WHAT'S LEFT BEHIND
CAN MOVE US FORWARD.
Turning end-of-life tyre rubber into durable children's footwear.
Giving rubber a second life.
Developed with the University of Bradford's Polymer Institute.
A WASTE PROBLEM.
A MATERIAL SOLUTION.
600,000+
tonnes of tyre waste generated in the UK every year, much of it exported or processed through environmentally harmful methods.
Source: UK Parliament, Westminster Hall debate on tyre recycling (29 Apr 2025)
In 2020, an illegal tyre stockpile in Bradford caught fire, a stark reminder that treating tyre waste as a disposal burden rather than a resource carries real environmental and community risk.
Zneako redesigns the trainer from the ground up: a single recycled rubber compound for the sole and midsole, over-moulded with a simplified upper. Fewer components, less manufacturing complexity, and a genuine second life for material that would otherwise be burned or buried.
“Every step begins with purpose. Our sole is more than design, it's our commitment to a better future.”
Before
AfterEnhanced Grip
More control, every step.
Made With Recycled Rubber
One compound, sole to midsole.
Built to Last
Built to leave a lighter footprint.
FROM WASTE
TO WEAR.
Tyre Waste
Reclaimed from end-of-life tyres.
Recycled Rubber Compound
Processed at the Polymer Institute.
Moulded Sole
One compound, sole to midsole.
Finished Trainer
Ready for a child to wear.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND
THE PURPOSE.
Zneako started with a simple, uncomfortable fact: the UK throws away over 600,000 tonnes of tyres every year, much of it incinerated or dumped rather than reused. In 2020, an illegal tyre stockpile fire in Bradford made that risk impossible to ignore. We asked a different question: what if that waste wasn't a disposal problem, but a material waiting for a second life?
Working with rubber-recycling researchers at the University of Bradford's Polymer Institute, we're turning end-of-life tyre rubber into durable, sustainable soles, starting with children's footwear. Every part you don't see carries the same purpose as the part you do: a genuine commitment to a better future.
Source: UK Parliament, Westminster Hall debate on tyre recycling (29 Apr 2025)
Oluwabusayo Idowu
Co-Founder & Commercial Lead
Dr Rob Innes
CTO, Polymer Institute, University of Bradford
Professor Klaus Pors
Academic Co-Founder, Institute of Cancer Therapeutics
Bonnie Daniels
Innovation Officer
FROM PROTOTYPE
TO IMPACT.
We're early, building the foundation, the material, and the first pair, before moving into launch and scale.
Foundation & Material R&D
Brand foundations, sustainable material research and our first prototype.
Prototyping & Testing
Refining the compound, testing durability, building early community awareness.
Market Launch
E-commerce, campaigns, partnerships and first customer sales.
Growth & Feedback
Customer feedback, product improvement, new designs and personalisation.
Scale & Impact
Expanded production and partnerships, with measurable environmental impact.
FROM SKETCH
TO SOLE.
A look at the design work behind the product: the concept sketches and the sole engineering that turns recycled rubber into a trainer.
Every silhouette starts as a sketch, refined for comfort, durability and purpose.
The sole is where the recycled rubber does its work: grip, durability and a lighter footprint.
PARTNER WITH US.
We're building the case for recycled-rubber footwear from the ground up, with a university research partner and a working prototype. If you're backing early-stage sustainable manufacturing, we'd like to talk.
BE ONE OF THE
FIRST 50.
First 50 pairs, completely free. Just join the waitlist.
50
Pairs Available
BUILT ON STANDARDS,
NOT CLAIMS.
Our approach maps directly to five UN Sustainable Development Goals, and to the compliance frameworks we're building toward ahead of commercial launch.
Responsible Consumption & Production
Diverting tyre waste from landfill and incineration into a reusable material stream.
Climate Action
Recycling rubber instead of burning or landfilling it cuts the carbon and emissions impact.
Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
Developed with the University of Bradford's Polymer Institute: genuine innovation, not a claim.
Sustainable Cities & Communities
Turning a community hazard, like the 2020 Bradford tyre fire, into a community resource.
Quality Education
School and lab workshops make circular design tangible for children and families.
Compliance Frameworks
Working toward, ahead of launch
GRS
Global Recycled Standard: chain-of-custody for recycled tyre-rubber content.
SEDEX & SMETA
Supplier due diligence and ethical/environmental audits.
UK REACH
Product testing and compliance review ahead of launch.
ISO 14001
Environmental management principles across sourcing and production.