Companies

Kayak Storm and its focus on sustainability

Oct 14, 2024 Portugal

Portuguese footwear manufacturer Kayak Storm has achieved GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification for some of its products. Let’s find out more about a company that has made sustainability a cornerstone of its business

With the technical support of CTCP (Portuguese Footwear Technological Centre), the Portuguese company achieved an important milestone by obtaining GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification for some of its products. These new certified models were presented at the last edition of MICAM. “The GRS certification has brought us a series of advantages in the way the company operates. It is divided into three stages: product, environmental and social”, said Pedro Lima.

“About a year ago, some customers mentioned that they needed us to get the GRS certification to continue working with us. That was our starting point. As we already have experience in manufacturing recycled footwear, and as GRS covers not only the material recycled component but also environmental and social issues, we felt it made sense to invest in this certification. It was also an opportunity to improve some internal processes that needed to be adjusted”, explains the head of the company.

The first pair of recycled shoes produced by the company is now thirteen years old. “At the time, it was an almost artisanal process because there weren’t many recycled materials available on the market. We worked closely with our suppliers to explore the possibilities. Initially, many suppliers offered minimal recycled content, claiming that consumers didn’t want the products to look recycled. However, we argued that ‘that look’ should be visible and appreciated”.

Over the years, he continued, “mindsets have changed, and we can easily source components with high recycled content, which has made our process a lot easier. For example, our main customer now only buys recycled products. Not everything it buys is certified, but it is recycled”.

GRS-certified footwear contains at least 50% recycled content by weight. The standard also requires significant social and environmental commitments, which are now being met throughout the entire production process.

“The GRS product refers to a specific line in our portfolio, with very specific suppliers. For example, we have done a lot of work on the soles component and have been able to achieve soles with 90% recycled content. We work with Portuguese suppliers, but we also have Spanish and Italian suppliers for materials that are not yet available with GRS certification in Portugal”.

About Kayak Storm

With an annual turnover of 5 million and an international presence in markets such as Europe, South Korea, Japan, South Africa and North Africa, the company has invested in the use of recycled materials over the past thirteen years, producing footwear with up to 90% in recycled content by weight.

For more information, visit Kayak Storm’s website.

Source and Image Credits: portugueseshoes.pt

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