TerraCycle® announces the recycling process behind ASICS’ first closed-loop product. On April 11, ASICS announced NIMBUS MIRAI™, a performance running shoe designed to be remade into new ASICS at the end of its useful life. TerraCycle’s research and development team designed the proprietary recycling process enabling ASICS to introduce its first closed-loop design.
TerraCycle’s cutting-edge process allows for the recovery and recycling of the materials used in the ASICS NIMBUS MIRAI. “This is an incredible example of collaboration between two major stakeholders in the lifecycle of a product,” said Tom Szaky, CEO & Founder of TerraCycle. “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.”
It is estimated that of the 23.9 billion pairs of shoes that are produced annually worldwide, 95% of them will become waste.1 Across 21 countries, TerraCycle 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 their complex material makeup—which may include a variety of textiles, rubber, foam, fibers and more, that are often glued or stitched together. TerraCycle’s cutting-edge process allows for the recovery and recycling of the materials used in the ASICS NIMBUS MIRAI—from sole to shoelace.
“The footwear industry has yet to come up with an adequate solution to this waste problem,” said Fumitaka Kamifukumoto, ASICS General Manager, Footwear Production Division. “We’ve done extensive research, and we’re proud to announce a performance running shoe designed with materials that can be worn and re-worn, ending the single-use lifecycle of our products.”