Fashion for Good has launched The Next Stride, a 12-month project focused on transforming the footwear industry. The goal is to reimagine one of the most impactful parts of a shoe: the sole. The initiative is in partnership with adidas, Target, and Zalando. It also includes material innovators like Algenesis Labs, Balena, Evoco, KUORI, and Yulex.
The project will test and validate bio-based polymers as high-performance alternatives to fossil fuel–derived materials. The aim is to accelerate the industry’s shift toward scalable, circular solutions for shoe soles. These soles make up at least 40% of a shoe’s total mass and are a major source of environmental impact.
Most soles are made from polymers like polyurethane, TPU, EVA, and rubber. Recycling options for these materials are limited, and, as a result, circularity is hard to achieve. A typical synthetic running shoe produces about 14 kg of CO₂ emissions. Most of this comes from raw material processing and manufacturing. In addition, synthetic soles release microplastics through wear and tear. These tiny particles pollute soils, waterways, and indoor air.
The Next Stride brings together industry leaders and material innovators. They will rigorously test new bio-based polymers for both performance and sustainability. The process starts with validating the new materials against performance standards. Then, prototypes are tested in collaboration with SATRA. These tests evaluate both functional qualities and environmental benefits.
The findings will help create a roadmap for large-scale adoption. This will include impact measurement, sourcing feedstocks, end-of-life solutions, and infrastructure needs.
Katrin Ley, Managing Director at Fashion for Good, explained, “The Next Stride is a critical, collaborative effort. It aims to de-risk the adoption of high-performance bio-based soles. By transforming the foundation of the shoe, we can address the most impactful part of its lifecycle and enable systemic change.”
