The partnership aims to improve sustainability in retail by providing solutions for recycling non-resellable footwear, supporting Extended Producer Responsibility.
ReBound Returns has entered into a partnership with ESO RECYCLING aimed at enhancing circular economy solutions for retailers, with a special focus on supporting compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This collaboration is designed to provide retailers using ReBound’s omnichannel returns management solutions the ability to utilize ESO RECYCLING’s services to recycle non-resellable footwear items, thereby producing new materials from returned products that cannot be sold again.
ReBound is known for managing over 100 million return transactions annually for a wide array of global brands. The company combines advanced technology with logistical capabilities to facilitate the management and monitoring of the entire lifecycle of product returns. In alignment with this initiative, ESO RECYCLING specializes in material recovery and recycling, working to transform waste into usable resources by collecting materials from sectors such as sports, fashion, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
The partnership broadens the scope of recyclable items within ReBound’s portfolio, now including non-resellable footwear. For instance, returned sports shoes that cannot be sold will be processed by ESO RECYCLING, which converts them into valuable materials that can be used in community-focused projects, including creating shock-absorbing surfaces for playgrounds and athletics tracks.
The operational synergy between ReBound and ESO RECYCLING facilitates access to footwear recycling through a reliable partner for returns and takebacks. This service is accessible across Europe due to ReBound’s extensive network, offering clients enhanced operational efficiency. Furthermore, the initiative aims to lower CO2 emissions by repurposing old footwear materials rather than producing new raw materials from scratch.
In addition to their operational capabilities, the partnership seeks to support compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility for textiles. ESO RECYCLING will help convert waste into reusable materials, thus improving circularity in reverse logistics. This also enhances the traceability of materials, providing insights into the lifecycle of items that would typically end up in landfills. Consequently, retailers can make better-informed decisions to minimize the environmental footprint of their products.
Nicolas Meletiou, the founder and managing director of ESO RECYCLING, stated, “We believe that no material should go to waste. Our partnership with ReBound marks a significant step toward making this vision a reality for the footwear industry. Through our scientifically proven processes and proprietary technologies, developed in collaboration with universities and research partners, we transform non-resellable returns into high-value secondary materials.” He highlighted that since 2009, his company has successfully recycled sports waste under the esosport brand and is now extending their efforts in collaboration with ReBound to help retailers achieve their sustainability goals.
Jelle Schoenmaker, managing director of ReBound, also commented on the partnership, saying, “At ReBound, we are committed to driving innovation in returns management to enhance efficiencies, reduce waste and support sustainability. Our partnership with ESO RECYCLING is an exciting step forward.” He emphasized the importance of ensuring that even non-resellable and non-reusable items are repurposed, indicating that the initiative provides retailers with more sustainable solutions and supports the goal of establishing a circular economy.
The joint offering made available through this collaboration is geared towards both new and existing ReBound customers who are looking to strengthen their sustainability initiatives while enhancing their capabilities in circularity and reverse logistics.
Source: Noah Wire Services
