Grendene S.A. is a Brazilian footwear manufacturer and one of the world’s largest producers of molded plastic footwear. The company designs, produces, and markets sandals, flip-flops, and casual shoes under brands such as Melissa, Ipanema, Rider, Grendha, and Zaxy, supplying both domestic and international markets.
Grendene’s operations intersect with the chemical value chain through its development and processing of polymer compounds—primarily PVC and EVA—for high-volume injection molding. Its vertically integrated manufacturing encompasses tooling, compounding, coloring, and finishing at large-scale plants in Brazil. The company’s materials work involves resin sourcing, additives and plasticizers, recycling of production scrap, and ongoing formulation development to meet performance, regulatory, and sustainability requirements.