[Video] The first shoe ever made from chewing gum

By Rachel Deloughry

Every year in the Netherlands, around 1,5 million kilos of chewing gum ends up on pavements. Chewing gum, made from a type of synthetic rubber that takes between 20 and 25 years to break down, is a serious source of harm for the environment.

There's a flip-side though: gum is no longer a nuisance substance when it can be recycled. Amsterdam shoe brand Explicit, along with IAmsterdam and Gumtec have proved that meaningful products, such as shoes can be made from waste gum!

These shoes take a step closer to litter-free pavements and raise awareness about recycling and sustainability on the streets of Amsterdam. Instead of complaining about the state of the gum-strewn pavements, they have gone and created something useful, beautiful and downright hip!

 


Rachel Deloughry

Lifestyle editor at IamExpat Media

Lifestyle editor at IamExpat for the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. Rachel has her finger on the pulse of what's happening in the realm of festivals, exhibitions, concerts and markets. She received her Master of Music from Utrecht Conservatory and before that, earned a Bachelor of Music in Ireland. She is passionate about music, painting and design.Read more

For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.