Toyoda Gosei has teamed up with major sporting goods manufacturer Asics Corporation to produce the Skyhand OG range of sports shoes using leather remnants generated in the manufacturing process for car steering wheels.

The shoes will be available for purchase from the Asics online store starting from February 1 this year.

Toyoda Gosei has been pursuing ways to further reduce waste materials by selling various products under the Re-S brand, transforming difficult-to-recycle airbag fabrics and steering wheel leather remnants into bags, pen cases and other products. Asics has also been using recycled materials in its shoes and sportswear.

The current project is Toyoda Gosei’s second collaboration with Asics, following the launch of a range of sports shoes incorporating recycled airbag fabrics in January 2023.

To use materials with as little waste as possible, original techniques have been employed in this latest project, such as combining small remnant pieces into patchwork. Steering wheel punching remnants generated at Toyoda Gosei’s plant in Vietnam are used in the project and Asics is also manufacturing the shoes in Vietnam to not only reduce waste but also CO2 in transportation.

www.toyoda-gosei.co.jp