Leather key to €140m sustainable shoe vision, Portuguese body says
An initiative spearheaded by Portuguese footwear, components and leather goods manufacturers’ association Apiccaps and the Portuguese Footwear Technological Centre (CTCP), both based in and around Porto, will see €140 million invested in “sustainable solutions” for the local footwear industry over the next three years.
Over 50% of these funds will be raised by the more than 100 businesses, institutions and research centres who, led by Apiccaps and CTCP, together already form a project-specific consortium, with the remaining amount to be financed by the Portuguese government and the European Commission.
While the development of “new” biomaterials, improved energy efficiency and water savings, traceability and a more streamlined, automated and technology-driven value chain were all singled out as areas for exploration following the investment, Apiccaps continues to believe that leather is “the best material on the market”, according to the organisation’s head of marketing and communications, Paulo Gonçalves.
