Business finds success from making running sandals out of oyster shells

Business finds success from making running sandals out of oyster shells

2026-05-01

As more Taiwan’s footwear industry is moving overseas, one factory in Luzhou has broken through by cracking the circular economy. Lu Shu-cheng, general manager of Decheng Shoes, was inspired by annoying oyster shell waste common in her hometown. After calcifying and then grinding the shells, then combining the powder with rubber-like EVA materials, she can make naturally antimicrobial sandals. Ever since famous marathon runner Lo Wei-ming was spotted wearing the shoes, they’ve gained international renown. Lu makes it her mission to give back to her community by recycling old shoes, serving as a shining example of the resilience of Taiwan’s traditional industries as they embrace green manufacturing.

This avid marathon runner is wearing... flip flops? Actually, these running sandals were already made famous at home and abroad by Taiwan’s ultramarathon champ Lo Wei-ming. Even former US secretary of state Mark Pompeo and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang have them.

Tang Shih-ching
FTV reporter
Running in sneakers is nothing special. But is it possible to run fast in flip flops? After running for a bit in them, I actually find that the soles are very soft and flexible, and it has enough bounce. Most importantly, the thong area between the toes doesn’t hurt.

These running sandals come from a factory in New Taipei’s Luzhou District. But you’ll never guess what they’re made out of.

Lu Shu-chen
Decheng Shoes general manager
These are the shells left over from making oyster omelettes. These annoying things can be made into something useful.

When she was growing up in Yunlin, Lu Shu-chen never thought the oyster shells she was tired of seeing all the time could be broken up, calcified, and ground into a powder, then made into pellets and mixed with EVA materials to make shoes.

Lu Shu-chen
Decheng Shoes general manager
Although they’re not easy to make, since they’re naturally antibacterial, during the COVID-19 pandemic we hit a 40-year high in sales.

These are the first fully recycled sandals in Taiwan to be made with carbon plating, achieving sustainability and environmental goals. The business also encourages customers to bring their old shoes back to be recycled.

Lu Shu-chen
Decheng Shoes general manager
Making shoes that are sustainable and eco-friendly is a mission of mine. Having reached this point as a business, we have a sense of mission that—since we’ve produced a lot of pollution—shouldn’t we give back?

Exercising their corporate responsibility to reduce their carbon footprint to the absolute minimum sets high expectations for the rest of Taiwan’s footwear industry.

Lu Shu-chen
Decheng Shoes general manager
Over the next 10 years, we hope to elevate the entire industry. My greatest goal is of course, if I have the chance, I’m willing to share the results of our research with our peers, and I hope that they will follow us in moving toward sustainability. If all of us as a whole can achieve so-called sustainability, this is a better way to boost our industry. Otherwise, with so much of the shoe business already moved overseas, what else can Taiwan do?

Lu’s business has grown from a small cottage industry to a warehouse that can hold thousands of shoes with a massive flagship store. This unassuming pair of running sandals has redirected the fate of Taiwan’s entire footwear industry toward a brighter, sustainable future.

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