Terracycle to process recyclable ASICS shoe model

In an effort to improve shoe recycling, TerraCycle will be involved in the recycling process for global athletic shoe producer ASICS Corp.'s first closed-loop product.

Earlier this month, ASICS debuted its Nimbus Mirai running shoe designed to be easily recycled at the end of its useful life, and TerraCycle's research and development team designed the recycling process enabling ASICS to introduce the recycling-friendly design.

“This is an incredible example of collaboration between two major stakeholders in the life cycle of a product,” TerraCycle founder and CEO Tom Szaky says. “ASICS is the driving force behind the closed-loop initiative and TerraCycle’s innovative closed-loop recycling process allows athletes and consumers across the world to know their running shoes will be recycled into new shoes and not sent to landfills or incinerators.”

Trenton, New Jersey-based Terracycle cites an estimate that of the 23.9 billion pairs of shoes that are produced annually worldwide, 95 percent of them will go unrecycled. In 21 countries, The company is on a mission to eliminate "the idea of waste” and has developed “innovative solutions for today’s complex waste challenges.”

Running shoes are not easily recycled because of a material makeup that may include a variety of textiles, rubber, foam, fibers and other materials that are often glued or stitched together.

“The footwear industry has yet to come up with an adequate solution to this waste problem,” says Fumitaka Kamifukumoto, general manager at Japan-based ASICS. “We’ve done extensive research, and we’re proud to announce a performance running shoe designed with materials that can be worn and reworn, ending the single-use life cycle of our products.”

Nimbus Mirai model shoes are available in stores and online in some regional markets.

ASICS shoe owners in applicable regions who wish to recycle their used and worn out Nimbus Mirai shoes can get instructions on the ASICS website, in a process that involves returning their shoes using a provided shipping label or bringing them to designated retail stores.

TerraCycle then will recycle the materials into new ASICS Nimbus Mirai shoes and other products.