The World Bank says the fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of global emissions, leading some brands to take stock of their outsized carbon footprints.
New Balance Athletics operates three factories in Maine and has pledged to be net zero by 2050. The company's factories churn out thousands of sneakers every day.
An MIT lifecycle assessment estimates that producing just one pair of running shoes generates 30 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. That's because it's an energy intensive process that uses cotton, leather and oil-dependent polyester. It also generates a lot of waste.
