Chemelot Innovation and Learning Labs

In 2021, the CFA, and therefore Allshoes, joined forces with Chemelot Innovation and Learning Labs (CHILL). A Circular Space exists in this lab: a learning and working environment concerned with the sustainability and recycling theme.

CHILL links education and the business sector to learn from each other professionally and to innovate together. Together with students at Maastricht University and operators from CHILL, we are researching how we can best separate mono-materials and put them back on the market at a level that is of the highest possible quality.

The Circular Space has all kinds of equipment to return used materials to production chains including a complete dismantling line. This dismantling line makes it possible to dismantle safety footwear and then to separate and sort the materials.

We have already found the next application for much of the raw materials recovered. Metal safety noses are melted down into another metal and material from uppers is reworked into insulation material. At this time, it is not yet possible to use materials from used safety footwear to produce new safety footwear. However, the collaboration between CHILL and the CFA means that the time at which this can be done is getting closer. And therefore our aim to have a fully circular product range with an as small as possible footprint as well.