Meet the Zero Waste Circular & Sustainable Sneakers - Mark Vandevelde // Founder of Komrads

Disruptors for GOOD | Social Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises

In Episode 173 of the Disruptors for Good podcast, I speak with Mark Vandevelde, Founder of Komrads, on creating zero waste circular & sustainable sneakers for the ethical fashion movement.

Komrads is a footwear brand that is based in Belgium and has been making sustainable sneakers for nearly five years.

The brand was founded by husband and wife team, Mark and Greet Vandevelde, with the goal of creating sneakers that were not only stylish but also environmentally friendly.

The shoes are made using raw materials that are recycled, certified, vegan & traceble, and are ethically manufactured in Portugal. Komrads also focuses on reducing waste by creating a closed-loop system where customers can return their old shoes to be recycled into new ones.

Of the 24.2 billion pairs of shoes manufactured globally each year, experts say that most of them (97%) end up in a landfill or incinerator, because there are simply too many shoes and not enough recycling solutions.

This means only 3% of all sneakers are given a second life.

The company collects your old Komrads Sneakers and will upcycle them into raw materials to be used in other products. Overall, Komrads is a brand that is dedicated to creating stylish and sustainable sneakers that have a positive impact on the environment and society.