ReBound Returns has partnered with ESO RECYCLING to enhance its circularity solutions for retailers and support compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations.
Through this collaboration, retailers using ReBound’s omnichannel returns management platform can now access ESO RECYCLING’s expertise in material recovery, ensuring that non-resellable footwear is repurposed rather than discarded.
ReBound processes over 100 million return transactions annually for leading global brands, leveraging advanced technology and logistics to optimise the entire returns lifecycle. ESO RECYCLING, a specialist in recycling materials from the sports, fashion, and PPE industries, transforms waste into valuable resources, preventing landfill disposal.
By integrating ESO RECYCLING’s capabilities, ReBound expands its recycling portfolio to include footwear that cannot be resold. For instance, returned sports shoes can be processed into materials used for community-benefiting projects, such as shock-absorbing playground surfaces or athletics tracks.
This seamless partnership ensures streamlined footwear recycling across Europe, facilitated by ReBound’s extensive network. It also contributes to CO₂ reduction by repurposing materials and minimising reliance on virgin raw materials.
Additionally, ESO RECYCLING strengthens compliance with EPR regulations for textiles by converting waste into reusable materials, advancing circularity in reverse logistics. By enhancing waste traceability, retailers gain insights into product lifecycles, enabling them to make informed decisions to reduce environmental impact.
Nicolas Meletiou, Founder and Managing Director of ESO RECYCLING, stated: “We believe that no material should go to waste. Our partnership with ReBound marks a significant step towards making this vision a reality for the footwear industry. Through our scientifically proven processes and proprietary technologies, developed in collaboration with universities and research partners, we transform non-resellable returns into high-value secondary materials, giving them new life in sustainable applications, from sports surfaces to urban development projects. Since 2009, with our esosport brand, we have demonstrated how sports waste can be effectively recycled. Now, by joining forces with ReBound, we are expanding this proven approach to help retailers close the loop on sustainability, delivering tangible benefits to businesses while creating a positive impact on communities and the environment.”
Jelle Schoenmaker, Managing Director of ReBound, added: “At ReBound, we are committed to driving innovation in returns management to enhance efficiencies, reduce waste, and support sustainability. Our partnership with ESO RECYCLING is an exciting step forward, and we’re looking forward to working together to close the loop on returns and recycling. By ensuring that even non-resellable and non-reusable items are given a second life, we are providing more sustainable solutions for the retail industry and supporting a truly circular economy.”
This joint offering is available to both new and existing ReBound customers, enabling them to enhance sustainability efforts while expanding circularity and reverse logistics capabilities.
