Silver Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design · 2020
GreenPlax Footwear
- A' Design Award 2020 Silver Winner in Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Ccilu International Inc.
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 44,301
- Verification code 3A5AB21C9F · Verify this award
About GreenPlax Footwear
Trying to protect the ecosystem and the environment, as well as to leave beautiful mother earth for future generations, Ccilu spent 5 years developing GreenPlax technology and created the first-ever footwear collection made primarily out of plastic bottles retrieved from the oceans. The recycled plastic bottles are used for every major component in the shoes, uppers, insoles, and outsoles, turns the hazardous wastes into green material, moreover, the GeenPlax is bottomed-up with 100+ independent and resilient dots to deliver barefoot comfort.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Trying to protect the ecosystem and the environment, as well as to leave a beautiful mother earth for future generations, Ccilu spent 5 years developing GreenPlax technology. With GreenPlax technology Ccilu created the first-ever footwear collection made primarily out of plastic bottles retrieved from the oceans. The recycled plastic bottles are used for every major component in the shoes, including the uppers, insoles and outsoles.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- For Man's US 9: 11 mm x 29.5 mm x 10 mm for one foot. The main outsole material is "RPET" which is constituted by recycled plastic bottles from the ocean.
- Tags
- sustainability, recycle, reuse, re-purpose, Global warming, climate change, Eco-friendly, Ccilu, GreenPlax, Barefoot comfort
- Production Technology
- On average 1 pair of the GreenPlax footwear consumes 15 recycled plastic bottles. With SKIVE-ON technology, each pair of GreenPlax Renee footwear is bottomed-up with 100+ completely independent and highly resilient GreenPlax dots. The belief that both technology and lifestyle shall be sustainable has resulted in GreenPlax. A major milestone of the evolution of footwear industry.
The award-winning SKIVE-ON outsoles present the best experiences of super lightweight, barefoot comfort, flexibility, high resilience and great grip. - Design Challenge
- We overcame the difficulty of material combination between RPET and EVA to make this impossible challenge become possible to invent the first RPET outsole in the world. Entirely made from recycled plastic bottles instead of requiring petrochemical raw materials to save natural resources and reduces the burden on the environment.
- Project Duration
- The project started in April 2014 in Taiwan and finished in August 2019 in Taiwan.
- Operation Flow
- Scientific application to this practical problem:
1. Sort and clean recycled plastic bottles retrieved from the ocean.
2. Shred the recycled plastic bottles into smaller pieces.
3. Breakdown the pieces into perfectly shaped pellets.
4. Melt down the pellets and turn them into fibers. Fibers make the threads. Threads make fabric. And the fabric makes the upper part of the shoe and the lining covering Ortholite insole.
5. Mix remaining pellets with EVA and turn them into a high-performance outsole. - Research
- As research, globally 1 million plastic bottles are thrown away every minute and only 4% of them are recycled. When dumped in landfills the leached toxins cause a variety of health issues including cancer. In their final destination, they kill the ocean and lives. GreenPlax is the first-ever sneaker with every major component (upper, insole, and outsole) primarily made from recycled plastic bottles, contrastively the other footwears are merely able to use them to make some uppers fabrics.
- Inspiration
- The (IPCC) Report concluded, "It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century". The largest human influence has been the emission of greenhouse gases. Particularly more than one million plastic bottles are thrown away every minute globally and less than 4% of these are properly recycled. Others end up in landfills, lots are in the ocean eventually. Something has to be done to keep the ocean clean for future generations.
- Image Credits
- Main visual : Photographer-Alvin Liu(Product manager) / Illustrator-Joseph Chang(Creative director) / Creator-Wilson Hsu(CEO)
Optional Image #No1~4 : Photographer-Alvin Liu(Product manager) / Illustrator-Joseph Chang(Creative director) / Creator-Wilson Hsu(CEO) - Patents
- For patents: "Patented. Patent Holder-Ccilu international. Year-2019. Jurisdiction-US."
Colors of GreenPlax Footwear
Get GreenPlax Footwear
Sustainable Performance Footwear Collection
We transform ocean plastic into award-winning footwear that delivers barefoot comfort and environmental responsibility. Our patented GreenPlax technology creates lightweight, resilient shoes from recycled bottles. Join the movement for sustainable fashion.
