Design Life-Cycle

Chantel Archibald

Professor Christina Cogdell 

DES 40A

June 06, 2024

Waste of G.H. Bass Loafers

G.H Bass is a brand founded in 1876 by George Henry Bass. The G.H Bass brand has been exceeding a century's worth of quality and charm. The G.H. Bass loafer is more than simply a shoe because of its classic design, superb fabrication, and cultural influence. It is a symbol of lasting American polish and originality. The vegan leather used in G.H. Bass is a material that can be reused, recycled, thrown into a landfill, or incinerated. Vegan leather is a type of leather material that can last a very long time if taken care of making this material a sustainable product. The production of leather can have great costs on the environment and human health due to the use of many chemicals being used to produce. The rubber soles on the bottom of the loafers included on the G. H. Bass is a type of material that can generally be recycled. Prior to the production of rubber, it was very costly due to it contributing to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Overall, waste management and pollution, the materials used to produce G. H Bass are not environmentally sustainable because the cost on the environment outway the recyclability of the products.

The creation of G.H. Bass loafers has substantial negative environmental consequences principally attributable to the materials used and the manufacturing procedures employed. The official G.H. Bass site states, “Today, more of us are asking how we can minimise our negative impact on the planet. So, as part of our commitment to reinventing staples, including the iconic penny loafer, we’ve searched out the most cutting edge and exciting eco-innovators to collaborate with…highly sustainable vegan biomaterial developed in Mexico as an alternative to leather, often distinguished by its softness to the touch.” This sounds excellent to consumers that trying to limit their effect on the environment but do not know much about the decomposition of both materials is not very sustainable.

One of the main materials used, Vegan leather, is often manufactured using polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The manufacturing process of vegan leather includes the use of poisonous substances, such as plasticizers and stabilizers. In order to even get the material of vegan leather to the United States there is a lot of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from the overseas transport. Supported by, Climate Fact Checks, "The total supply chain impact of synthetic leather, including all stages from production to distribution, is reported to be 15.8 kg of CO2 per square meter." Which is a high amount of carbon dioxide released into the air.  The use of rubber soles in G.H. Bass loafers contributes to the deforestation of the environment about the manufacturing company. Rubber manufacturing has a large impact on the environment, which has important consequences for climatic stability and the health of ecosystems. The disposal of synthetic components throughout the lifespan of G.H. Bass shoes presents more environmental issues. Looking at the break down of vegan leather and rubber both materials affect the environment in different ways.

Vegan leather, although being considered an environmentally benign substitute, actually harms the environment because of the considerable use of chemical processes during its manufacture. Vegan leather, in contrast to conventional leather sourced from animal skins, is often manufactured using synthetic materials like polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Using vegan leather being a risk to human health and overall the well being of the environment. During the process of creating leather the chemicals produced by the manufacturing process could possibly find a way into the local water source. Shedding light on the problem of possibly resulting in the release of greenhouse gases and exacerbating global warming. As stated by, Earth.org, "Vegan leather's greatest disadvantage is indeed its occasional use of plastics, which are completely non-biodegradable and would linger for eternity. Some would even consider the aftermath of faux leather to be worse than that of real leather." Proving that in the long run vegan leather is not a sustainable product to use. Contrary to genuine leather, synthetic materials do not degrade and instead persist, causing prolonged environmental contamination. Once reatching the part in the life cycle of incineration, the vegan leather emits toxic compounds, such as dioxins and furans, that pose a threat to both human well-being and the natural surroundings. Despite its marketing as a sustainable option, vegan leather has a significant environmental impact owing to its manufacture and disposal effects. In an interview conducted by vegconomist with the company, Desserto who is parenting with G.H.Bass to produce their vegan leather loafers. Desserto’s founders shared, “[T]here is no doubt consumer reception towards sustainable materials is growing dramatically everywhere. Furthermore, consumer demand is not the only driver of sustainable materials. The industries themselves must adopt sustainable policies in order to grow and survive.” There is an awareness of different companies and the waste effect that they have on the environment and want to improve it. 

The manufacturing of rubber, especially natural rubber, presents substantial environmental risks as a result of deforestation and the loss of biodiversity. The companies that produce rubber often displace large portions of tropical rainforests, resulting in habitat loss and the relocation of several plant and animal species. The process of deforestation leads to a decline in biodiversity, disrupting the species in the given area potentially leading to the extinction of that certain animal/ insect if they cannot survive in a different environment. In addition, the process of clearing land for rubber manufacturers results in the emission of significant quantities of carbon dioxide, which leads to the problem of climate change. Producing rubber could also disrupt the water cycles that are used to provide for the various communities surrounding the manufacturing companies. Synthetic rubber, often derived from petroleum-based substances such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), the release of this substance can be harmful to the environment. In order to make rubber it requires the use of fossil fuels which leads to the release of greenhouse gases. Rubber is a material that can not be broken down easily and takes years for it to completely to decompose. The Round Up presents the information, “Synthetic rubber is also called neoprene, polybutadiene, or nitrile butyl. It has a chemical structure that makes it very resistant to fluids and corrosive chemicals.” Proving how vegan leather is not a better option to use than natural leather due to it having worse effects on the environment. These days, synthetic rubbers can be recycled through depots but cannot be burned for disposal purposes. Most of it is thrown out in landfills or alongside the road Since the rubber usually stays in a landfill for an extended time it becomes it a home for pests that are harmful to the environment and human health.  In addition, the combustion of rubber products emits hazardous compounds such as heavy metals and hydrocarbons, leading to air pollution and posing health hazards to both people and animals. As presented by, good for you, “Plus, even in Asia, rubber trees are not immune to pests, diseases, and the damages that come with it, meaning pesticides and herbicides are often used to protect the production and ensure its profitability.” Stating how in order to keep the pest off of rubber trees more chemicals are used and released into the air, adding to the reasons why rubber is not sustainable. 

To summarize, while G.H. Bass is well recognized and known for its reputation for excellence, appeal, and cultural importance, it is very important to acknowledge the environmental consequences associated with the manufacturing of loafers. Despite its portrayal as an eco-friendly substitute, the use of vegan leather necessitates extensive chemical procedures and a large release of carbon, so causing pollution and climate change. Along the same lines, the manufacturing and disposal of rubber soles come with environmental issues, such as deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and long-term problems with waste management. Both materials, vegan leather, and rubber, although having some recyclable characteristics do have a higher negative impact on the environment than positive advantages. With the increasing awareness and demand for environmentally friendly goods, it becomes increasingly important for businesses like G.H. Bass to develop and start substituting materials for more sustainable ones to ensure that their products do not harm the environment as well as human health.

Biography

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