What is
esosport was founded in 2009 from an idea by Nicolas Meletiou, Managing Director of ESO and a passionate runner, together with two of his friends. Together they addressed the important and often overlooked issue of the proper disposal of end-of-life sports shoes, asking themselves how waste could be transformed into resources rather than simply discarded. This question marked the beginning of a visionary project that combines sport, environmental awareness, and innovation.
Combining a passion for running with expertise in the waste management sector, the esosport project was created. Today it represents the first and only project in Italy and Europe dedicated to the recycling of sports shoes, later expanding to include other types of sports materials: bicycle tyres and inner tubes, helmets, tennis and padel balls, ski helmets and boots, and sportswear. The project continues to grow, demonstrating a deep commitment to sustainability and the circular economy in the world of sports.
“Since the beginning of our activity 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 protected and that waste, if managed correctly, can be transformed from discard into a resource, minimizing environmental impact. Every material we recycle contributes to the creation of a more sustainable future, where resources are valued and reused.”
Our goal is twofold: to minimize the accumulation of waste in landfills and to promote the certainty that recycling is not only possible, but can generate secondary raw materials for new uses. By transforming discarded materials into functional products, esosport encourages communities, athletes, and businesses to rethink their approach to waste and to adopt more responsible consumption habits.
What at first glance may appear to be simple waste destined for landfill finds a new life with esosport in a completely different form. Thanks to the transformation process carried out at the ESO RECYCLING “Amato Cannara” plant, located in Tolentino, in the Marche region, sports materials, personal protective equipment (PPE), and waste from the fashion industry are collected, processed, and recycled. This process not only reduces environmental impact but also generates new opportunities for innovative products, enhancing the value of materials that would otherwise be discarded.
Here, new secondary raw materials are created: colored granules, fabrics, plastic materials, and metals that form the foundation for projects focused on environmental sustainability and innovative design. Each material is carefully processed and tested to ensure quality and durability, ready to be integrated into a wide variety of applications.
Some examples?
Surfaces for basketball, tennis, and padel courts, athletics tracks such as “The Pista di Filippide”, and playground surfaces like “Betty’s Garden”. But also custom flooring for stores, events, and exhibition stands, cast-in-place solutions, thermo-acoustic panels for construction and interior design, as well as medals and trophies for sports. Each of these applications reflects the potential of recycled materials to create durable, practical, and environmentally conscious solutions while inspiring communities to value sustainability in everyday life.
“Build Your Road” is the esosport pay-off that captures the essence of the project. A road built step by step, through the commitment of each of us in respect of the environment. Every recycled shoe, every recovered piece of equipment, every innovative solution contributes to a shared vision of a greener, more responsible, and circular world, encouraging individuals and organizations alike to join the journey toward sustainability.
BECOME PART OF THE CHANGE
We live in an era in which the impact of human activity on the environment is increasingly evident. The intensive exploitation of natural resources is compromising the balance of our planet. It is time to change direction.
Our daily commitment, built on years of experience in the waste management sector, is exactly this: to find new ways to enhance what many consider simply waste, but which can instead become a valuable resource.
We are present throughout Italy with more than 500 collection points, located in municipalities, sporting goods stores, bicycle workshops and sports facilities.
Those who join our project become active participants in real change, contributing to more sustainable waste management and to the creation of new sustainable projects: playgrounds, fitness areas and spaces designed for the wellbeing of local communities.