Care to buy shoes that are sturdy and have a quirky appeal? Entrepreneurs are now making shoes out of discarded tires. With approximately 1.5 billion tires being discarded annually across the world, there are few constraints on the “supply” of the main raw material.Leading entrepreneurs are increasingly turning this waste product into footwear or unique furniture. For instance, Kenyan entrepreneurs have come up with Akala sandals made from the ‘pelts’ of old car tires. The retail price? Between USD2 and USD5.
At the same time, in India’s Bollywood city – Mumbai – an entrepreneur established a furniture outlet known as The Retyrement Plan; morphing old tires and recycled waste materials into weatherproof outdoor furniture.
Is there anything that cannot be done with recycled materials?