Every year, over 2,500,000 disposable coffee cups and half a million tons of coffee grounds are sent to landfills to slowly rot away, and while the use of vacuum-insulated bottles and reusable mugs are helping to reduce waste from single-use cups, coffee grounds, on the other hand, remain a major problem. Wanting to help remedy this unfortunate situation, Red Dot Design Award-winning Japanese footwear brand Ccilu (pronounced “Chee-loo,” which translates to “liberate yourself”) has developed an all-new rain boot that’s crafted from repurposed coffee grounds.
Christened the XpreSole Panto, these waterproof rain boots mimic the appearance of traditional leather, though every component that comprises them is sourced from coffee grounds and other upcycled materials. These vegan-friendly boots feature 5mm removable, quick-drying, and breathable Ortholite insoles made from a coffee-derived yarn; a moisture-wicking, antimicrobial, coffee-infused LYCRA and neoprene liner; laces crafted from a PRET plastic sourced from recycled plastic water bottles; a lightweight and waterproof shell made from 70% Eco EVA and rubber and 30% spent coffee grounds; and an outsole made from the same combination of coffee grounds and Eco EVA. Offered as high-tops or low-tops and produced in four color options, the Ccilu XpreSole Panto Rain Boots are available now through a Kickstarter campaign from as low as $79, with deliveries scheduled to begin in October.
