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The footwear industry has been very dirty, environmentally speaking. And while overall awareness of the need to clean up its act has increased significantly the past few years—and many sustainable initiatives hold great promise—there’s still tremendous room for improvement and clarity.

Enter Evoco, a components company founded in 2017 that’s on a mission to make genuine sustainable change happen. CEO Jason Robinson says the Toronto company’s efforts represent a step change in comparison to many other green initiatives, particularly the use of recycled plastics that fail to offer a substantial benefit in carbon emission reduction. In contrast, Evoco is all about closing the loop on unsustainable goods—for good.

“We use innovative technology to replace conventional petrochemical-derived materials by harnessing the power of nature to create high-performance, sustainable products,” Robinson explains. “We take great care to minimize CO2 emissions by using the carbon naturally stored in plants and not what’s stored in petroleum from 250 million years ago. We avoid the use of artificial, harmful production chemicals, such as tin-based catalysts and solvent-based blowing agents, which are standard in the industry today. Our products have enduring performance, designed to last through longer user cycles. And, at the end of a product’s life, our foams will biodegrade, returning to the earth to start the cycle again.”

Evoco has aimed its eco-friendly efforts at insoles first. Namely, its FATES brand, an eco-foam insole made with up to 80 percent of sustainably sourced plants that cuts partners’ products carbon emissions by up to 70 percent. Customers include Vans, Timberland, Keen and Kodiak. “Consumers favor comfort, quality and the overall performance of products, and FATES over delivers on all these aspects,” Robinson says. In addition, though, he says consumers are concerned about sustainability, and it behooves brands to meet those expectations. “People understand that even something as simple as buying a pair of shoes can have a negative impact on the environment,” he says. “Collectively, we need to take accountability to challenge the status quo, and realize that we are witnessing the beginning of a next gen material revolution.”

Speaking of, Evoco will expand into other components soon. “We’re expanding our FATES material to create midsoles, outsoles (TPU) and, most excitingly, a plant-based leather alternative (PBLA) for uppers,” Robinson says. “Our PBLA will be 85-90 percent plant-based and free of toxic catalysts. There’s opportunity in other industries, as well.” Evoco recently opened its own plant in Vietnam and plans to expand production capabilities in Europe and the U.S. to meet the expected demand.

In the meantime, there’s cleaning up to be done in the shoe biz. “The fashion industry alone contributes 10 percent of global emissions,” Robinson says, adding that as the world’s population grows, the need to find cleaner alternative increases. “As more people buy more clothes, that increases our global carbon footprint. But it’s also an opportunity for more sustainable materials to produce them.” Robinson adds, “We’re just getting started! Evoco will continue to push boundaries through our innovation pipeline to better support the footwear industry and significantly reduce its carbon impact.”

By Footwear Plus

Check out the latest Kicks over Coffee chat with our CEO Jason Robinson and FDRA’s Andy Polk. They discuss the latest news with Evoco from winning the Drapers Most sustainable initiative award, product certifications and most importantly how FATES insoles deliver on its promise of sustainability with matching performance.

Why are bio-content certifications like USDA BioPreferred important?

We want our partners and their customers to trust that our products are making an impact. That is why we were certified sustainability by USDA Bio-Preferred. What this means is that 72% of our FATES eco-foam insoles are made from plant materials (i.e. new carbon).

New Carbon is a term that refers to carbon of today, so carbon that was created in recent years (i.e plants and animal matter) not oil which was created thousands of years ago.

How does sustainability impact performance?

At Evoco sustainability and performance are synonymous. The technology that powers FATES eco-foam insoles was designed for performance. The development team created a material that allowed for performance factors to be able customized for our customer’s needs while having a sustainable 70% bio-content.

How are we scaling FATES technology to develop all footwear components and creating more value to our partners?

We are scaling the same technology we use for FATES eco-foam and developing all components of a shoe; midsoles, outsoles (TPU), and most excitingly, a plant-based leather alternative (PBLA) for the upper.

At the same time we are expanding our supply chain to serve our partners better. As we get ready to open our Vietnam production facility, it allows us to better develop products for our customers and tailoring our materials for their needs for seamless integration into their supply chain.

Evoco has won a coveted Drapers Footwear Award.

The results of the Drapers Footwear Awards 2022 were revealed on 23 June at the Grosvenor House London, where the footwear industry’s elite c­ame together at a glittering gala ceremony in recognition and celebration of the sector’s achievements.

Evoco has won in the best sustainability initiative of the year and was praised by Drapers’ Footwear Awards’ panel of expert judges.

The Drapers submission featured our FATES™ technology and its breakthrough innovation of being 70-80% plant-based and without sacrificing performance.

With global brands using FATES™ insoles in their shoes to create sustainable choices for their consumers. The best part of our eco-foam material is that reduces our brand partners emissions by up to 70% compared to petrochemical based foam.

The awards cover the entire spectrum of the footwear sector, with categories including Best Footwear Campaign, Independent Footwear Retailer of the Year, Women’s Footwear Brand of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement award.

The Drapers Footwear Awards are the most respected and prestigious in the footwear retail industry.

Jill Geoghegan, Drapers editor, said:

“Congratulations to our winners, who continue to demonstrate their ingenuity, resilience, and commitment to community and industry.”

Jason Robinson, CEO of Evoco commented: 

“Incredibly proud of Evoco to be recognized as a sustainable leader in the footwear industry. As we continue to work with our partners, we are just getting started on our mission to close the loop on unsustainable goods.”

About Drapers

Drapers has been the leading authority on fashion retailing in the UK since 6 August 1887.

We provide industry news, insightful analysis, commentary, and key data, as well as a growing portfolio of face-to-face networking opportunities.

From the rise of digital to challenges around sustainability and changing consumer habits, this dynamic industry has undergone many changes over the years. What remains throughout though, is the creativity and passion of those that work within it.

At Drapers we strive to educate, inspire, and connect the newcomers and leaders alike in this innovative sector. Our readers trust us to deliver high-quality, independent journalism that helps them to remain competitive in today’s challenging and fast-changing trading environment.

For more information and view all the winners please visit Drapers’ website

Evoco Ltd. was recently honored to welcome the U.S. Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, and Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland to their labs at MaRS Discovery District. As a Canadian start-up selected from a shortlist of innovative companies, Evoco had the incredible opportunity to showcase their commitment to renewable materials and plant-based chemistry, and discuss their plans for greater U.S. investment.

During the visit, CEO Jason Robinson gave them a tour of the facilities, demonstrating how plant-based materials are developed and manufactured on a commercial scale. The tour included showcasing FATES eco-foam and the early stages of Evoco’s novel plant-based leather, giving the guests an inside look into the company’s innovative approach to creating sustainable consumer goods.