esosport was born in 2009 from an idea by Nicolas Meletiou, Managing Director of ESO and passionate runner, together with two of his friends. Together they raised the question of how to properly dispose of sports shoes at the end of their life.

Combining their passion for running with expertise in the waste management sector, the esosport project came to life — today the first and only project in Italy and Europe dedicated to recycling sports shoes. Over time, other types of sports materials have been added: bicycle tires and inner tubes, helmets, tennis and padel balls, ski boots and helmets, and sportswear.

“From the very beginning we have believed in the principles of the Circular Economy, making the Recycling Cycle our philosophy. We are guided by the awareness that the environment is a precious asset to be safeguarded and that waste, if properly managed, can be transformed from scrap into a resource, reducing its environmental impact to a minimum.”

Our goal is twofold: to minimize the accumulation of waste in landfills and to spread the certainty that recycling is not only possible, but can generate secondary raw materials for new uses.

What at first glance may seem like simple waste destined for landfill, with esosport finds new life in another form. Thanks to the transformation process at the ESO RECYCLING “Amato Cannara” plant in Tolentino, in the Marche region, sports materials, personal protective equipment (PPE), and even waste from the fashion industry are recycled and recovered.

Here, new secondary raw materials are born: colored granules, fabrics, plastics, and metals that become the foundation for projects inspired by environmental sustainability.

Some examples?

• Flooring for basketball, tennis, and padel courts

• Athletics tracks such as “La pista di Filippide”

• Play surfaces such as “Il Giardino di Betty”

• Customized flooring for shops, events, and stands

• Poured-in-place rubber flooring solutions

• Thermo-acoustic panels for construction and interior design

• Medals and trophies for sports events

“Build your own road” is the esosport pay-off, capturing the very essence of the project:
a road built step by step, with everyone’s commitment to respecting the environment.

We live in an age where humanity’s footprint on the environment is increasingly evident. The intensive exploitation of natural resources is undermining the balance of our planet. The time has come to change course.

Our daily commitment, built on years of experience in the waste management sector, is exactly this: to find new ways to give value to what many see as mere waste, but which can instead become a precious resource.

We are present throughout Italy with more than 500 collection points, spread across municipalities, sports shops, bike workshops, and sports facilities.

Those who join our project become key players in a tangible change, contributing to more sustainable waste management and the creation of new sustainable projects: playgrounds, outdoor fitness areas, and spaces designed for the well-being of communities.