7/11/25
Introduction
in in
e c tive ective
Materials & Sustainability: rsp A rsp
Dual Perspective inuFootwear a l Pe ual Pe
D AD
Engineering
ty: A y:
ab i li
abilit
stain iPolymer tain
Sustainable S eer ng
u & Leather Sus eering
s & ginAlternatives s &
ial
ter eDraMr Vimudha
En (Sr. Pr. Engineer & Head), COE-Chennai rial ngin
Ma twFootwear M ate ear E
tw is highly dependent on how a material is made, where it is
Foo Foo
Design and Development Institute (Govt. of India)
Sustainability
used and how it can be recycled, and less so on the building blocks of a
11/7/2025 Centre of Excellence material.
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Sustainable Polymer Classification of Sustainable Polymer
in in
• Non-Biodegradable
from Non-renewable
ective
• Biodegradable
polymers from
ective
rsp rsp
sources renewable sources
PET, PE, PLA,
u l Pe
PHA, PHB,
a ual Pe
AD AD
PS, PP, Cellulose,
y: y:
PVC, PU Starch,
bilit bilit
Conventional
Algae
a a
polymers Sustainable
in in
Polym ers
ta ta
& Sus eering BPE PCL, PVA
& Sus eering
s
al Engin
Biodegradable
s
al Engin
teri teri
Non-biodegradable polymers from
but from organic non-renewable
Ma twear Ma twear
sources sources
• Biodegradable but
• Non- fossil based
biodegradable
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from renewable
sources
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Synthesis of Sustainable Polymer Biodegradation Potential of Polymers
in in
Plant based Animal-Origin Fermentation
ective Chemical Synthesis
ective
rsp rsp
ual Pe ual Pe
y: AD y: AD
inabilit inabilit
ta ta
& Sus eering & Sus eering
s
al Engin s
al Engin
teri teri
Ma twear Ma twear
Foo Foo
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Dr M Vimudha, Sr. Pr. Engineer & Head (COE-
FDDI) 1
7/11/25
Sustainable Fibres Sustainable Materials for Alternative Leathers
in in
tive tive
Seacell – woodpulp and seaweed (algae) based fiber
ec ec
Lenpur – biodegradable fabric white pine tree clippings rsp rsp
e l Pe
D al P natural dye-ability
uwaste, ua
y: A nettle, soft fire retardant textile
SoySilk – 100% biodegradable fabric from tofu
y: AD
a bilitStinging
STINGplus Nettle Fabric – Woven
abilit
in forg upholstery in
ustaseed ta
and mixed with wool, suitable
S rin Sus eering
ls & ginee oil based biopolymer.
EVO by Fulgar
ia
– Castor
s &
al Engin
ter PolyesterEn – Cast-off polyester fabric and soda bottles teri
Ma twear Ma twear
Recycled
o recycled paper & cork based fabric
FoCartina: Foo
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Sustainable Materials for Alternative Leathers Bio-based Content of Alternative Leathers
in in
tive tive
Fibre Fruit Leaves Fermentation
e c ec
rp
MulbTex sBacteria:
rsp
l Pe Nullarbor, BuchaBio l Pe
Mulberry: MalaiEco,
Cork-based: BarkTex Apple: AppleSkin, Oliver
a a
(South Korea)
Co. Apple leather
u
DNuviReleaf u
AD
Banana Based: BanoFi,
y: A y:
Green Banana Paper, Mango: Teak:
(Netherlands), Allegorie, ilit
bilit
FruitLeather (Germany)
b Cactus: Desserto FineMYCELIUM
BananaTex Fungus: Mylo,
in a ina
ta ta
Sus eering (Mexico) Sus eering
Grape: Vegea, (MycoWorks), Reishi
(foam tanned to leather)
s & n s &
i al g i al Engin
teri
Pineapple: Pinatex
ter En
Ma twear Olive: Nat-2 upcycled
Ma twear
F o o polyester with olive
leaves
Foo
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Footwear made of Sustainable Materials Sustainability Comparison for Alt. Leathers
in in
BeyondSkin – Faux suede – Dinamica
ective ective
rsp rsp
microfibre post-consumer recycled plastic
l Pe l Pe
bottles
ua ua
Form&Fauna– Cotton-hemp based
y: AD y: AD
bilit INSECTA Shoes bilit
synthetic leather, scrap wood heels, water-
VEJA/VERT Shoes
based glue, open-cell rubber lining
ina ina
ta black ta
Su&s rice ring Sus eering
shoe upper of recycled Soles are made from 18
MOHOP– Sandal’s from cherrywood,
eehusks,
cotton, recycled rubber to 22% natural rubber
s & n s &
l i al Engin
soles from natural rubber sole and insole made (latex), Upper using
ia g
ter ear En teri
from fabric waste tilapia fish leather, B-
padded footbeds from faux leather
Ma tbiodegradable Ma twear
Mesh: from recycled
plastic bottles to
w
Foowhen planted. Foo
OATSHOES– sneakers that innovative sneaker
grow plants
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Dr M Vimudha, Sr. Pr. Engineer & Head (COE-
FDDI) 2
7/11/25
Sustainability Comparison for Alt. Leathers Guideline for Selecting the Right Material
in in
tive tive
Design Intent – Material selection must fulfil the design which would dictate footwear’s
ec e c
rsp rsp
functionality.
ual Pe u al Pe of the component that
Performance – Selection of material based on the physical requirement
AD D
makes the footwear.
y: y: Ait does not automatically guarantee that a
bilit ilit
Sustainability – Only because a material is bio-based,
na ab the materials impact over the entire lifetime.
i taiofn the
material is sustainable. It is important to consider
ta
Sus eering S us ringselected material with the processing conditions
s & ginee
Manufacturability – Compatibility
s &
al Engin l
involved in footwear making.
a
teri i
er ar E– nEnsure availability and access to the material to avoid loss in raw
Costing &tProfitability
Ma twear Maprocurement.
material
twe
Foo Foo potential – Selecting a sustainable material must be marketable with a good
Commercialization
reach to consumers along with a good intention by the brand for selecting the material.
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Sustainable Indian Footwear Brands Psuedocorium & Genocorium
in in
ective Fashion &
ect
ive
rsp Footwear er s p
ual Pe products made u al P
y: AD of Pseudo- :A
D
abilit corium &
ability
tain GenoCorium tain
& Sus eering displayed at India& Sus ering
s
al Engin als gine
teri teri ear En
International
Ma twear Leather a
M twFair
Foo FooIndia.
(IILF) 2024,
Chennai, Patent protected sustainable Leathers
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Summary & Conclusions
in in
e ctive
• Sustainable polymers can be of plant-based, animal-origin, chemically
ective
rsp rsp
l Pe l Pe
synthesised using fibres from natural or non-renewable resources.
u a
D also decides the ecological ua
:A
• Production methodology of the sustainable material
Thank y: you AD
footprint caused by the material. ility
ab using plant based materials, fermentation a bilit
• Sustainable leather can tbe
s ainmade stain ing
u
S efibre ng materials
eribased u
s & natural &S er
n als Engine
polymers and other
r ia l n gi ri
ate eaofr Ethe sustainable materials has been proven beneficial in
• Recyclability
M
te
Ma twear
t w
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comparison to the conventional footwear-making materials.
o
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Dr M Vimudha, Sr. Pr. Engineer & Head (COE-
FDDI) 3
