Workshop: Measuring Footprints

The introduction of ’Measuring Footprints’, a SustainLab research project, offered students a deeper understanding of the environmental impact of production and consumption patterns of footwear. This systemic analysis, bridging environmental science and design, served as the theoretical foundation for further exploration. Through the presentation and discussion of key findings, students examined global material flows, waste manage- ment and the limits of circularity. The session highlighted the contradiction between rising sustainability discourse and increasing resource consumption, using shoes as an example of linear material use. By critically engaging with this research, students gained essential insights into sustainable design, forming the basis for their explorations in the labs.