Footwear modularity enabling circularity

27 Jan 2026

This article uncovers companies pushing past glued-together norms to craft repairable, upgradable designs that hint at a radically circular future.

Reading time: 4 minutes

Key takeaways

Many components and joining methods make footwear difficult to recycle.
Modularity is shifting from niche concept to serious circularity contender.
From glue-free assembly to component take-back systems, discover the brands reengineering footwear for a circular future.

Linear models need a rethink

Each year, nearly 24 billion pairs of shoes are produced and almost 90% of them are eventually discarded in landfills or incinerated within a year of their purchase¹.

Complex in design and material makeup, most footwear is built to perform, but not to last, let alone to come apart and start again.

Circularity is transitioning from an aspirational sustainability goal to an operational and regulatory imperative.

Often more than 60 permanently bonded components, which have so far made circularity nearly impossible.

Case studies in action

Methods Footwear

Sustainable trainer with modular sole — The leather wrap component is the central interlocking piece of the shoe. Source: Methods Footwear

Designed in the Netherlands and manufactured in Portugal: shoes built from just five recyclable or biodegradable components, cleverly interlocking without glue or stitching for effortless disassembly². Each of the shoe’s parts (the sole, upper, insole, laces and wrap) can be individually swapped or returned via a take‑back system, before being recycled into new components³.

Recognised with the 2025 ‘Green Good Design Award’, Methods blend minimalism and repairability with a distinctive aesthetic⁴. The shoes officially released just this June (2025), retailing at approx. €225.00.

Exploded view of modular shoe components — The shoe is comprised of just five parts, which can each be interchanged for style or shoe longevity. Source: Methods Footwear

Camper ROKU

Technical illustration of modular footwear design — A technical sketch of the shoe, demonstrating the interplay between the components. Source: Camper

Inspired by organic shapes and a Japanese “Wabi” aesthetic, Roku is Camper’s bold step into modular footwear. The shoe is formed of six interchangeable components: a knitted upper, 3D knitted inner sock, footbed, laces, XL EXTRALIGHT® EVA outsole (with 51% pre-consumer recycled scraps) and a cord connector, offering both customisation and repairability⁵.

Designed to come apart without glue and sold as both fully assembled units and parts, the Roku system allows up to 64 unique style combinations, inviting users to become co-creators in their shoe’s lifespan⁶. Roku showcases how a heritage brand can move beyond experimentation – framing modular footwear as a tactile, design-forward expression of sustainability, wearability and personal expression⁶.

Artistic composition of modular trainers — Camper has created instructions to help consumers correctly assemble the units. Source: Camper

Salubata

Another example is Salubata, a Nigerian-based company transforming plastic waste into modular shoes designed to snap together and apart with ease⁷.

Engineered for both sustainability and accessibility, their 2-in-1 trainer design uses recycled plastic for 3D-knitted uppers and modular soles, enabling replacement and disassembly.

Beyond the product, Salubata channels part of its profits into supporting women entrepreneurs and children in underserved communities, embedding social impact into its circular model⁸.

Ralfy

Modular shoe featuring sustainable materials — The shoe is formed of two core components: the outer shell and inner footbed. Source: Ralfy

Launched via Kickstarter in early 2025 and heavily backed by nearly 500 supporters, the N1 bridges the gap between slipper comfort and sneaker functionality through a clever modular system.

Featuring a slip-in shell with swappable colour inserts, it offers 28 aesthetic combinations per pair, with no glues or glue-lined parts for easy adjustability. Built from renewable sugarcane foam, recycled cotton mesh and designed for durability, the N1 puts user empowerment first: replacing the footbed or shell insert extends each shoe’s life, reduces waste, and supports personalization, all wrapped in a hands-free, easy-clean package⁹.

NNormal Kboix 01

Even in the highly demanding world of trail running, modularity is gaining ground. Kboix 01 breaks with tradition by offering three interchangeable midsoles, allowing runners to adapt cushioning and responsiveness to different terrains and personal preferences¹⁰.

Developed in partnership with elite athlete Kilian Jornet, the product challenges the idea that high-performance gear must be disposable by proving that customisation and sustainability can coexist even at the peak of athletic performance.

Black performance trainer with interchangeable sole — The Kboix has a Soft, Reactive and Bounce sole option, for different ride experiences. Source: NNormal

Footloop

This modular sandal is developed by:

Balena – A material science company with a proprietary compostable material platform.
Moon Rabbit Lab – A computational design firm, with experience in footwear design.
Framas – A technical injection moulding specialist, with expertise in footwear components.

Built through additive manufacturing with a single thermoplastic biomaterial, negating additives, the shoes are said to be fully recyclable or reprintable after use. Although it is still in the prototype phase, Footloop shows how minimalist design and sustainable innovation can merge in a loop-ready footwear vision^11.