Shoe hardware includes a variety of small but essential components, such as screws, nails, shanks, zips, buckles, eyelets, studs, chains, lace ends and lace loops.
Typically crafted from durable materials such as zinc alloy, copper, brass and steel, these components are crucial in ensuring the functionality and longevity of footwear.
Zinc Alloy
Zinc alloys are known for their durability, strength and corrosion resistance. They require minimal energy to produce and can be recycled indefinitely.
However, mining for new zinc can have negative impacts on the environment by contaminating soil and water around mining sites, harming local ecosystems.
Copper
Copper is a flexible and 100% recyclable material. Most copper used worldwide is recycled, as the process requires at least 80% less energy than copper mining.
However, copper mining has a detrimental impact on the environment. It generates large quantities of waste, pollutes water, degrades land and releases toxic chemicals into the air. It does not decompose and can accumulate in plants and animals.
Brass
Brass is a mixture of copper and zinc that can be recycled endlessly without deteriorating in strength, hardness, or corrosion resistance.
Brass retains its chemical characteristics when recycled, and therefore is infinitely recyclable. However, this requires the correct disposal of brass via material recycling services.
The mining of copper and zinc can have harmful effects on the environment, including air, land, and water pollution.
Steel
Steel is durable and infinitely recyclable. While using recycled steel can help to reduce carbon emissions, steel production itself is a highly energy-consuming and CO2-emitting industrial process.
The primary component of steel is iron ore, which is obtained through energy-intensive mining that causes air and water pollution due to diesel generators emitting toxic gases and acid drainage from mines. Coal is also used in production, which emits toxic gases and wastewater.
WHERE WE ARE HEADING:
We are always searching for environmentally-friendly alternative materials, with the ultimate goal of only using those that have a reduced impact on the environment.
USED IN:
All shoes.
Recycled Fibreglass
WHAT:
Some of our shanks are crafted from recycled fibreglass, a plastic material reinforced with glass fibres. It’s known for being lightweight, strong, and more durable than regular plastic.
Fiberglass shanks provide good support and flexibility, but they are not as durable as steel shanks.
WHY:
Located between the insole and outsole, the shank offers support to your foot by reducing pressure on your arches, calves and knees. The added structure assists in maintaining balance on uneven surfaces and helps to sustain the shape of the shoe.
You’ll find steel shanks in the majority of our range – they’re stronger than fibreglass shanks, though not as sustainable. Fiberglass shanks are lighter and provide good support and flexibility. We use recycled fibreglass.
However, the process of producing fibreglass uses fossil fuels and is treated with formaldehyde, a toxic chemical. When fibreglass is disposed of, formaldehyde can seep into the ground and contaminate soil and water. The production of fibreglass also releases harmful air pollutants and volatile organic compounds.
WHERE WE ARE HEADING:
We're working with leaders in material science to assess their 100% biobased materials for footwear production.