A pair of finished running shoes becomes sandals. Envipro Group's Nitto Kako cooperates in a workshop to experience the circular economy at Tokyo Marathon EXPO.
Nitto Kako, part of the Envipro Group, collaborated with the "RUN CYCLE SQUARE" sustainability project at the Tokyo Marathon EXPO 2026, hosting a workshop where participants could transform used running shoes and tires into personalized sandals. This initiative utilized the company's rubber chip crushing and mat molding technologies to provide a hands-on circular economy experience.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 14:28 (3h 56m after Collected)
Nitto Kako Co., Ltd. (Head office: Samukawa-machi, Koza-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture; President: Kozo Haruyama; hereinafter "Nitto Kako"), a member of the Envipro Group, participated as a cooperating company in "RUN CYCLE SQUARE," a sustainability project held within the "Tokyo Marathon EXPO 2026" from February 26 to 28, 2026.
At this event, Nitto Kako combined the "rubber chip crushing technology" from its Maebashi Plant with the "mat molding technology" from its Shonan and Maebashi Plants to conduct a workshop where participants could transform discarded materials, such as shoe soles that were difficult to distribute and used tires, into their own unique sandals. Many people, especially environmentally conscious runners, participated, experiencing firsthand the "non-disposal cycle (circular economy)" process through the recycling of polymers (plastics and rubber).
Participants choose soles and laces. The soles feature the word "TOKYO."
Background and Purpose of the Event
The Envipro Group is committed to "playing a part in realizing a sustainable society" and leads the realization of a circular economy. This time, Nitto Kako endorsed the philosophy of "RUN CYCLE (fusion of running and circulation)" promoted by the Tokyo Marathon Foundation (hereinafter "Tokyo Marathon Foundation") and provided an upcycling experience leveraging Nitto Kako's crushing and molding technologies.
"Crushing technology" transforms used running shoe soles and used tires into uniform chips, and "mat molding technology" finishes them into a durable single sheet by combining them with different materials. By combining these two technologies, the company has achieved the implementation of high-quality recycled materials.
At the "RUN CYCLE" event, in addition to the "Recycling" workshop that Nitto Kako cooperated with, participants could also experience "Purchase" and "Reuse," eliminating "disposal" through the actions of event participants and allowing them to experience that "circulation continues through wearing."
Mr. Murasawa of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation
A pair of finished running shoes starts walking again.
Scene from the "SHOES TO SANDALS" workshop
Recycling Story
Participants learned the process by which finely crushed shoe soles (waste material) were re-molded and transformed into sandals with new value. Furthermore, the tag parts were upcycled from neck straps used by staff at the Tokyo Marathon 2025 (the previous event), demonstrating thorough effective utilization of materials.
Experience Content
Participants experienced the final process of threading laces into original Tokyo Marathon soles, which were formed by mixing colorful chips of crushed shoe soles, black used tires, and gray rubber chips used in parks. After approximately one hour of work, they wore the completed sandals on the spot and walked around the venue and outdoor terrace, personally experiencing the comfort of the reborn material and the results of circulation.
Response
Almost all pre-booked slots were filled, and it became an opportunity for environmentally conscious runners, in particular, to feel the tangible results of material circulation up close.
Instructor Minami Tsuchiya
Overseas participants receiving explanations from staff at the workshop
Completed sandals
After completion, participants and staff wore the sandals and walked around the venue, experiencing the comfort.
Behind the Development: Commitment to Quality and Challenge to BtoC
In developing the original soles provided this time, the greatest difficulty was the process of beautifully and firmly adhering the surface molded parts, which contain recycled materials, to the base sole.
For Nitto Kako, which typically focuses on manufacturing products for B2B (business-to-business) transactions, developing a B2C product to be delivered directly to general runners was a major challenge. The aim was to completely eliminate the compromise and negative image of "recycled products are probably good enough with this quality and design," and instead pursue a quality that people would genuinely "want to wear."
Various ideas from the team were brought together, including meticulous crushing technology and high-quality material creation by the technical staff at the Maebashi Plant, as well as molding technology. Finally, all members of Nitto Kako carried out final checks on each item, pouring the entire company's passion into completing these sandals.
About Nitto Kako Co., Ltd.
