Sustainable footwear startup Rens Original has secured more than US$200,000 in funding via Kickstarter to manufacture its 100% waterproof sneakers – which are made using recycled coffee grounds.
The Finnish company netted 100% of its funding target in just 24 hours, according to a recent blog post, and has far surpassed its $15,143 Kickstarter target, with 26 days remaining of its campaign.
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The manufacturing process for its Rens sneakers use recycled coffee grounds and recycled plastic.
“The process of making Rens sneakers starts with infusing coffee ground into plastic pellets and spinning that mixture into a polymer yarn,” the firm explains on its website. “That yarn is then knitted on a waterproof membrane, ensuring that your feet will stay dry in any conditions. And as a bonus, coffee has natural antibacterial qualities, preventing your shoes from smelling.
“Each pair of Rens uses the waste from 21 cups of coffee and six plastic bottles. Additionally, our minimalist design allows our manufacturing process to use fewer resources and generate less waste. Rens has 80% less impact on the environment than leather shoes and 60% less than textile ones.”
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The coffee, it says, creates micro pockets that trap odours and allow the outer layer of the shoe to dry 200% faster than standard, functional polyester.
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By GlobalDataWhat’s more, coffee has UV-blocking properties meaning colours stay brighter longer and is also antimicrobial, making it a great disinfectant.
According to the Rens website, 66 pounds (30 kilos) of spent coffee grounds are recycled for every hundred pairs of sneakers manufactured. Material from six plastic bottles is also used in making a single pair of Ren sneakers.
It also explains that less than 10% of all coffee waste is composted or repurposed. When used coffee grounds end up in landfills, they emit methane, a greenhouse gas that is 30 times more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
