Unlacing the Waste: How One Dutch Company Is Redefining Shoe Recycling

A Global Problem Hiding in Your Closet

Every year, the world produces over 50 billion pairs of shoes—enough to circle the planet’s equator 25 times if laid heel to toe. From the cushioned soles of Nike Airs to the high-performance designs of Adidas and Asics, shoes are crafted to endure thousands of steps. Ironically, the very features that make them durable also make them nearly impossible to recycle.

The result? Mountains of discarded shoes—millions ending up in landfills, incinerators, or exported as waste to developing countries. Their materials—rubber, synthetic foam, nylon mesh, polyester lining, and strong adhesives—are fused into one stubborn, non-recyclable whole. Even the most advanced recycling centers often give up and turn them into low-grade filler or fuel, far from the ideals of a circular economy.

But a breakthrough from the Netherlands is giving hope—and traction—to a future where shoes can truly go full circle.

The Dutch Disruption: FastFeetGrinded

Enter FastFeetGrinded, a Dutch startup that has engineered a closed-loop system for shoe recycling—one that deconstructs and reprocesses every part of a used shoe, regardless of brand, size, or model.

Instead of simply shredding shoes into indistinguishable waste, FastFeetGrinded runs them through a sophisticated multi-stage process that:

Identifies and sorts materials (rubber, foam, textile, plastic)

Grinds each layer independently

Repurposes components into new products like flooring, playgrounds, mats, or even future shoes

This isn’t just another "downcycle" solution. Their goal is high-value recycling—recovering functional, reusable material streams that can feed back into the manufacturing ecosystem. It’s as if the sole, insole, fabric upper, and glue are given new lives, separated and ready to become new forms again.

In the words of the company’s founder: “Our goal isn’t just recycling—it’s reshaping the future of how we make and unmake products.”

How They Do It Differently

What makes FastFeetGrinded stand apart?

✅ Handles complex, multi-material shoes (not just specially designed recyclable ones)

✅ Works with any brand—not locked into proprietary systems

✅ Partners with municipalities and retailers for local collection and sorting

✅ Provides transparent material breakdowns to clients (e.g., “this batch contains 48% foam, 36% rubber, 12% textile…”)

And it’s working. Pilot programs across Europe are collecting thousands of shoes, diverting waste from landfills and feeding it back into the manufacturing economy. The model is so effective that major athletic brands are now watching—and even collaborating.

Global Momentum: Others Trying to Solve the Same Problem

FastFeetGrinded isn’t alone in this race. Several companies are also pushing the boundaries of shoe sustainability:

🌀 Adidas FUTURECRAFT LOOP

A 100% recyclable performance shoe made from a single material (TPU).

After use, the entire shoe is ground down, melted, and remade into a new shoe.

Limitation: Still in small-batch pilots and high production cost.

👟 On Running’s Cyclon

A subscription model where runners return old shoes in exchange for new ones.

Made from castor beans, the shoes are lightweight, bio-based, and recyclable.

Innovative, but limited to one model.

♻️ Nike Grind / Reuse-A-Shoe

Nike collects worn-out sneakers and grinds them into sport surfaces, turf, and midsoles.

While impactful, this is downcycling, not truly circular reuse.

The Achilles Heel of the Industry

Despite these efforts, the core problem remains: Most shoes are still designed to be discarded, not disassembled.

Mixed materials

Strong adhesives

Inaccessible design (glued vs. stitched)

Limited consumer return systems

To move forward, brands must start designing for disassembly, and governments must support recycling infrastructure and policy. Consumers, too, must shift from a mindset of “wear and toss” to one of “wear and return.”

Walking Toward a Sustainable Future: From Landfill to Legacy

Footwear waste isn’t just an environmental nuisance—it’s a symbol of industrial inefficiency. When a product as common and essential as a shoe can’t be responsibly retired, we are left walking circles in a linear economy.

Companies like FastFeetGrinded show that change is possible. With vision, engineering, and cooperation, we can close the loop, walk lighter on the planet, and give new meaning to the phrase: "Leave only footprints."

Resources & Further Reading

📺 FastFeetGrinded 👉Jet Suit–style Recycling Spotlight (YouTube

👟 Adidas 👉 FUTURECRAFT LOOP Circular Shoe Project

🌱 On Running Cyclon 👉 Subscription-Based Recycling

♻️ Nike 👉 Grind Program

📘 Ellen MacArthur Foundation: 👉 Circular Economy in Fashion

If you found this article insightful, consider sharing it or tagging a brand you'd like to see go circular. Every step matters.

Read more >> Blog | EP Resource Page, or search for more interesting or related blogs.