Every shoe tells the story of our global reality—a hidden tale of environmental destruction, animal cruelty, and human exploitation.
DEFORESTATION
Shoes often begin their journey in the Amazon rainforest, a place of incredible beauty and biodiversity. Sadly, this vibrant ecosystem faces a grave threat: deforestation.
Loggers cut down ancient trees, and land grabbers clear the land, displacing indigenous communities and small farmers. This land is then sold to cattle ranchers at prices up to 100 times higher than untouched forest.
Cattle farming drives about 80% of deforestation in the Amazon. While beef is a major product, leather also plays a significant role, as it represents 5-10% of a cow's value, and shoes account for nearly half of all leather products.
Since the 1970s, we've lost about 20% of the Amazon—an area larger than France and Germany combined. Each year, an area the size of a small country disappears.
Scientists warn that if we lose just 5% more of the forest, it could lead to a tipping point. This means less rainfall and more fires, which could turn large parts of the rainforest into dry savanna.. This change would threaten countless species and worsen climate change.
Here’s the surprising part: Despite bans on products linked to deforestation, leather and meat still slip through due to powerful lobbying efforts, allowing the leather industry to continue contributing to deforestation with little accountability.
FACTORY FARMING
Picture hundreds or even thousands of cows packed into dirty, crowded spaces, barely able to move or act naturally. These conditions are so poor that farms rely on heavy doses of antibiotics to prevent disease outbreaks, contributing to global antibiotic resistance.
Factory farms are responsible for about 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The waste they produce pollutes nearby water supplies and degrades soil quality, harming the environment.
At any given time, more than 23 billion animals live in these conditions. Cows, used for leather, often spend over 45 days a year indoors without access to the outdoors.
The cruelty and environmental impact of factory farming are significant, yet the demand for leather continues to drive this harmful industry.
SLAUGHTERHOUSE
The journey of leather reveals a grim reality at slaughterhouses, where both animal welfare and human dignity are severely compromised.
Animals, already stressed from factory farms, face further trauma during transport and slaughter.
They are often crammed into trucks without food or water and arrive filled with fear.
Many animals are not properly stunned before being bled out, remaining conscious and suffering immense pain until death. This widespread brutality is staggering—millions of animals are killed daily for leather and meat, with their suffering largely hidden from public view.
Employees, often from vulnerable backgrounds, endure a relentless and emotionally draining environment. The repetitive and distressing nature of their work, combined with the constant exposure to violence, takes a heavy toll on their mental health. Workers often suffer from psychological conditions such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The need to emotionally detach from the violence can lead to numbness or, conversely, aggressive behavior outside of work.
Waste products, such as blood and offal, can contaminate water and soil, causing harm to ecosystems and local communities. These facilities are also breeding grounds for zoonotic diseases—pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans. The crowded and unsanitary conditions in slaughterhouses facilitate the spread of diseases like Salmonella, E. coli, and various influenza strains, potentially leading to broader public health crises
TANNERIES
Tanneries produce vast quantities of toxic waste, which often ends up in local water sources, leading to severe pollution. The Hazaribagh district in Bangladesh is a stark example, where tannery operations have contaminated the Buriganga River, killing all aquatic life and poisoning local communities. Workers in these facilities, including children as young as eight, are exposed to these toxic substances daily, leading to chronic health problems and shortened lifespans.
The human cost is staggering—many tannery workers in places like Hazaribagh face a 90% chance of dying before the age of fifty due to the hazardous conditions. Despite the clear dangers, personal protective equipment is rarely provided, and the industry operates with little oversight, particularly in developing countries.
The global leather industry, with an estimated value of $100 billion annually, thrives on the exploitation of both human and natural resources. The production of leather is not a benign by-product of the meat industry but a key driver of environmental destruction and human suffering. The use of toxic chemicals in tanning, combined with the industry's disregard for human rights and environmental health, makes leather one of the most damaging materials on the planet.
PLASTIC FACTORY
Most shoes today are packed with plastic, causing serious problems for our mother Earth.
Plastic used in shoes comes from factories that are major polluters, using fossil fuels that contribute to climate change. Plastic production alone is responsible for nearly 3.8% of all global greenhouse gases.
The process of making plastic for shoes is particularly harmful. As plastic is manufactured, it releases tiny particles called microplastics. These microplastics are so small that they're almost impossible to control. They end up in our oceans, soil, and even in our bodies. This is bad news for wildlife and human health, especially for children. These particles can cause inflammation, damage organs, and mess with our hormones.
Since the 1950s, plastic production has skyrocketed. Back then, we only made about 2 million tons of plastic a year. By 2020, that number jumped to a whopping 450 million tons. A big chunk of this plastic ends up in our shoes - some sneakers can have up to 65 different plastic parts!
Here's the scary part: scientists predict that by 2050, plastic production could use up 13% of our planet's carbon budget. This means it's making climate change much worse. And it's not just about the environment. In a recent study, scientists found plastic in the blood of 17 out of 22 people tested. We don't even know what long-term effects this could have on our health.
Recycling these plastic-filled shoes is a nightmare. The complex design of modern shoes makes it almost impossible to recycle them properly. Only 9% of all the plastic ever made has been recycled. The rest is sitting in landfills or floating in our oceans. Some shoe soles can last for 1,000 years before breaking down!
