An integrated CRITIC-TOPSIS framework for the optimal material selection of natural fibre reinforced composite cap toe shoes

The growing demand for lightweight, high performance, and environmentally sustainable personal protective equipment has driven the need for advanced alternatives to conventional metallic cap toe shoes materials. Although, metallic inserts provide excellent impact resistance, they are associated with excessive weight, reduce ergonomic comfort, and significant environmental burden. Furthermore, the application of natural fibre reinforced composite (NFRC) in cap toe shoes remains limited due to the absence of a systematic and reliable material selection framework capable of addressing multiple conflicting criteria, including mechanical strength, density, and sustainability. This study aims to develop a validated and systematic decision making framework for identifying the optimal NFRC materials for cap toe shoes application. An integrated Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) model combining the Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) method and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was employed to enable objective criteria weighting and robust material ranking. The evaluation considers key performance attributes such as impact resistance, density and environmental sustainability. To enhance robustness and practical applicability, the framework is further integrated with the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle and implemented using a MATLAB computational model. The top ranked composite material was subsequently analysed using explicit dynamic Finite Element Analysis in ANSYS to evaluate stress distribution, deformation behaviour, and energy absorption under standardised impact conditions. The results identified Ijuk as the potential natural fibre (Pi = 0.5082) and Polyethylene as the most suitable polymer matrix (Pi = 0.6013). The FEA results demonstrated low stress concentration and controlled deformation, confirming the structural suitability of the selected composite under impact loading. Sensitivity analysis further verified the stability and reliability of the ranking outcomes. This study delivers a comprehensive and reliable decision support tool for sustainable material selection in cap toe shoes and aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).