Modular safety shoe unlocks circular industry standard
Work shoes are typically replaced every 9 to 12 months. Not always because they’re worn out or smell a bit, but because safety regulations require it. As a result, around 250 million pairs of safety shoes are discarded each year, 90% of which end up in landfill. Together with Emma Safety Footwear, we explored a different approach: what if work shoes were designed for circularity from the start? The goal was to prototype a shoe that not only meets safety standards, but also demonstrates how circular design can function in practice, and what it could look like.
Conventional work shoes are made from multiple materials that are permanently glued together, including essential safety components like toe caps and puncture-resistant layers. In many cases, a single defect in one part leads to the disposal of the entire shoe. By rethinking this construction, we designed a system where all components are mechanically connected rather than glued. This allows the shoe to be easily taken apart, making it possible to repair or replace only the worn or damaged parts, extending the lifespan of the product and reducing its environmental impact.
This shoe is built from three distinct layers: sole, upper and sock, each made from a single material. This monomaterial approach simplifies recycling: each part can be separated, processed, and reintroduced into the production cycle. By combining modular design with material simplicity, the shoe becomes not just a product, but part of a continuous loop.
Circularity is not just about materials and construction, it’s also about mindset. By designing for disassembly, we encourage a shift from ownership to stewardship. Users are invited to take care of their products, to repair rather than replace, and to see value in longevity. Companies can adopt renting or leasing systems that integrate cleaning and or repairing services.
This safety shoe concept is not a final solution, but a step forward. A tangible exploration of how design, engineering, and sustainability can come together to reshape an industry. Because creating impact doesn’t always start with a complete revolution, sometimes it begins by placing one foot in the right direction, with the right shoe.
Robert Spronken
Product Manager Emma Safety Footwear
We had a very pleasent and natural cooperation with Omvorm. Very good at conceptual thinking, rather than just the product.
Client: Emma Safety Footwear
Year: 2025
Discipline: circular strategy, product design
Project team: Selma Pašalić, Ben Hagenaars, Andrija Mihailović & Mathias De Winter