Boronia brand Etiko starts take-back program to recycle old shoes

A Melbourne fashion brand is taking its commitment to sustainability a step further by recycling shoes and giving them a surprising new life. Here’s what’s becoming of those old sneakers.

Etiko founder and director Nick Savaidis announces the brand’s take-back program to recycle old shoes.

An ethical clothing company is taking its commitment to sustainable fashion a step further by recycling old shoes.

Fashion label Etiko has started a take-back program, which will enable the brand’s old shoe soles and thongs to be reborn as outdoor furniture, though a partnership with Melbourne business Save Our Soles.

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Etiko founder Nick Savaidis said the long-term goal was to turn the old soles into new shoes.

He also planned to introduce a take-back program for the fashion label’s clothes.

“This is the latest step we have taken to create a circular business model in our brand,” Mr Savaidis said.

“For years we have striven to minimise our packaging and seek opportunities at all levels of the supply chain to choose environmentally sustainable materials.”

Catherine Conway, Nick Savaidis, Clive Marriot and Carmen Ceniza at the Etiko store in Boronia.

“Our new take-back program allows us to take further responsibility for our impact by reusing our products at the end of their life.”

Customers who return their preloved footwear to Etiko’s store in Boronia will receive a $10 gift voucher for every pair of sneakers and a $5 voucher for each pair of thongs.

Etiko was the first non-food brand to receive Fairtrade certification in the Pacific region.

It won a Human Rights Award in 2016 and routinely receives the highest ranking for ethical production every year the Australian Ethical Fashion Report.