“Mama always said you could tell an awful lot about a person by the kind of shoes they wear.” ― Forrest Gump
A “What If” Exercise
What if running didn’t leave a trail of microplastics behind?
Let me elaborate.
I have a love-hate relationship with running. We go way back, and the relationship is pretty toxic.
After several months of walking around in San Francisco and doing almost no running, I am putting my shoes to the test.
The only downside, though, is that the soles of running shoes, much like most clothing made of plastic, gradually release microplastics into the environment.
But what if it didn’t have to be this way?
Today, I want to use my running shoes to explore what it looks like to “redesign” for circularity.
But first, let’s talk about how we got to the current design.
What If The Faulty Design Is Serving Us?
The concept of running as a sport can be traced all the way back to the ancient Greeks, who ran barefoot. Then it was passed on to the Romans, who ran in thin-soled sandals.
Over time, we started to design more fit-for-purpose running shoes. In fact, spiked shoes emerged in the 1800s, as vulcanized rubber also became more widespread.
In the 1900s, we saw some shoes made of leather.
Now, in the 21st century, our shoes consist of materials like ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), nylon, polyurethane, rubber, and more.
As you might imagine, these materials are hard to reuse once they have gone through their initial life cycle on your feet. They are also predominantly plastic, so they release microplastics as they wear down.
But let’s stop being haters for a moment and talk about why we use these materials in the first place.
#1: Performance.
You might not realize everything your running shoes do for you already, so let me go down the list.
They help you prevent injury by stabilizing the foot and preventing the skin from damage.
The stiff plates within the shoe’s midsole also help you to redistribute pressure from the knee to the joint of your toes.
In fact, your shoes even store energy for you through the compression of the midsole, releasing it as you take another step.
On top of this technology, there is also a huge degree of customization for each type of user.
Ultimately, the shoe on your feet is there based on many factors. For example, this includes the distance you typically run, how your foot strikes the ground, and (of course) what colors you like.
#2: Style.
Okay, time for the elephant in the room:
Modern-day sneakers just look cool.
They come in a variety of shapes, colors, textures, and brands.
In fact, they are so cool, you probably even wear them when you aren’t about to go to the gym.
Shoes are a matter of social status, and a big reason why we choose one over the other is simply this: appearances.
So let’s not brush past that too quickly, because if you want to replace our current cradle-to-grave running shoes with a cradle-to-cradle upgrade, it has to be an upgrade that takes the aesthetic appeal of shoes seriously as well as the engineering.
What If We Can Make It Better?
Now that we’ve paid our respects to the way running shoes are designed now, let’s turn our attention to the future.
Together, let’s explore what it would look like to design a running shoe that is actually “zero waste”.
What if we designed running shoes for disassembly?
The way to know if running shoes are “zero waste” or follow a cradle-to-cradle design is to look at what happens after they are done being used.
So what if, after we finished with our shoes, they could be broken down and fed into the next cycle of innovation?
What if we could actually separate the fabrics, insole, midsole, and outsole, and separate every different material used?
If we could do this, we could ask questions about each material and how to return it to the manufacturer.
If we can’t repurpose the material for the manufacturer, we are asking how to return the material to the ecosystem around us.
What if you could throw your old laces into the compost?
After we have designed for disassembly, we ask whether the materials we use can be returned to the manufacturer or the planet.
Imagine throwing your old shoe laces in the compost bin. Maybe you’re tossing them into a flowerpot, which releases key nutrients that, over time, degrade into the phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen you would otherwise get from a fertilizer.
Could you fathom a starch-based plastic outsole that, once you take it apart, could be tossed into a pot of boiling water to dissolve into sugar water for butterflies or hummingbirds?
Maybe, with edible packaging, your shoes even would come in a cardboard box that can be tossed into your garden to grow wild flowers after unpackaging.
If you think this is crazy, you’re right, but crazy ideas are just what drive progress.
What if we actually looked cooler and performed better in eco-friendly running shoes?
Now let’s talk about one of the most important aspects of this entire idea. How do we make it fun? How do we make it aesthetically pleasing to wear cradle-to-cradle running shoes?
What if it didn’t have to feel different to wear a shoe like this?
What if you could still be protected from injury, joint damage, and blisters?
Maybe it’s more feasible than we think. After all, we can take some valuable lessons from the design of shoes already, and apply them to the shoes of the future.
So let’s preserve performance and sleek appearances while upgrading our materials. That way, we can make the life cycle of your shoes just as amazing as what you do while wearing them.
Thought To Action
- Start a Curiosity Journal: Inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s approach to learning, begin documenting your daily observations and questions. This practice nurtures a habit of inquiry and creativity.
- Embrace Constraints to Spark Innovation: Challenge yourself with limitations to enhance problem-solving skills.
- Integrate Artistic Practices into Learning: Incorporate art forms like drawing or music into your study routines to enhance understanding and retention of STEM concepts.
- Advocate for Inclusive Design: Engage in conversations and initiatives that promote clothing designs catering to diverse body types and needs.
- Start A Reading Habit: Check out this post to easily start reading about and enjoying the topics you’ve always wanted to learn more on.
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