The Story Behind Sneakers Made from Recycled PET Bottles Becoming the Shoes of Seongdong-gu Recycling Sorters?

Social Enterprise LAR Donates 50 Pairs of Eco-Friendly Sneakers Made from Recycled PET Bottles to Seongdong-gu... Creating Social Value and Environmental Resource Circulation Together with Social Economy Organizations

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, is listening to an explanation about the production of eco-friendly sneakers from a company representative.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) received 50 pairs of eco-friendly sneakers, the ‘Seoul Forest Edition,’ from the social enterprise LAR (CEO Gye Hyo-seok) on the 28th of last month.

The ‘Seoul Forest Edition’ is a limited edition eco-friendly sneaker created to commemorate LAR’s store address near Seoul Forest, recently known as the ‘hipster’s sanctuary’ (Seoul Forest-ro 54). The donated items will be delivered to recycling sorting workers who are at the forefront of resource circulation.

LAR is a social enterprise that started its business in Seongdong Safe Shopping Center, established in 2017 as the nation’s first rental fee stabilization center under Seongdong-gu’s anti-gentrification ordinance (2015). Centered on the slogan ‘Light Steps for the Earth,’ LAR produces sneakers, bags, and other items using recycled plastic and strives to create jobs through continuous employment of vulnerable groups.

Participating in the pop-up store at the ‘5th Seoul Forest Expo’ held on the 15th of last month, LAR’s eco-friendly sneakers attracted much attention from passersby and participants. The company has been selected for various government-supported public projects and has shown continuous growth every year.

Earlier this year, LAR was consecutively selected for various government-supported projects such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s ‘Digital Job Support’ and the Seoul Business Agency’s ‘Customized Support for Small Manufacturers.’ It also collaborates with private support projects like Lotte Chemical’s ‘Recycling,’ continuously growing and opening the ‘Seoul Forest No. 1 Store’ last August, four years after its establishment.

Seongdong-gu, which has actively supported the development of social economy organizations through various public projects, plans to continue actively supporting the independence and growth of those pursuing environmental and social values, recognizing the importance of public institutions’ roles and efforts for future generations in the ESG era.

CEO Gye Hyo-seok, who attended the handover ceremony, said, “I want to express my gratitude to the workers on site with sneakers made from recycled PET bottles,” adding, “I hope they can directly see how discarded PET bottles are utilized and feel a sense of fulfillment.”

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “I am grateful to see a social enterprise that started in Seongdong Safe Shopping Center grow in such a short time,” and added, “We will spare no support to help social enterprises establish themselves and grow.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.