Redefining the Shoe Industry with Circularity

Our planet is drowning in waste, and the fashion industry is a significant contributor. Methods Footwear is tackling this problem head-on, reimagining how shoes are made and recycled. We interviewed the founder Véronique Pustjens-Baer, who is on a mission to create a truly circular footwear solution. 

“I have a really felt the urge to do my own little bit on tackling this [pollution]. When I became a parent, this got even more urgent,” Véronique says. Driven by a passion for sustainability and a frustration with the status quo, she’s created a shoe designed for disassembly and recycling.

Design for Disassembly

Véronique explains shoe circularity further: “if you shred a whole shoe, then you will get just a blend of different materials. That blend of materials can still be used, but they will use it, for example, for paving a sport field.” The Methods sneaker is different – it is composed of just five components, each either recyclable or biodegradable. This allows customers to easily replace worn parts, extending the shoe’s lifespan and minimizing waste. This “design for disassembly” and “design for recycling” approach ensures valuable materials can be recovered and repurposed, ideally even back into new shoe soles. 

Watch how disassembly works here.

Challenges and Vision

The journey hasn’t been without its challenges, from material sourcing to customer education. But Véronique’s vision remains clear: “to produce something beautiful that will not contribute to to the waste issue in the world.” Methods Footwear aims to inspire a shift in consumer behavior, encouraging reflection on consumption and the potential for repair and reuse. Pre-orders are now open at methodsfootwear.com, with a launch planned for May 2025.