FOOTWEAR RECYCLING NATIONAL
MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA
By IFAB MEDIA - NEWS BUREAU - June 6, 2024 | 69 4 minutes read
In association with ReCircle and other partners, METRO Brands focusses on the processing of old footwear in an eco-friendly manner through the 'Old Discarded Footwear' (ODF) initiative.
Metro Brands Limited, one of India's largest footwear retailers, has spearheaded a groundbreaking initiative to process old, discarded footwear (ODF) in an eco-friendly manner and tackle significant environmental challenges. Since 2021, in partnership with a couple of implementing partners, Metro Brands has advanced national and global climate action goals while setting a new industry standard.
This initiative addresses the pressing climate issues intensified by the rapid growth of the footwear industry. The industry's growth has led to millions of shoes ending up in landfills each year. Metro Brands and ReCircle — a clean-tech resource recovery innovator (one of the major implementing partners) — counter this problem with a robust mechanism to process discarded footwear in an eco-friendly manner, aiming to reduce waste, lower emissions, promote a circular economy, and achieve self-sustainability through clear, quantifiable targets. In FY 2021–22, Metro Brands initiated a small pilot project and processed 5% ODF in an eco-friendly manner vis-à-vis the fresh pairs of footwear that they sold. In FY 2022–23, they increased the coverage to 25%. By FY 2023–24, the brand achieved a coverage of around 50%. Of this, ReCircle contributed by processing 1300 tons of ODF.
Aziz Fidai, Head CSR and Sustainability for Metro
Rahul Nainani, CEO & Co-Founder, ReCircle, sa
With an annual production of 21 billion pairs of shoes for a global population of around 8 billion, the disposal of old footwear has become a critical environmental concern. ODF, often neglected and improperly disposed of, ends up in landfills and oceans, exacerbating environmental degradation. The project helps informal waste workers (Safai Saathis) earn more, grow businesses, and create jobs while keeping old shoes out of landfills
Last year, Metro Brands achieved a coverage of 50% on the eco-friendly processing of ODF, relative to the fresh footwear pairs sold, aiming for 75% coverage this year and comprehensive coverage by FY 25–26. This ambitious goal aligns with the urgency of climate action, striving for operational independence on a zero-cost basis and echoing the essence of global climate goals focused on self-sustainability. Looking ahead, Metro Brands envisions a future where the entire footwear industry adopts similar sustainable practices, significantly reducing its environmental footprint and contributing to a healthier planet.