Order your tailored sandals directly from home - based on 3D technologies, developed in Switzerland & made in Europe. Based on vegan & sustainable materials. First launch coming soon - sign up for our waitlist now!
Externer Link zu URBNC3
Zürich, CH
URBNC3 hat dies direkt geteilt
Start-up URBNC 3 produces #Sustainable and personalised #Sandals with the aid of digital technology. The start-up took its first steps at the Student Project House of ETH Zurich. Link to article: https://lnkd.in/gxvdrd4y Article: Samuel Schlaefli Video: Nicole D. Related: URBNC3, ETH Student Project House, Linda Wang, Philipp Kronenberg, D-MTEC ETH Zurich, Roman Wyss, Kristýna Hrabánková,
What are the biggest levers to make shoes more sustainable? As part of last year's Swiss Sustainability Challenge, we had the privilege to conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in collaboration with University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW, using SimaPro. This allowed us to analyze crucial aspects of our product and value chain sustainability. Overall, we are pleased that many of our assumptions were confirmed through the LCA. However, there were a few surprises and valuable insights. Here are three key points that stood out: 🧵Material choice is key : One of the most significant factors affecting the LCA score is the production scale of materials. Interestingly, some vegan leather alternatives showed worse scores than animal leather, primarily due to their small-scale production, resulting in higher energy consumption per unit. Nevertheless, these innovative materials will play a pivotal role in making the shoe industry more sustainable. Once scaled, the critical factor will be their chemical composition. ⚡Know your electricity mix: If 3D printing is used in production, energy consumption can be quite high. The key determinant of emissions is the electricity mix used to power the printer. In proactive terms, this is a call for companies like ours to invest in renewable energy for their operations. ♻️Circular design and recyclability are worth it: Our study shows the potential as well as the uncertainties in the circular economy. One of the best results is achieved in the scenario where 50% of the shoe soles are sent back for recycling and used as input for new soles. The reduction in emissions by using recycled material outweighs the additional emissions caused by transport. To reduce the ecological footprint of the footwear industry, considering recyclability (e.g. the separability of materials after use) and advancements in polymer recycling is crucial. While we are very pleased with the results of the study, this example also showed how strongly LCA results can depend on assumptions, which are especially difficult to make for startups like ours. We don't have sufficient operational data yet about our own operations or customer responses, and we would like to work with new materials from other startups that also do not have long-term data to rely on. This makes it all the more important to regularly reflect critically on sustainability in startup business models. Many thanks again to Manu Singh, who performed this insightful practical LCA as his bachelor’s thesis, and to FHNW for sponsoring this project. A big thanks also goes to our strategic partner Faircustomer.ch and Tania Schellenberg, who supported us in analyzing and interpreting the study. We stay committed to making the footwear industry more sustainable and will share more detailed insights into our first LCA analysis soon. What are your experiences with LCAs? Victor Misev Fabian Whitfield Claus-Heinrich Daub Ananda Wyss
It was a pleasure representing our startup URBNC3 at this year's Climate Hub Davos, which took place in the context of the WEF 2024 Open Forums. We participated in an exhibition organized by our strategic partner Faircustomer.ch and GreenUp Switzerland, which showcased promising upcycling products, such as AMUNEMI bags made from used sofa leather and brands working with innovative materials, such as Ananda, creating modular bags made from pineapple leather. Engaging in conversations at the World Economic Forum not only allowed us to foster the discussion on sustainability but also to critically examine our own concepts. I learned more about transparent supply chains in the fashion industry from Patrick Roth and attended an inspiring panel held by Assi Grunder from New Roots AG, and, most importantly, got to taste their vegan fondue and raclette 🧀 . Three key takeaways that drew my attention: 🎓 Knowledge about materials in fashion is still limited, especially among the international audience. Although leather alternatives with limited plastic content are not yet mature, they represent significant potential and need to be explained more thoroughly. 🍃 Despite a substantial portion of emissions being rooted in consumption, climate protection strongly focuses on renewable energies and energy efficiency. In my view, consumption deserves more attention from politics, investors, and public funding. I am all the more thankful for the possibility to showcase emission-light consumer products at the ClimateHub. 📣 The Climate Hub Davos proved to be a valuable space for fostering innovation, sustainability, and critical reflections on the economy but also the WEF itself. These discussions play a crucial role in fostering public discourse and should gain importance in the future. Grateful to our strategic partner Faircustomer.ch and their leader Tania Schellenberg, as well as the entire GreenUp Switzerland team for organizing this event! Eagerly anticipating our participation again next year. #WEF #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Innovation