Rens

Rens manufactures climate neutral sneakers that are 100% vegan and made from recycled coffee grounds and plastic. The Finnish company has also teamed up with Climate Partner to ensure all carbon emission standards are met. Rens launched its “Original” line of sneakers in 2019, and as of July 2021 had recycled more than 250,000 plastic bottles and 750,000 cups of used coffee. The company’s shoes can be bought via its ecommerce platform and, as of June 2021, in more than 100 countries globally with a focus on the US, Finland, Germany, and the UK–where the company sells directly to consumers. In countries like Japan, Latin America and Singapore, the company is also looking to partner with wholesalers to expand its distribution.

Rens began prototyping its new sustainable sneaker, “Nomad,”in August 2020, and unveiled the sneaker in nine colors in August 2021. Each pair of Nomad sneakers is made from 21 cups of recycled coffee grounds and six recycled plastic bottles. The sneaker is expected to go into production by September 2021, with deliveries to begin by December 2021. The company continued to develop its product through 2022, launching “Rens Elemental Hoodie”, its new bio-based athleisure apparel collection made from recycled coffee grounds, plastic bottles, and a proprietary bamboo-based viscose.

Funding and financials

In August 2021, the company also announced that it is expecting to raise USD 1 million via the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. The company initially raised USD 500,000 via a Kickstarter campaign in 2019 to fund the manufacturing of its “Original” version of sustainable sneaker. The company expects to use the funds to scale manufacturing and accelerate the commercialization of its Nomad sneaker.