SWEAT SHOP
In sweatshops, workers face tough conditions. The workday often starts at 7:00 AM with no set end time, forcing workers into unpaid extra hours.
The workplace is harsh - dark rooms fill with toxic fumes from glues and dyes, with poor air flow. In winter, heating might only be on for 30 minutes, leaving workers in the cold. In summer, heat can make many workers faint.
A factory near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, shows just how bad things can get. Workers there were exposed to harmful chemicals at levels between 6 and 177 times higher than what is legally allowed. This factory, made workers put in 65-hour weeks, far more than what is legally permitted.
Workers' basic needs are ignored. There's usually no cafeteria, so workers eat at their desks during a short 20-minute lunch break. Managers push workers hard to meet goals, often yelling and swearing. Workers fear being fired, so many work even on Saturdays.
The global clothing industry, which includes shoe making, employs about 60 million people, 80% of whom are women. These women, usually aged 18-35, often move from rural areas to find work.
In some countries, shoe workers face hard times. In Ethiopia, they might earn just €24 a month. In Pakistan, the lowest wage for unskilled workers is about 15,000 rupees a month (around €129). But many home workers make only 20-25% of this lowest wage. This shows how little shoe makers earn.
Home workers and child workers have it worst. Families like Muhammad Iqbal's in Pakistan stitch shoe tops at home, earning less than €7 per day for hard work. They must keep dangerous materials at home, risking their lives. Many children work too, some as young as six, working long hours in unsafe conditions, exposed to toxic chemicals and at risk of getting addicted to shoe glue.
This widespread unfair treatment is deeply rooted in the global supply chain. As brands want lower costs, factories push the burden onto the weakest workers. The result is many hidden workers, working in unsafe conditions for very low pay, all to keep shoe prices low.
DUMP & BURN
Every year, the footwear industry churns out about 24.2 billion pairs of shoes, creating a massive waste problem. If we stack them all up, they could reach the moon and back seven times in just one year!
Most of these shoes are made from materials that don't break down easily, like synthetic polymers and rubber. These materials sit in landfills for decades, leaking harmful chemicals into the soil and water, damaging ecosystems and contaminating water supplies.
In many developing countries, shoes and clothing are often disposed of improperly. A significant portion of discarded clothing and footwear from Western countries is exported to these regions, where they frequently end up in landfills or are burned in open-air settings. This practice releases a mix of toxic chemicals into the air, like dioxins and furans, contributing to air pollution and posing serious health risks to people and wildlife. In some places, people even use old shoes as fuel for cooking, which adds to the pollution problem.
The social consequences of footwear disposal are severe, especially in poorer areas. In some regions, the presence of discarded shoes in landfills has led to the rise of "glue sniffers"—people who become addicted to inhaling the fumes from burning shoe adhesives. This is a tragic example of how environmental neglect can lead to social problems.
Countries like Chile have become major dumping grounds for discarded clothing and footwear, with huge piles accumulating in places like the Atacama Desert. These dumps not only harm the local environment but also pose health risks due to the toxic fumes released during fires. Despite many brands promoting recycling initiatives, the reality is often disappointing. Many shoes that are donated for recycling end up in landfills or are burned instead of being reused.
CAPITALISM
The shoe industry is a prime example of how capitalism prioritizes profit over people and the planet. Big multinational corporations focus on maximizing shareholder returns, often at the expense of ethical practices and sustainability.
To maximize profits, these corporations exploit people and animals, destroy natural resources, and avoid taxes. The legal structure of modern corporations incentivizes harmful behavior because there is no legal responsibility for ethical conduct.
They move production to countries with weak labor and environmental laws, creating a goldmine for them and their shareholders. This allows them to ignore the negative impacts they cause, as they don't have to deal with them directly.
Workers, especially women and children, face long hours, low pay, and unsafe conditions, highlighting a system that values profit over human welfare.
Globalization creates clear winners and losers. Those without power, like factory workers, consistently lose out, while the wealthy benefit. This has significantly widened the gap between rich and poor. For instance, Michael Jordan earns more from a shoe brand deal than all the brand's factory workers in Malaysia combined. Yet, compared to Phil Knight, worth $39.1 billion, his earnings are minimal. To match this, someone earning the average annual salary in Western Europe would need to work 768 thousand years. For the lowest-paid shoe factory workers, it would take 135 million years.
The environmental impact is severe. Natural habitats are destroyed, resources are depleted, and greenhouse gases rise. The shoe industry contributes to deforestation, pollution, and climate change, making nature another clear loser in this system.
The root cause of these issues is a system that prioritizes short-term profit over everything else, perpetuating cycles of exploitation and environmental harm.
If you have reached the end of this piece, you’re now equipped with valuable insights into the impacts of the footwear industry. By sharing this knowledge, you can help raise awareness and inspire change in others. So, if you want to dive deeper into these topics, explore the resources below.
Online Articles:
- The Washington Post: Amazon beef and deforestation
- FAO: The Environmental Impact of the Animal Product Processing Industries
- National Geographic: Shoes and the Plastic Problem
- The Guardian: The Truth About Sneaker Waste
- The Guardian: Plight of Child Workers in Bangladesh Tanneries
Books:
- Foot Work: What Your Shoes Are Doing to the World by Tansy E. Hoskins
- The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power by Joel Bakan.
- The Ethical Capitalist: How to Make Business Work Better for Society by Julian Richer
