EN
Who are we
The Green Gear Alliance is an industry initiative run by the workwear-, safety footwear-, and PPE sector. We believe these products shouldn't end up as waste, they're a valuable source of raw materials. We bring together manufacturers, importers, and existing collection initiatives to make reuse and recycling actually happen.
Vision & Mission
Our mission is straightforward: close the loop for workwear, work shoes, and PPE. We're building effective collection and recycling solutions, bringing the sector together to collaborate, and giving companies practical support to make circularity work. For us, sustainability isn't optional, it's a shared responsibility.
For the industry, from the industry
The Green Gear Alliance started from within the sector itself. Manufacturers, importers, and partners are working together on a circular future for workwear, work shoes, and PPE. We're active across the Benelux and growing our return logistics step by step toward a European network. This way, raw materials get new life and we keep pushing innovation and sustainability.
Our Story
The Green Gear Alliance started in the safety footwear world. Back in 2020, EMMA Safety Footwear and Allshoes Safety Footwear decided to team up despite being competitors. They believed that a circular system only works when the industry collaborates and reaches real scale.
This led to the Circular Footwear Alliance (CFA) in 2021, joined by Steel Blue. They immediately set up collection points and started collecting and recycling used safety shoes. The mission was clear: keep valuable materials like rubber, leather, textiles, and metal in the supply chain.
At the same time, collection and recycling pilots started for workwear.
Interest spread fast and more brands signed up. In 2024, the CFA became a foundation, making the partnership permanent and independent.
Then in 2025, the CFA expanded. Instead of just safety shoes, we started covering workwear, work shoes, and other PPE. With new manufacturers and partners coming on board, the Circular Footwear Alliance became the Green Gear Alliance.
What started as an initiative formed by single companies has grown into an industry-wide partnership building a circular future for workwear, work shoes, and PPE, for and by the sector.
