A Miami-based startup is taking on the task of footwear recycling with the help of AI.
Sneaker Impact has invested in technology that helps sort and deconstruct shoes and apparel down to their raw materials, which can then be used to create new products.
The company recently unveiled an AutoSort machine which relies on artificial intelligence and optical sensors to identify materials, from textiles and meshes to foam and rubber, and separate them for recycling. Sneaker Impact uses an industrial grinder to transform the discarded into foam flakes and fabric fluff which it sends to recycling partners.
“While in its early stages, our AI-driven program holds the promise to reshape the way we think about product lifecycles,” founder Moe Hachem said in a statement. “We envision a future where shoes and apparel are repurposed into new products, reducing waste and minimizing our ecological footprint.” The company continues to refine its AutoSort technology with the goal of achieving 95-percent purity in material output, which is required for most recyclers of materials like EVA foam, rubber, polyester and cotton.
Sneaker Impact collects unwanted footwear from consumers using drop-off boxes located at partner retailers, as well as by mail using pre-paid shipping bags that can fit up to seven pairs of shoes. Salvageable pairs are sold for a fraction of their retail value to global microenterprises from Africa to Central America and South America, where they are refurbished by artisans and small-business owners and sold on local markets. Sneakers that are past their prime—with worn-out treads or rips and tears—are processed through the AutoSort machine and deconstructed, their inputs destined for fabric recyclers or industrial uses.
Courtesy of Sneaker Impact
Sneaker Impact also announced strategic partnerships with the Running Industry Association (RIA), which supports retailers and brands that sell running footwear, as well as the Low Impact Alliance (LIA), a collective of brands, retailers and running enthusiasts advocating for a more sustainable running industry. “These new partnerships underscore the company’s commitment to collaboration and innovation within the sustainable running and retail landscape,” Sneaker Impact said.
The group will showcase its technology at The Running Event (TRE) in Austin, Texas this November, with the aim of connecting with brands, retailers, industry professionals and the public to drum up support for the project. “As Sneaker Impact continues to develop and refine its AutoSort material dissection and separation program, the company remains steadfast in its mission to drive sustainable change and more circular economies on a local and global scale, benefiting not only its partners but also the planet and its inhabitants,” it said.