G0E26 ShopGrand Interview about GreenPlax Footwear
The development of GreenPlax Footwear began in April 2014 with the goal of addressing the severe issue of plastic pollution. Over five years, we focused on intensive research and innovation, starting with methods to retrieve, sort, and clean ocean-recovered plastic bottles. The biggest challenge was creating a process to transform the recycled bottles into usable materials for all major shoe components. By 2019, we had successfully developed a multi-step process: shredding the bottles, converting them into pellets, and then further processing these into fibers for fabrics and threads. This extensive journey culminated in the creation of the world’s first shoe where even the outsoles, along with the uppers and insoles, are made primarily from recycled plastic bottles, demonstrating a significant leap in sustainable footwear manufacturing.
Our inspiration came from the alarming reports on the impact of plastic pollution, particularly the millions of plastic bottles discarded every minute, many of which end up in the ocean. The health and ecological consequences drove us to find a solution that not only recycles plastic but also prevents it from polluting our environment. Overcoming technical challenges involved extensive experimentation with material combinations, particularly merging RPET with EVA. We had to innovate new manufacturing techniques to ensure the materials retained high-performance characteristics such as flexibility, lightweight, and durability, while maintaining eco-friendliness.
The SKIVE-ON technology is a groundbreaking design that incorporates over 100 independent, resilient dots in the outsole, enhancing comfort by mimicking the sensation of walking barefoot. This ensures excellent flexibility, lightweight performance, and grip, which are essential for modern footwear. These dots are made using a blend of recycled plastic pellets and EVA, staying true to our eco-friendly mission. The design reduces material usage while maintaining structural integrity, further enhancing the product’s sustainability without compromising user comfort.
We approached the process methodically, starting with sorting and cleaning the bottles to ensure high-quality raw material. Then, we shredded the bottles into smaller pieces, which were converted into perfectly shaped pellets. These pellets were processed further into fibers for fabric production and also mixed with EVA for the outsole. Each step was refined through rigorous testing to ensure that the final materials met both environmental standards and performance requirements. Collaboration with material scientists and engineers played a critical role in optimizing the process to maintain consistent quality and sustainability.
Scaling this technology involves building partnerships with organizations focused on ocean cleanup and expanding our recycling infrastructure to process larger volumes of plastic waste. Additionally, we plan to streamline the manufacturing process to increase efficiency and reduce costs. By collaborating with retailers and eco-conscious brands, we aim to make GreenPlax technology a standard for sustainable footwear. Our goal is to expand the application of this technology to other types of footwear and accessories, further amplifying its environmental impact while preserving our commitment to performance and quality.
The breakthrough came after years of trial and error in material blending. The primary challenge was achieving the right balance between RPET’s structural properties and EVA’s flexibility and cushioning. The turning point was discovering a specific temperature and processing technique that allowed the two materials to bond effectively without compromising their individual qualities. This innovation enabled us to mold RPET into durable outsoles, marking a major milestone in sustainable footwear technology.
Winning the Silver A’ Design Award brought widespread attention to the possibilities of sustainable design, inspiring industry leaders to rethink their reliance on virgin materials. GreenPlax Footwear has demonstrated that recycled materials can deliver both performance and aesthetic appeal. It has set a new benchmark for eco-friendly manufacturing, encouraging competitors and collaborators alike to prioritize sustainability and innovate in their production methods.
Balancing environmental concerns with material science required a clear vision and interdisciplinary collaboration. We conducted thorough research into the lifecycle of plastic waste and its environmental impact while simultaneously developing innovative methods to repurpose this waste into high-performance materials. The team maintained a focus on commercial viability by incorporating consumer feedback and emphasizing comfort, durability, and style. This ensured that the product appealed to eco-conscious buyers without compromising on market competitiveness.
For the next generation, we aim to further optimize material efficiency, reduce the energy footprint of our manufacturing process, and explore additional recycled materials. We’re also looking into biodegradable alternatives and ways to enhance the recyclability of GreenPlax Footwear itself. Future designs may incorporate smart features for improved functionality, keeping sustainability at the core of our innovation.
GreenPlax Footwear is proof that sustainability and performance can coexist, setting a new standard for the industry. We anticipate that our technology will drive a shift toward the widespread adoption of recycled materials and sustainable practices. By proving the commercial and ecological benefits of sustainable footwear, GreenPlax encourages other brands to invest in eco-friendly innovation. We hope this will lead to industry-wide changes, from sourcing and production to consumer education and end-of-life recycling.