Anima Launched Recyclable Sneaker Line
The startup uses a new recycling system to convert worn-out footwear into raw materials for future production.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Environmental
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Anima has launched two recyclable sneaker models, the Atomic RT and Mercury RT, which utilize the proprietary 4EVERLOOP system. The brand is currently negotiating to license this circular manufacturing technology to 15 major footwear companies.
Why it matters
The venture seeks to mitigate the footwear industry's significant waste footprint, where approximately 23 billion of the 24.3 billion pairs produced annually are sent to landfills or burned. Anima holds an exclusive lifetime license to the technology, which was developed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute.
The 4EVERLOOP system processes recycled plastic bottles and polyester textiles into ESTERE material, which now comprises 50% of the content in new pairs. Developers validated the durability of the process through testing 11,000 midsoles and 20,000 outsoles.
The players
Anima
A footwear brand focused on circular manufacturing and the exclusive licensing of recycling technologies.
Industrial Technology Research Institute
A Taiwan-based applied research organization that developed the core recycling technology used by Anima.
The details
Anima constructs its sneakers using a recycled-polyester base designed for end-of-life recovery. When customers return worn-out shoes for a £20 credit, the footwear is shredded and melted into pellets, then shipped to Taiwan for production re-entry. This process allows the raw materials to cycle through manufacturing again, moving away from the industry-standard linear production model.
Timeline
September 2026: Anima sneaker brand launched.
2036: Anima envisions a multi-brand house of circularity store.
The Tech Race
This development follows a pattern established by the 4EVERLOOP recycling system to transition the footwear industry toward a circular economy. Anima is currently competing to prove that high-volume, closed-loop material recovery is viable at the scale of 24.3 billion annual units.
Customers can currently purchase the Atomic RT for £179 or the Mercury RT for £169. Participants receive a £20 credit toward a new pair when they return their worn-out Anima sneakers for recycling.
The takeaway
The success of this circular model will depend on Anima's ability to successfully scale its licensing agreements with global footwear majors. Watch the progress of these 15 ongoing licensing negotiations as a key indicator of whether the technology can reach mass-market adoption.
Further reading
For broader trends in material science and sustainable manufacturing, see our Environmental section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by British GQ.
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