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Go green with the latest recycled sneaks!
By SneakerFreak | October 29, 2008
CARBON footprint – it’s not a new range of Nike dunks, but as I’m sure you’ll all know, the buzzword of the moment.
We’ve all been told we have to reduce ours, but recycling’s not exactly interesting, unless, dear Sneakerfreak fans, it’s to do with trainers.
Forget separating bottles, cans, newspapers and the ilk, boring, and wrap you’re feet in the latest recycled sneakers.
However if you’re thinking Sneakerfreaks turned into a lentil munching, noodle knitting, drippy hippy, you couldn’t be further from the truth.
All the main players in the trainer world have recently introduced their own take on ‘green’ footwear and there’s some rather tasty pieces out there at the moment – we ain’t talkin’ Jesus sandals here dude!
First up Adidas Originals have released the Grün collection, which ‘aims to better the environment by efficiently utilizing the natural resources of this world’, which is what it says on the press release. All you need to know is that Adidas Grün offers a range of products, including classic silhouettes like the Forum basketball sneaker and the ZX 500 runner, all made from recycled and natural materials.
Next up is the Nike Considered range, which grew out of the company’s commitments to design innovation and sustainability. The designers pulled from the best ideas, both inside and outside the company, with the intent of reinventing footwear design. It also grew out of conversations with consumers who were increasingly asking for more sustainable products.
Using materials found primarily within 200 miles of the Nike factory, which reduces the energy used for transportation, the manufacturing process is also designed to reduce solvents by more than 80% compared with Nike’s typical products. The leather also comes from a tannery that recycles waste water to ensure toxins are kept out of the environment, and it is colored using vegetable-based dyes. Hemp and polyester are used to make the shoe’s woven upper and shoelaces and the midsole is cut to lock into the outer sole, reducing the need for toxic adhesives. Phew, thought you’d want to know a bit of the science behind the sneaks, which include the Considered Boot, the Rock Shoe, the 2K5, the Mowabb II, the Tiempo, the CVT, the Spudnik and the Humara models.
However, while the two big boys are now going green, some may say they’re only dipping their feet in the water as one sneaker company has been at the forefront of green footwear for a lot longer.
Simple Shoes, also known as Simple is an American brand around since 1991.
Owned by Deckers Outdoor Corporation, which also owns UGG and Teva Sport Sandals, Simple uses products such as hemp, cork and even old tyres. Just think, Jay Kay could have once been driving round in your trainers!
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