Study on the state of the art of footwear recycling

Footwear is an extremely complex product due to its composition and the different elements that make it up. While material identification is an essential prerequisite for the industrialisation of footwear recycling, solutions are being developed in France and Europe. Here are the key findings of our study on ‘The state of the art of shoe recycling in Europe’. 
 

Solutions for recycling soles in Europe

While the recycling of textiles (clothing and household linen) is well established, the recycling of footwear remains less developed because of the complexity of the products: multiple materials often linked together, difficulties in identifying materials, etc. 
In 2023, footwear accounted for almost 17% of the tonnage (148,675 tonnes) of CHF (Clothing Textiles, Household Linen and Footwear) placed on the French market, underlining the urgent need to develop appropriate solutions.


Focus on soles

  • Different processes are used depending on the materials and outlets targeted:

  • Grinding: reduction to granules or flakes.

  • Micronisation: size reduction down to the micron scale (very fine powders).

  • Mechanical extrusion/recycling: melting and homogenisation of thermoplastics.

  • Devulcanisation: return of rubber to its original form.

  • Dereticulation: a process equivalent to devulcanisation, but for PU and EVA.

  • Formulation: integrating recycled materials into virgin materials to create new products with targeted properties.

 

Actors in footwear recycling

Recycling players in France and Europe can be divided into four categories: 

  • Technical centres/ Innovation centres

  • Recycling processors

  • Incorporators of recycled materials

  • Machine manufacturers

 

The recycling scenarios studied

In order to test different technologies for recycling materials from soles and assess the feasibility of incorporating recycled materials in a closed loop, three scenarios were selected for the study: 

  1. Extrusion/injection for recycling SBS soles

  2. Micronisation for rubber soles

  3. Devulcanisation, also for rubber soles

 

Find out more

Discover our study on the state of art of recycling solutions for shoe soles in Europe.

 

 

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Refashion is the Textile industry's eco-organisation (clothing, household linen and footwear). Its role is to oversee the prevention and end-of-life management of these items for the companies which place them on the market.

Central to the industry's eco-system, Refashion is accompanying the transformation towards the circular economy whilst providing services to the various stakeholders: marketers, collection and sorting operators, local and public authorities, project developers, the general public.

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pro.refashion.fr

Refashion is the Textile industry's eco-organisation (clothing, household linen and footwear). Its role is to oversee the prevention and end-of-life management of these items for the companies which place them on the market.

Central to the industry's eco-system, Refashion is accompanying the transformation towards the circular economy whilst providing services to the various stakeholders: marketers, collection and sorting operators, local and public authorities, project developers, the general public.

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