We've all experienced the frustration of stepping on discarded chewing gum while walking the streets. To combat this, Gumshoes sneakers—with soles made from gum collected from Amsterdam's streets—have launched. Backed by Haarlemmermeer municipality, these shoes raise awareness about Amsterdam's long-standing litter problem, where 1.5 million kilos of chewing gum end up on streets annually.
Street gum isn't just unsightly; it harms wildlife and takes 20-25 years to decompose fully, costing municipalities millions in cleanup. Experts at Gum-Tec, partnering with Publicis One and Amsterdam's Explicit Wear, discovered gum's potential as durable rubber. The result: unique sneakers with Amsterdam's map embossed on the soles, turning litter into wearable art and encouraging cleaner streets.
Available from late June at Hudson's Bay in Amsterdam and online at www.gumshoe.amsterdam.