Nitto Kako is a comprehensive manufacturer engaged in the production and sales of polymer (plastic and rubber) products.
In recent years, the company has been actively utilizing scraps from manufacturing processes and used products as recycled materials, continuously challenging itself to reduce environmental impact.
■ Contact Information for this Matter
Nitto Kako Co., Ltd. (Attn: Sekiguchi, Niikura)
TEL: 0467-74-3134
Web: https://nittokako.jp/contact/
At this event, Nitto Kako combined the "rubber chip crushing technology" from its Maebashi Plant with the "mat molding technology" from its Shonan and Maebashi Plants to conduct a workshop where participants could transform discarded materials, such as shoe soles that were difficult to distribute and used tires, into their own unique sandals. Many people, especially environmentally conscious runners, participated, experiencing firsthand the "non-disposal cycle (circular economy)" process through the recycling of polymers (plastics and rubber).
Participants choose soles and laces. The soles feature the word "TOKYO."
Background and Purpose of the Event
The Envipro Group is committed to "playing a part in realizing a sustainable society" and leads the realization of a circular economy. This time, Nitto Kako endorsed the philosophy of "RUN CYCLE (fusion of running and circulation)" promoted by the Tokyo Marathon Foundation (hereinafter "Tokyo Marathon Foundation") and provided an upcycling experience leveraging Nitto Kako's crushing and molding technologies.
"Crushing technology" transforms used running shoe soles and used tires into uniform chips, and "mat molding technology" finishes them into a durable single sheet by combining them with different materials. By combining these two technologies, the company has achieved the implementation of high-quality recycled materials.
At the "RUN CYCLE" event, in addition to the "Recycling" workshop that Nitto Kako cooperated with, participants could also experience "Purchase" and "Reuse," eliminating "disposal" through the actions of event participants and allowing them to experience that "circulation continues through wearing."
Mr. Murasawa of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation
A pair of finished running shoes starts walking again.
Scene from the "SHOES TO SANDALS" workshop
Recycling Story
Participants learned the process by which finely crushed shoe soles (waste material) were re-molded and transformed into sandals with new value. Furthermore, the tag parts were upcycled from neck straps used by staff at the Tokyo Marathon 2025 (the previous event), demonstrating thorough effective utilization of materials.
Experience Content
Participants experienced the final process of threading laces into original Tokyo Marathon soles, which were formed by mixing colorful chips of crushed shoe soles, black used tires, and gray rubber chips used in parks. After approximately one hour of work, they wore the completed sandals on the spot and walked around the venue and outdoor terrace, personally experiencing the comfort of the reborn material and the results of circulation.
Response
Almost all pre-booked slots were filled, and it became an opportunity for environmentally conscious runners, in particular, to feel the tangible results of material circulation up close.
Instructor Minami Tsuchiya
Overseas participants receiving explanations from staff at the workshop
Completed sandals
After completion, participants and staff wore the sandals and walked around the venue, experiencing the comfort.
Behind the Development: Commitment to Quality and Challenge to BtoC
In developing the original soles provided this time, the greatest difficulty was the process of beautifully and firmly adhering the surface molded parts, which contain recycled materials, to the base sole.
For Nitto Kako, which typically focuses on manufacturing products for B2B (business-to-business) transactions, developing a B2C product to be delivered directly to general runners was a major challenge. The aim was to completely eliminate the compromise and negative image of "recycled products are probably good enough with this quality and design," and instead pursue a quality that people would genuinely "want to wear."
Various ideas from the team were brought together, including meticulous crushing technology and high-quality material creation by the technical staff at the Maebashi Plant, as well as molding technology. Finally, all members of Nitto Kako carried out final checks on each item, pouring the entire company's passion into completing these sandals.
About Nitto Kako Co., Ltd.
Nitto Kako is a comprehensive manufacturer engaged in the production and sales of polymer (plastic and rubber) products.
In recent years, the company has been actively utilizing scraps from manufacturing processes and used products as recycled materials, continuously challenging itself to reduce environmental impact.
■ Contact Information for this Matter
Nitto Kako Co., Ltd. (Attn: Sekiguchi, Niikura)
TEL: 0467-74-3134
Web: https://nittokako.jp/contact/