A new innovative footwear from Amsterdam uses recycled chewing gum in a bid to help clean the streets of the city. “Gumshoe“, which is a collaboration between designer Explicit Wear, city marketing organization I amsterdam, and sustainability company Gumdrop, uses about 1 kilogram of chewing gum for every four pairs of shoes.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiBxQuqHlVs/?taken-by=explicitwear
The soles of the shoes are made from Gum-Tec, a recyclable compound produced by Gumdrop that is made up of 20 percent chewing gum. Gumshoe soles feature a map of Amsterdam and are as strong as normal rubber—with the added bonus that they smell like gum.
“We discovered gum is made from a synthetic rubber. And by breaking down these properties, we were able to create a new type of rubber,” Gumdrop managing director and designer Anna Bullus said.
“By looking at waste differently we can find solutions that will bring change to help keep our planet clean,” she added.
According to the Gumshoe website, 1.5 million kilograms of gum ends up on the streets of Netherlands every year, making it the second most common litter after cigarettes. The materials for Gum-tec are sourced from Gumdrop bins, which are small containers located in public spaces where people can leave their used gum instead of tossing it on the ground.
“With these shoes, we take a step closer towards gum-free streets and at the same time, create awareness among gum users without being preachy,” said Mustafa Tanriverdi from the Amsterdam marketing and investments department.
Gumshoe comes in two colors: bubblegum pink and black with red soles. It is currently available for pre-order and will be rolled out to the market by June. The website lists €199,95 as its original price but the shoes are currently available for €49,95.
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