from the beginning of the value chain, the design. And since we have a design software, it was time to start not only designing, but eco-designing. Eco-designing is designing taking into account the carbon footprint and the sustainability of the process. To reach eco-design, we had to develop new tools for our clients to benefit from them.”

Overall impact

On the one hand, in the short-term, the impact of the innovation consists of introducing eco-design in the footwear industry, as most companies still don't use it. The footwear industry is huge and little changes become enormous when put into perspective. Furthermore, this innovation supposes a decrease in the carbon footprint of the clients of INESCOP, and that decrease can be achieved in a really short period of time thanks to the capability of the software to calculate the carbon footprint in the process of design.

On the other hand, the impact in the long-term is related to investment in new materials and improving the processes to reach lower and lower levels of pollution each time. Moreover, the reduction of emissions also depends on the industry investing in new ways to recycle used footwear and to calculate the costs, economic and environmental, of turning old shoes into new ones. This innovation is the beginning of a trend that will stay in the footwear industry with the goal to become a sustainable industry in the future.

Evidence of the impact of this innovation can be found in some Spanish footwear companies. For example, ECOALF, has managed to reduce the emissions of their shoes to 4,51kg of CO2eq per pair of shoes, one third of the industry average, which is 13,6kg of CO2eq. Other companies that also work with INESCOP can be found in their webpage: https://inescop.es/es/

Business benefit

For INESCOP, there have been many advantages since the implementation of the innovative software. To start with, a great improvement in the image of the company, because they are not only introducing eco-design among it's offer of services, but also they are pioneers in this practice. Thanks to this image improvement, more and more companies are asking about INESCOP to contract it's services and thus reduce their carbon footprints with one of the pioneers in the industry, the company is more than ever a symbol of reliability and disruption.

Moreover, a lot of different companies outside the footwear industry have approached the company to partner with them to adapt their software to their respective activities. Consequently, the company is now open to new opportunities outside their usual work, this could mean great growth in the future for the company.

Having said all that, this innovation has also impacted the workforce of INESCOP as the environment department has been reinforced as well as the design department. This is not only the case for INESCOP, since clients also must maintain a design team who understands the software and its functioning. To finish with, this innovation has opened the door for new investment, as companies want INESCOP to find new and less polluting materials as well as improved processes for them. The future is bright for the business as more companies get interested and ready to invest in the future of eco-design.

Social and environmental benefit

To begin with, the footwear industry produces billions of shoes every year, and the fact that is even more concerning, nearly 80% of the shoes produced end up in landfills and dumps. With this information displayed, it becomes evident the fact that every step towards sustainability, efficient use of resources, optimization of processes, and reduction of emissions plays a crucial role for the environment due to the size of the industry.

For the society is also very positive, because it means that a new and more sustainable industry is being created for and because of the consumers. They will receive the same quality of products and materials, while reducing pollution, augmenting investment in research and development, and hiring more researchers as well as designers and scientists.

Thanks to this innovation, the society is going to be less polluted and more efficient in their use of materials while the environment also benefits from the reduction in the carbon footprint of many companies. All this benefits are achieved through the collaboration of INESCOP and its clients, that are the ones that implement changes depending on the measures that the software provides.

Interview

Vicente López Ripoll, Head of Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing Department.