Treading Lightly: SCARPA’s Journey Towards Sustainable Footwear

BY Josh Neitzel, Julia Coutant

In the realm of outdoor adventure, where nature’s beauty and challenges beckon, one company stands out not only for its exceptional footwear but also for its unwavering commitment to sustainability. SCARPA, a brand synonymous with quality and innovation, has embarked on a remarkable journey towards crafting adventure footwear that treads lightly on the planet.

Balancing Performance and Responsibility

For SCARPA, sustainability isn’t just an added feature – it’s a core value woven into the fabric of our products. Our company understands that outdoor enthusiasts demand top-tier performance from their footwear, and SCARPA delivers that without compromising its responsibility towards the environment.

One example is our planet friendly ECO Mojito Wrap, which uses EVOLO® technology. The Mojito Wrap is constructed from Evolo® suede leather - a recycled material that uses up to 50% recycled content significantly reducing CO2 emissions, as well as reducing chemical waste by -32% and water use by -66% with zero added Chromium. Although environmentally friendly production is important, the materials we choose are equally paramount.

Materials Matter: Eco-Friendly Choices

SCARPA is meticulous about its material selection. We incorporate recycled materials into our products, reducing the demand for virgin resources. This not only diverts waste from landfills but also conserves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. From recycled textiles to biodegradable components, SCARPA is a leader in minimizing the environmental toll of footwear production.

Why is this important? An average pair of running shoes is responsible for 1.4% of GHG emissions in the world. Your pair of sneakers on average generate 30 pounds of CO2 emissions, which is the equivalent to keeping a 100-watt light bulb on for a week. Every year in the US, people throw away over 300 million pairs of shoes, 95% of which end up in landfills. Footwear manufacturing has a huge impact on our global environment, so we feel it is our duty as a global company to work towards reducing harmful waste.

This is why we’re so excited about the Mojito Bio - the first fully biodegradable product SCARPA has ever offered. The Mojito Bio consists of a Bio Knit Fabric upper, EVA midsole, and natural rubber outsole, which are all 100% biodegradable. We even use recycled cardboard and paper to keep this product fully biodegradable, all the way down to the packaging. These materials make it so the Mojito Bio can fully biodegrade in a landfill within five years. This is a substantial innovation in footwear because the average shoe can take upwards of 80 years to decompose.

Another excellent example of eco-friendly material choices is the newly introduced Spin Planet - a trail running shoe crafted from significantly recycled materials, inspired by environmentalist, professional Trail Runner and SCARPA Athlete, Hillary Geradi. The Spin Planet features a 100% recycled upper, 45% recycled midsole, and a 30% recycled rubber outsole.

Photo: Umberto Nicoletti
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Craftsmanship and Longevity

One of the most important approaches to sustainable product design is creating items that endure the test of time. SCARPA takes this to heart by producing durable footwear that can withstand the rigors of the outdoors, reducing the need for frequent replacements and thus decreasing overall consumption.

Marco De Gasperi, SCARPA Italy’s Trail Running Category Manager, addressed the concern of balancing craftsmanship and longevity with recycled content used in production in a recent interview with Outside.

When asked about the durability of products made of recycled material, De Gasperi responded,

“Our experience in the world of Trail Running sports footwear, give us the ability to say that the comparison from the point of view of durability of uppers made of even 100% recycled materials (e.g., Polyester) can be compared with non-recycled ones. Different discussion for soles and midsoles, where the closer to 50% recycled, the more recycled polymers struggle to remain firmly blended with virgin materials. So, this comparison is still in favor of virgin materials, but with similar results when recycled percentages are balanced,”

“To get the best performance from recycled materials, we conduct targeted tests on both product performance and durability. When this balance is not consistent with the goals that a major brand like SCARPA sets, we try to recalibrate the presence of material within it. For example, a tread rubber with 40 percent recycled materials was tested on one product. The result of its durability was disappointing, so we decided to use it at 30 percent, achieving durability very close to that of virgin rubber.”

For over 80 years, athletes and adventurers have trusted SCARPA footwear to uphold durability in the most technical of landscapes, and we continue to deliver on that reputation while meeting our sustainability goals.

The Recycling Initiative: SCARPA STANDS

The SCARPA Stands initiative is a collective set of actions, initiatives and ideas that support the purpose and principles of our company and community. Our commitment to a greener future resides within the four pillars of SCARPA STANDS; People, Planet, Principles, and Product. SCARPA’s dedication to sustainability doesn’t end once its products are worn out. We encourage customers to visit our Authorized North America Resole Centers, to ensure that materials are repurposed instead of ending up in landfills.

Visit our Authorized North America Resole Centers