Athletic shoes were originally designed for sports and other types of physical exercise. Today, they have become a pair of shoes used for casual daily activities because they are so flexible, comfortable and fashionable. Athletic shoes have higher expectations than a regular pair of shoes. They were designed to improve health, for running and leisure. Athletic shoes date back to ancient Greece. Runners competed barefoot until the Romans required them to wear thin-soled sandals. The first “all-around athletic shoe” was designed in 1900 and was made of canvas and featured a rubber edge (Kolecki, 2009). Shoes are one of the essential survival tools because they protect our feet where balance and support are needed. of our physical weight occurs. Additionally, shoes are also seen as fashion items. These days, the type of shoes we wear represents who we are and helps give people distinct individualities. However, as looks can be deceiving, these shoes are not as simple as they seem in terms of production, manufacturing, distribution, consumption, disposal and measuring their value. For these shoes to become products, various actors are involved, including: consumers, businesses, government and workers (Commodity Chains That Bind, 2013). Sports shoes are made from different types of raw materials. The sole is made up of three different layers; insole, midsole and outsole. The insole is a thin layer of ethylene vinyl acetate. The midsole varies between manufacturers and is usually made of polyurethane, gel, liquid silicone, or polyurethane foam. It is designed to absorb shock and support the heel. And the outsoles are more...... middle of paper ...... e new technology, these same workers have a skills gap and can no longer work (Allick et al. 2000). A study was carried out to show the health effects that workers are exposed to while working in a shoe factory. Workers are exposed to a number of different chemicals and ergonomic hazards. One of the main symptoms is musculoskeletal disorders, caused by workers being exposed to isocyanates and organic vapors without adequate protection. There is high exposure due to inhalation of glues and solvents (Todd et al., 2007). A pair of sneakers creates 30 pounds of carbon dioxide release, which is the equivalent of keeping a 100-watt light bulb on for a week. . The carbon impact comes from the energy supply of manufacturing plants. The shoe manufacturing procedure is very energy and carbon intensive. The majority of carbon monoxide emissions come from the manufacturing sector (Soss, 2013).