PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
In recent years, growing awareness of the unsustainable use of natural resources, together with a greater environmental awareness generally, has led many companies to initiate efforts to improve their environmental performance and develop more sustainable production processes.
The tanning and footwear production sectors play an important role in the economies of many European countries, especially in the Mediterranean region. However, there is still a limited knowledge and understanding of alternative methods that reduce the environmental impact of production processes in these industries. The implementation of more environmentally friendly processes has been slow in both sectors.
INESCOP has been working for over forty years to meet the needs of companies in the Spanish footwear and related sectors. It has expertise in environmental management systems, clean tanning technologies, atmospheric and noise emissions, eco-labelling, sewage, industrial waste and training.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE SHOEBAT project aimed to increase knowledge and application of the most environmentally friendly techniques within the footwear and tanning industries. It would work with relevant companies in three Mediterranean countries: Spain, Italy and Portugal.
Specifically, SHOEBAT aimed to create an interactive tool, which would bring together the most environmentally friendly methods applicable to the tanning and footwear sectors. It would then work to raise awareness among companies in these sectors of the environmental impact of tanning and footwear activities and of the existence of new and improved techniques. The project would work to spread awareness and use of the interactive tool of good practices, and would demonstrate some of the best techniques in order to show companies what can be achieved through their implementation.
RESULTS
The LIFE SHOEBAT project created an interactive tool which gathers together the most environmentally friendly methods that can be applied in the tanning and footwear sectors. Its e-platform contains information on 90 best available techniques (BATs) and 38 providers, and includes a user guide. The project beneficiaries organised several workshops (6 in total: one for each sector in the three participating countries) to promote these BATs and use of the e-platform. The beneficiaries managed to inspire improvements in 18 companies through the implementation of BATs.
Furthermore, and in accordance with information gathered through surveys conducted throughout the project's lifetime, the beneficiaries observed:
- An increase in BAT awareness in both the footwear and tanning sectors;
- An increase in the number of companies that have improved the environmental performance of their production process; and
- An increase in the companies agreeing with the statement that a company can be economically viable and environmentally friendly.
The beneficiaries made great efforts to disseminate the project, including presenting it at 54 international events and sector workshops. This is key for promoting use of the e-platform in the future.
