TireFlops: sandals made from used tires
Spanish company creates slippers made from upcycling of old tires
With more than a billion tires produced annually in the world, disposal has become a headache. As it is not biodegradable, the most sustainable and correct way is to recycle them, otherwise they are usually burned or dumped in dumps... Then you've seen what happens, right? Even dangerous mosquitoes, such as the transmitter of dengue, Aedes aegypti, can proliferate.
THE TireFlops is a rubber sandal that helps provide a sustainable alternative to tires, as it uses them as a raw material. After a year of research, the team formed mainly by engineers and chemists from the GomoVial, created a deconstruction process that maintains the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the tire, without wasting energy in the processes of melting or crushing the matter.
The creators took advantage of the investments made by the tire industry, which creates more and more resistant and non-stick items, and inserted such gains to make quality shoes. Used tires are also sourced locally, avoiding energy waste in transport.
You TireFlops they have three components: a black strip of 15% recycled rubber, which engineers say is more elastic to ensure greater comfort and safety; the spongy layer made of EVA, specifically designed to reduce slippage when in contact with water (ideal for use on beaches, swimming pools or any wet environment); and the sole, made from old, discarded tires.
According to the creators, the product is not transformed, but deconstructed and applied again. Not to mention that each user will have an interesting and unique sand footprint, as each tire has a different brand.
According to the company, there are several possibilities for using the tire reuse product. There is, within the company, the possibility of expanding production to other types of shoes, such as shoes and sneakers.
The company managed to fund the first wave of the project through crowdfunding. Visit the official website and check out the video below to understand more about the product.
