BEEN x FastFeetGrinded
Discover our proof of concept capsule collection with FastFeetGrinded using post-consumer footwear as a starting point.
The Issue With Post-Consumer Footwear
Almost 25 billion shoes are produced every year. Most of them are made of multiple materials - rubbers, plastics, metals and a whole mix of textiles - all stitched and glued together. This multitude of materials is what is problematic for footwear recycling. Separating materials from each other is always costly and often impossible due to all the glue holding all those elements together.
About the Partnership
We partnered with the Netherlands-based FastFeetGrinded, the world’s first shoe recycling company capable of transforming post-consumer footwear into new materials. Our partners have developed the first ever proprietary, patented technology that can deconstruct and separate used shoes into new raw materials such as rubber, foam, andtextiles, and for the first time into post-consumer leather sheets, demonstrating the potential for a truly circular fashion industry. What we wanted to do at BEEN is showcase that these new materials can be used to create a new product.
“Every year, 24 billion shoes are produced, and 95% end up in landfills or are incinerated. That’s not just waste, it’s lost potential. With our technology, we’ve proven that even post-consumer shoe leather can be given a second life as high-quality material. This collection is the proof that circular design at scale is within reach.”
Danny Pormes, founder and CEO of FastFeetGrinded.
Made Entirely From Shoes
Working closely with FFG we created the proof of concept capsule collection to demonstrate that post-consumer leather can be successfully recycled into a new, high-quality material, highlighting the potential for a truly circular fashion industry.
Post-Consumer Leather Recycling
Although materials known as "recycled leather" have been around for over a decade, they have always relied on pre-consumer tannery trimmings. Post-consumer leather, a significantsource of waste, has remained a challenging problem to solve—until now.
The Pilot Collection
The new collection, which includes a tote bag, laptop case, and cardholder, was designed by BEEN to showcase the full-circle process. The durable leather sheets are made from old shoe leather, the soft textile interior comes from recycled shoe uppers, and the foam-like padding is sourced from recycled soles.
"Partnering with FFG allowed us to create a collection that is a powerful statement. We're not just making beautiful accessories; we're showing that even the most complex materials can be given a second life. This is the first time we've been able to create leather-to-leather products from used consumer goods, and we are incredibly proud to be at the forefront of this innovation."
Genia Mineeva, founder of BEEN
