Methods

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS

• Portugal 

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES

Methods produces its modular trainers in Portugal. As part of the EU, Portugal offers legally enshrined minimum standards for working conditions. 

Although Methods does not operate its own production facilities, it works with a small number of specialised partner companies, which improves transparency along the supply chain. Methods maintains close and long-term cooperation with its partners. To promote personal dialogue and work together on product development, they visit them once or twice a year. The company relies on direct dialogue and regular contact to ensure transparency and trust in the supply chain.

Production is carried out industrially in specialised workshops that do justice to the modular design of the sneakers. 

MATERIALS

• Laces: Cotton, biodegradable
• Wrap (heel cap): Vegetable-tanned cowhide from Portugal, biodegradable
• Upper: 95% TENCEL™, remaining percentage of elastane (biodegradable after disassembly)
• Insole (inner sole): Mediterranean cork + recycled shoe waste (pycycled), 100% recyclable
• Sole: Thermoplastic rubber (TR) with 25 % recycled content, 100 % recyclable

PACKAGING

• In e‑commerce, Methods relies on classic shoe boxes printed with white ink. This packaging is not only used for shipping, but is also integrated into the returns system: When ordering replacement parts – such as a new sole – the old component can be returned directly in the same packaging. In this way, additional packaging waste is avoided and the recycling concept is consistently taken into account.
• Method’s packaging is plastic-free and consists of recycled cardboard that can be recycled and reused. 

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS

The use of TENCEL™ in the upper material indicates a more resource-conserving approach, as this cellulose fibre is produced in a closed cycle using non-toxic solvents and requires significantly less water than conventional cotton. The leather used in the heel area is also vegetable-tanned – an indication of a more resource-friendly tanning method that uses neither chrome nor synthetic chemicals. Although the use of vegetable tanning agents has been confirmed, more detailed information on water consumption and the treatment of the waste water produced during tanning has not yet been provided.

Some of the components used are dyed, bleached or printed. These finishing processes take place exclusively in Europe, which ensures compliance with the REACH chemicals regulation. However, an internal company guideline on chemicals management has not yet been introduced.

A formal assessment of the release of microplastics has also not yet been carried out, although the sole is made of thermoplastic rubber and potential abrasion can therefore theoretically not be ruled out. 

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN

Methods pursues a clearly circular approach and places great emphasis on the choice of materials and design to promote reusability and recyclability. The individual components of the sneakers consist of separate mono-materials, which facilitates separation by type and subsequent recycling. Mixtures of plant-based and synthetic materials within one component are avoided – with one exception: 95% of the upper material consists of TENCEL™ and a small proportion of elastane. This admixture can limit biodegradability.

The modular design allows users to easily replace individual components without having to dispose of the entire shoe.

Methods also offers a take-back system for used components: Customers can return used individual parts – such as a worn-out sole – in the same packaging in which the replacement part was delivered. The returned components are recycled according to type, with the aim of processing the materials so that they can be used again in sneaker production. 

Methods’ suppliers are currently responsible for taking back and recycling used insoles. A process is being developed for the outsoles that will enable them to be reused with a proportion of up to 30% post-consumer material. The establishment of partnerships for the professional composting of biodegradable components is also in the planning phase.

Another key element of the concept is reparability: thanks to the modular design, the trainers can be easily dismantled and components replaced or combined (‘mix & match’). This not only reduces waste, but also significantly extends the life of the product. Methods is therefore a practical example of product-integrated circularity.

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODEL

Methods does not offer a traditional repair service. Instead, the brand consistently relies on a modular design that allows customers to maintain the trainers themselves and replace individual components such as the sole, upper or laces themselves. This principle serves the same purpose as a repair service – namely to extend the life of the product – but does not require the entire shoe to be sent in.

A central element of the circular concept is the take-back system, which was set up specifically for used individual components. Customers can return worn or defective parts in the packaging in which the new replacement part was delivered. The brand takes care of sorting and recycling these components with the aim of reintroducing the materials into the production cycle – for new shoes, for example. There is no information on the specific infrastructure or recycling partners, but take-back is an integral part of the product system and has been considered from the outset.

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN

• Portugal
• The Netherlands
• Methods has its headquarters in the Netherlands.

TRANSPORTATION 

• Transportation in in the supply chain
  Within the supply chain, the company relies on road transport within Europe. This decision enables flexible and efficient coordination between partners and significantly reduces CO₂ emissions compared to air freight. Methods works with CO₂-neutral logistics service providers and ensures that the entire transport process is as resource-efficient as possible.
• Transportation in E‑Commerce
  In e‑commerce, too, shipping is carried out exclusively by ground transport in order to minimise the environmental impact. Method’s logistics partners specialise in CO₂-neutral delivery. In addition, Method’s warehouse is powered by solar energy and follows more sustainable principles, further reducing the environmental footprint of online orders.

• Vegetable-tanned cowhide leather

The leather is a by-product of beef production and is vegetable-tanned, which means that no chrome or synthetic chemicals are used.

The leather used is metal-free, vegetable-tanned and classified as fully biodegradable according to current industry standards. In composting tests in accordance with ISO 20200, the material decomposes within a period of less than 30 days. The tanning is carried out by a Portuguese company. 
 

PRODUCT DESIGN

Methods currently only offers trainers for adults. The collection is gender-neutral – the design is simple, functional and can be combined in a variety of colours.

The brand pursues a unisex approach, both in terms of design and communication. A digital foot scan app is being planned to help determine the right size more precisely and reduce returns. 

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES

Methods does not follow a classic seasonal model system. The brand has a continuous, modular collection to which new designs or colour variations are gradually added. This approach supports the longevity of the products and avoids overproduction.

The sneakers are not made-to-measure or individually made to order, but the modular design allows for a certain degree of personalisation: customers can select, exchange and combine individual parts such as soles or uppers themselves.

TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT

On the Methods product pages, key information on materials, comfort and care is communicated clearly and comprehensibly. Each component of the sneaker – from the sole to the lacing – is listed individually, including information on materials such as cotton, TENCEL™, vegetable-tanned leather, cork and recycled plastic. There are also instructions on how to care for the products properly.

What is not apparent on the website, however, is detailed information on the traceability of production. It is not publicly stated in which specific factories or regions the production takes place, and there is also no information on social standards or a digital product passport to track individual purchases. 

The company is open and cooperative towards COSH!: Methods has provided detailed information on its production partners, including specific addresses. However, this transparency has so far only been reflected to a limited extent on the website. There, the focus is primarily on the material composition, while information on the origin, production sites or social conditions for end consumers is still missing.

TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESS

In its brand communication, Methods provides selected insights into materials, design philosophy and the circular product concept. The information focuses primarily on the product structure and environmental aspects.

For example, the brand states that the shoes consist of five individually replaceable components that are either recyclable or biodegradable. It also mentions that production takes place in Portugal and that vegetable-tanned cowhide is sourced from the Portuguese meat industry. Detailed information on suppliers, production sites or intermediaries is currently not publicly communicated to customers. COSH! has received this information on request. 

The available information can mainly be found on the general website or on the product pages. Product-specific traceability – for example through QR codes or serial numbers – is currently not implemented. This means that transparency towards customers remains limited to a basic level: there is a clearly recognisable environmental focus, but without deeper insights into operational processes, partner networks or socio-economic impacts.