Panel: Going Round in Circles – Is it Working?

Having exchanged being an Outward Bound Instructor for the warmth of indoors, Charles has helped teach the next generation of designers for two decades now. Sustainable through longevity is a core principle.

David Solk began working in his father’s footwear factory at 17, before gaining experience with several footwear companies and then joining adidas, where he rose to become Vice President of Operations for South Asia. 25 years ago he co-founded Shoefabrik, a full-service footwear design, creation, innovation and sourcing house that has delivered tens of millions of shoes for brands including On, Helly Hansen and Vivobarefoot. David has now co-founded SOLK AG, a Swiss venture pioneering biocircular sneakers that are beautiful in their first life and generous in their second. Designed on purpose. Built to last. Compost capable. Made to Fade.

Dr. Ines Anderie is Head of Chemical Analytics at PFI Pirmasens with a background in analytical chemistry and toxicology. She serves as an expert in multiple national committees, including work on the Blue Angel eco-labels and the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).

Mike Kunst is a Dutch professional specialized in operations management, sustainability, and circular processes. Since his appointment as Operations Manager at FastFeetGrinded, the world’s first company capable of fully recycling shoes in a circular way, he has played a key role in both daily operations and international scale-up.

His work goes beyond processes and numbers: Mike ensures that thousands of shoes per hour are transformed into high-quality secondary raw materials that find a second life in sports flooring, retail interiors, and, in the near future, even new shoes. He translates vision into practice by coordinating recycling processes, optimizing technology, and leading teams.

Mike strongly believes that waste is not the end, but the beginning of something new. Guided by this conviction, he works every day on creating practical, scalable, and sustainable solutions. His vision and expertise were highlighted during a SATRA webinar (2024) and in an interview with Dutch newspaper Trouw (2025), where he emphasized the importance of time and innovation in the acceptance of circular footwear.

Colleagues describe him as driven, pragmatic, and solution-oriented, with a keen eye for detail and a strong commitment to both people and the environment. For Mike, every shoe that re-enters the value chain as a raw material is tangible proof that circular change is not only possible, but already happening today.