Meet the innovator converting carbon dioxide into oxygen with each step
After years of selling modular zero-waste sneakers, Fela Akinse invented carbon-negative shoes - something never thought possible in the footwear industry.
Imagine if every time you took a step, the energy generated by your movement could be harnessed to convert carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen.
It sounds like a far-off, futuristic concept, but it’s not. It’s real. And, it’s being built right here in Knoxville.
Fela Buyi Akinse is the innovator behind the iconic 0 CRB (pronounced Zero Carbon) shoe design. He is also the Founder of Salubata, a modular, zero-waste shoe brand with roots in Nigeria and Western Europe.
For decades, circular economists have been concerned about the environmental impact of shoe waste. Experts estimate that the global footwear industry will be worth USD 568.54 billion by 2031, and about 20 billion shoes are manufactured annually. The manufacturing process releases large amounts of carbon dioxide. Unsustainable Magazine reported that the industry is responsible for 1.4 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
The 0 CRB shoe model could drastically impact that statistic.
Akinse isn’t a typical founder. His journey to the United States was anything but ordinary—in fact, it was somewhat extraordinary.
After being born in Nigeria and working as an Environmental Scientist, Akinse founded Salubata from Lagos, Nigeria to the world, traveling through about 30 countries. Salubata has already taken off in popularity, bringing in about a quarter of a million in revenue in 2024.
The modular shoe company makes its shoes 100 percent using plastic waste. In this way, Salubata is unraveling the fact that the global shoe economy is propelling an environmental crisis.
“What we had been doing was trying to offset carbon with our shoes,” Akinse said. “But, then we got to thinking. What if we could readily capture the carbon, instead of just upsetting it?”
That one thought spurred a thousand ideas, which ultimately led to design plans in 2022 and a proof of concept (POC) in 2024.
Akinse was admitted into the United States on an O-1 visa. It is a non-immigrant visa for people with extraordinary ability in science, arts, education, business, or athletics. The visa permitted Akinse to come into the United States to hone his innovation and be closer to industry partners.
Since then, Akinse shared that his O-1 Visa turned into a Green Card via an EB1A visa. This year, he announced that he is ready to begin commercializing his 0 CRB innovation.
“We reached proof that our shoes can capture and convert oxygen, just like a plant does,” he said.
Already, his POC has captured the attention of footwear giants – Adidas being one of them.
“Most big brands are focused on what the customer wants, of course. That’s how they make money. So, if consumers begin wanting greener products, the big brands are more willing to invest billions of dollars into providing greener products,” Akinse said.
Akinse said research shows that some customers would be willing to pay up to 60 percent more for their shoes if they also served as an alternative function. And that’s just for now. He believes our world is constantly inching closer to adopting carbon credits, which would drastically accelerate his 0 CRB’s commercialization and adoption widely.
“With our shoes, every time you take a walk, you will be able to receive carbon credits,” he said. “Imagine that… It will make people want to walk more, run faster, hike, be outside, and adopt healthier lifestyles.”
Why Knoxville?
Akinse said he originally came to Tennessee to be near certain people and programs that supported Salubata and 0 CRB. However, as the years passed, he started to enjoy all that Knoxville had to offer.
“We got interest from other states to try and bring us into their state, but for us it’s not about that. It’s about the community… and the food,” Akinse said. “Knoxville is energetic, and the food is so tasty, which is saying a lot coming from Nigeria.”
As Akinse begins to work toward the commercialization of 0 CRB this year, he feels excited to be surrounded by such a supportive entrepreneurial scene.
For example, in March, he participated in the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center’s What’s the Big Idea pitch competition. And in April, he participated in the PYA Ballard Innovation Award.
“We want people to see that we’re very passionate. It is not an add-on technology. It is the future of footwear, and we are convinced of that,” Akinse said.
Akinse is also a graduate of the Techstars 2023 Los Angeles Accelerator.
Connect with Fela Buyi Akinse.
Like what you've read?
Forward to a friend!