Meet the Zero Waste Circular & Sustainable Sneakers - Mark Vandevelde // Founder of Komrads
----------------------------------------
Spotlighting impact startups, brands, and founders.
We feature social impact startups, conscious brands, and visionary founders shaping the future of business. Join thousands—subscribe to our weekly newsletter for exclusive interviews, the latest funding rounds, digital tool reviews, and curated products fueling the impact economy.
To learn more, please visit causeartist.com
In Episode 173 of the Disruptors for Good podcast, I speak with Mark Vandevelde, Founder of Komrads, on creating zero waste circular & sustainable sneakers for the ethical fashion movement.
Komrads is a footwear brand that is based in Belgium and has been making sustainable sneakers for nearly five years.
Komrads is a footwear brand that is based in Belgium and has been making sustainable sneakers for nearly five years.
The brand was founded by husband and wife team, Mark and Greet Vandevelde, with the goal of creating sneakers that were not only stylish but also environmentally friendly.
The shoes are made using raw materials that are recycled, certified, vegan & traceble, and are ethically manufactured in Portugal. Komrads also focuses on reducing waste by creating a closed-loop system where customers can return their old shoes to be recycled into new ones.
Of the 24.2 billion pairs of shoes manufactured globally each year, experts say that most of them (97%) end up in a landfill or incinerator, because there are simply too many shoes and not enough recycling solutions.
This means only 3% of all sneakers are given a second life.
The company collects your old Komrads Sneakers and will upcycle them into raw materials to be used in other products. Overall, Komrads is a brand that is dedicated to creating stylish and sustainable sneakers that have a positive impact on the environment and society.
The shoes are made using raw materials that are recycled, certified, vegan & traceble, and are ethically manufactured in Portugal. Komrads also focuses on reducing waste by creating a closed-loop system where customers can return their old shoes to be recycled into new ones.
Of the 24.2 billion pairs of shoes manufactured globally each year, experts say that most of them (97%) end up in a landfill or incinerator, because there are simply too many shoes and not enough recycling solutions.
This means only 3% of all sneakers are given a second life.
The company collects your old Komrads Sneakers and will upcycle them into raw materials to be used in other products. Overall, Komrads is a brand that is dedicated to creating stylish and sustainable sneakers that have a positive impact on the environment and society.
----------------------------------------
Disruptors for GOOD is powered by PIF Advisory — a global services firm empowering startups and enterprises with expert guidance, tailored solutions, and measurable results. Whether you’re launching your first venture or scaling globally, PIF Advisory delivers full-cycle support across every core function of your business:
- Bookkeeping, Accounting & Tax Management – Organized, compliant, and transparent financials managed by licensed professionals (CPAs, CFAs, CMAs, and lawyers) to drive smarter decision-making.
- Growth & Marketing – Data-driven strategies across branding, web, advertising, CRM, and sales enablement—all optimized for measurable ROI.
- Outsourced CFO – Flexible financial leadership covering cash flow, forecasting, and strategic planning.
- Entity Management – Stay compliant and ready for scale with expert corporate governance and compliance support.
- Operations, HR & Admin – Streamlined infrastructure to boost team efficiency and keep your business running smoothly.
- IT & Security – Safeguard your data and operations with best-in-class infrastructure, compliance, and protection.
- Technology Consulting – Build the right tech stack with expert support across NetSuite, QuickBooks, Avalara, and more.
- Management Consulting – Unlock growth with industry-specific advisory services focused on metrics, operations, and scalability.
As a sister company to PIF Capital Management, they also offer clients direct insights into venture capital and access to a global investor network—ranging from individuals to sovereign wealth funds.
👉 Learn more or schedule a discovery call at pifadvisory.com
