Every year, billions of shoes are produced, generating an astonishing amount of manufacturing waste—scraps, trimmings, and dust from cutting and shaping processes. Particularly concerning is foam waste from shoe midsoles: the industry discards approximately 344,000 tons annually, enough material to produce 2.5 billion midsoles. Most of this high-quality foam ends up in landfills, where it takes decades to decompose, releasing harmful chemicals like methane in the process.
This challenge is precisely why companies like Yooretex are committed to advancing T2T recycling (textile-to-textile) as a core solution for a circular economy. By focusing on recycling textile waste at its source, Yooretex aims to reduce the industry's dependency on virgin fossil-based materials and prevent waste from reaching landfills—an ethos strongly aligned with the vision behind the new Remix collection by Allbirds.
Enter Allbirds, a global lifestyle brand committed to making better things in a better way. Their latest innovation, the Remix collection, is a testament to this mission. Developed through a pioneering collaboration with Blumaka, a leader in transforming recycled foam into world-class footwear, and Circ, an innovator in T2T recycling, the Remix line exemplifies a circular approach to manufacturing. By repurposing mixed textile waste and foam scraps into entirely new shoes, this initiative not only reduces manufacturing waste but also diminishes the reliance on virgin fossil-based materials.
Complementing this innovation is Circ's revolutionary hydrothermal process, which enables the separation and recovery of cotton and polyester from polycotton textile waste.
The Remix styles are the first shoes in the world to incorporate Circ's T2T recycling materials, resulting in uppers that offer a luxurious look and feel while matching or even surpassing the quality of virgin synthetics. This accomplishment reflects a broader industry shift toward material circularity—a mission also embraced by Yooretex, which specializes in transforming post-industrial and post-consumer textile waste into new high-quality materials through advanced T2T recycling technologies.
Through collaborations like these, Allbirds, Blumaka, and Circ are not just reducing waste—they are redefining manufacturing, proving that sustainability and excellence can go hand in hand. Companies like Yooretex, with their dedicated focus on T2T recycling and reducing manufacturing waste, play an essential role in this ecosystem, turning what was once considered waste into valuable resources for tomorrow.