Every year, over 20 billion pairs of shoes are manufactured worldwide. The vast majority of these shoes are destined for landfills, where their synthetic components, toxic adhesives, and composite materials can take upwards of 400 years to decompose. The traditional linear model of "take, make, waste" is no longer viable.
The Problem with Glued Shoes
Traditional recycling facilities struggle with footwear because separating materials that have been permanently glued together is nearly impossible. Leather, nylon, rubber, and polyurethane end up melted into a low-grade plastic mix with limited reuse value. That's why recyclability must be built directly into the blueprint of the shoe.
Designing for Circularity
By eliminating glue from the assembly process entirely, Schault makes recycling simple. When your outsole eventually wears down after hundreds of kilometers, you can simply un-snap it and send it back to us in exchange for a discount on your next sole unit.
Once received, the worn sole units are washed, shredded, and pelletized. Because the outsoles are made from pure, unadulterated thermoplastic rubber (TPR), the recycled pellets can be fed right back into our injection molding machines to create brand new sole units. This is a true closed-loop circular system.
"Our dream is a product lifecycle where zero material ever touches a landfill. We're proud to say we've reached 85% circular efficiency in our current production line."
Beyond the Product
Circularity is more than a technical recycling loop; it requires a shift in consumer behavior. By showing the world that worn-out parts can be modularly refreshed, we are empowering individuals to value longevity over fast consumption. Every snap counts towards a cleaner planet.
