The EU has issued the world’s strictest environmental regulations on safety shoes, which will be fully implemented from 2026

Brussels, March 15, 2025 – The European Commission today officially adopted the Personal Protective Equipment Sustainability Directive (PPE-SD), which is considered the world’s most stringent environmental standard for safety shoes and is expected to have a profound impact on the global manufacturing industry.

Core requirements of the new regulations
Material restrictions: From January 2026, all safety shoes sold in the EU must contain at least 30% recyclable or bio-based materials, and the use of harmful chemicals such as short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is prohibited.

Carbon footprint label: France and Germany will take the lead in piloting the “carbon label” system, requiring companies to disclose carbon emissions data for each pair of safety shoes from raw materials to waste treatment.

Recyclable design: The sole and upper must be separable for easy recycling and reduce waste landfill.

Industry response
Leading companies are actively deploying: Germany’s UVEX Group has launched the EcoSteel Pro series, which uses recycled polyester fiber uppers and bio-based polyurethane soles, reducing carbon emissions by 42% compared to traditional products.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are under pressure: Diadora Safety, a traditional Italian safety shoe manufacturer, said that the new regulations may cause production costs to rise by 15%-20%, and some low-end product lines may withdraw from the EU market.

Expert comments
Elena Rodriguez, Secretary General of the International Safety Equipment Alliance (ISEA), said: “The new EU regulations are not only environmental protection requirements, but will also promote the green upgrade of the global supply chain. In the next three years, companies that do not meet the standards may be squeezed out of the European market.”