Global Footwear Development Needs Attention for Five Major Issues

In the past ten years, the global footwear industry has developed rapidly. The world footwear output increased from 14.796 billion pairs in 1998 to 18.954 billion pairs in 2007. Since 2008, affected by the financial crisis, the world economy has experienced various degrees of decline, and the global footwear industry has been affected. “The development of the footwear industry faces many global issues, including exchange rates, workers’ wages, inflation, energy, the environment, water resources, and raw materials, all of which are factors that affect the development of the footwear industry.” Not long ago, in 2009 the world leather industry cooperation At the Development Forum, Roeland Smets, executive director of the European Footwear Association, urged industry colleagues to pay attention to the five major issues facing the development of the footwear industry.

The exchange rate issue becomes a basic issue

The exchange rate issue is a big issue both now and in the future, and it has become a basic issue. And now it seems that it is not just the issue of the exchange rate, but also the problem of credibility. It is difficult to get business without credit, so I hope that entrepreneurs will be more sensible when making decisions.

Workers' wages determine the level of industry

Workers' wages are an important factor in the development of the leather industry and are closely linked to the level of consumption. The level of wages of workers also largely determines the level of the industry itself. Therefore, we must do more in this area.

Traditional energy may be exhausted

Traditional energy sources may face exhaustion. In recent years, oil consumption has been large, and some coal resources have also been used. The use of nuclear energy continues to increase and will continue to increase in the future. It may be an important solution to the problem of resource depletion in the future.

Environmental concerns lead to changes in the consumer market

Environmental issues have received more and more attention, and consumers are paying more and more attention to the environment. This is an important sign that people's attention changes. As consumers, we can see this change in all aspects of life. The footwear industry is naturally affected by this change. China itself is also a victim of environmental problems and is also plagued by these problems. In the entire leather industry, including the footwear industry, wastes and pollutants are generated. Proper handling of these wastes and pollutants is an urgent issue. Europe has now introduced REACH regulations.

The problem of scarcity of water resources must be faced

The issue of water resources is also critical. The shoe-making industry must use a lot of water during the production process and during the post-production clean-up process, and water is the most difficult to find alternatives. This problem has increasingly attracted the attention of the industry. It can be foreseen that the world's water resources will become increasingly scarce. This is true in any industry. If we can better solve the water saving problem, we will gain greater advantages in cost. At present, major shoe manufacturers in European countries are considering this issue. They have already considered water as one of the important production factors.