The 8 Impact launches Oktara, a recycled rubber for soles
French circular tech company The 8 Impact exhibited in the innovation section of Première Vision last week, as one of the finalists of the ANDAM (National Association for the Development of Fashion Arts) prize for 2026.
Founders Marie Soudré-Richard and Hélène Guerret have developed and patented a fully mechanical recycling process for rubber found in post-consumer footwear and tennis balls. After a disassembly process, the rubber is decontaminated, achieving a purity rate of close to 100%, the company said. The regenerated rubber is then mixed with virgin, and the final product, branded Oktara, has 30% recycled content. “This is a high proportion for post-consumer waste,” pointed out Marie Soudré-Richard.
The decontamination process is essential in working with post-consumer waste and guarantees that Oktara is REACh compliant and free of any toxic substances. “We offer a product that is safe and has the same performance and aesthetics of virgin rubber,” she said.
On the subject of look and feel, The 8 Impact deliberately keeps some of the coloured speckles in its regenerated Oktara rubber. “This is to show traces of the product’s former life,” she said.
Oktara has already been used by a number of footwear manufacturers, including Veja, Eram and Decathlon. Outdoor brands and even companies in trail running are currently testing it.
Earlier this year, the start-up raised €2 million from a group of investors including Collateral Good, Bpifrance, Makesense, UI Investissement and Fashion for Good.
