Since Zèta was founded in 2020, our mission has always remained the same: to offer recycled, recyclable and vegan trainers. We give a second life to materials such as grape pomace, corn and plastic, and given the vast amount of revalorised resources available, we certainly don't plan to stop there!
Today, Zèta is proud to present its very first collaboration with Nespresso to create RE:GROUND, a pair of coffee-based trainers crafted from recycled and upcycled materials. Each pair of trainers in this capsule collection contains recycled coffee grounds equivalent to 12 espressos.
Nespresso launched its recycling programme in 1991, just as the brand was taking off. They recycle not only aluminium but also coffee grounds, which enabled us to create RE:GROUND. The trainers are made from 80% recycled and upcycled materials.
This capsule collection consists of 3 models with caffeinated names: Latte, Cappuccino and Ristretto.
The difference? It is the sole that perfectly matches the name of the drink. A white sole for the Latte trainer, a honey-coloured sole for the Cappuccino trainer and a dark brown sole for the Ristretto trainer make this collection a truly unique creation!
RE:GROUND is a limited collection available until 10 June exclusively on the Zèta website. The cherry on top? The pair is delivered in an upcycled jute bag!
How did the project come about?
In the beginning, it was above all the story of an encounter. Guillaume Le Cunff, CEO of Nespresso, came across a LinkedIn post by Laure, the founder of Zèta, and was intrigued by our approach. After all, 100% recycled, vegan, grape-based trainers are not something you see every day. Guillaume immediately sent a message with a challenge: "Well done on the grape trainers, but what about coffee?"
After extensive research, it became clear that no coffee-based material existed on the market. We eventually connected with Tintex, a leader in innovative textiles, who decided to embark on this journey alongside us.
After several months of testing, research and development, Tintex created a coffee-based material that can be crafted into trainers.
How is a vegan coffee-based material made?
This coffee-based material is an innovative, sustainable material that perfectly embodies circularity.
It has been crafted using eco-friendly materials, found both in the textile substrate (underlayer), which is a 100% cotton fabric, and in the coating layer, composed of approximately 20% bio-based green polymers and around 65% water-based PU. To this, 15% coffee grounds sourced from Nespresso's capsule recycling programme are added.
This coffee-based faux leather offers several sustainable qualities: the inclusion of used coffee grounds, a high bio-based content, natural dyes and eco-responsible processing.
What is the coffee-based trainer made of?
Zèta is committed to short supply chains, working exclusively with European suppliers located close to our manufacturing workshop. The RE:GROUND trainers are therefore made in Portugal, just like all our other models.
The composition of the RE:GROUND trainers stays true to our classic models, using plant-based corn material for the shoe's exterior.
The inner lining is made from mesh crafted from plastic bottles retrieved from the Mediterranean, the laces are made from recycled plastic, the removable insole is made from recycled cork, the outsole is made from recycled synthetic rubber, and finally, the glue is made from upcycled latex.
What's new? Coffee grounds are integrated into both the insole and outsole, and all the brown details on the shoe are crafted from this innovative coffee-based material. The soles feature a speckled finish created by particles of recycled rubber and coffee grounds.
An innovative and unexpected collaboration
Zèta and Nespresso share the same commitment to environmental and social responsibility.
Nespresso has a deep, long-standing commitment to sustainability, and circularity is a cornerstone of this.
The company launched its capsule recycling programme in 1991 and regularly runs campaigns to promote recycling among consumers. Nespresso has also supported numerous circular start-ups.
We are innovating with our materials. Our DNA remains unchanged: just as transparent, just as comfortable, and just as eco-friendly.
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