Turning 381 Million Tons of Plastic Waste Into Fashion: The Salubata Story

Can sneakers really solve plastic pollution? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, guest host Craig Moore sits down with Yewande Akinse, co-founder and COO of Salubata, the startup turning recycled plastic waste into modular, fashion-forward sneakers. You’ll hear how her lived experience with flooding in Lagos inspired a global mission, what it took to transform a failed prototype into nearly $1M in revenue, and why modular shoe design is shaking up an industry dominated by Nike and Adidas. We’ll explore: The biggest myths about sustainable fashion (and how Salubata is breaking them) How one imperfect prototype unlocked grants, investors, and Techstars Why innovation is survival in the legacy footwear market What’s next: athletic shoes, kids’ lines, and even carbon-capturing sneaker technology If you’ve ever wondered how sustainability, style, and entrepreneurship collide—or what it takes to truly disrupt a legacy industry—this episode delivers the answers.