The 'World's Most Sustainable Shoes' To Be Launched By Adidas and Allbirds

Adidas and Allbirds have collaborated to make the “World’s Most Sustainable Shoes”. Why spend so much resources to make the most sustainable shoes, many would wonder. Sustainability may not be what customers would demand, because most customers are simply indifferent to the sustainability element of their accessories. However, it is the need of the hour especially when brands are being called out for their workplace carbon emissions, it is the prerogative of brands like Adidas and Allbirds to set the new trend, create demand where there is none and engage customers in conscious buying.

In 2018, Adidas partnered with Stella McCartney to release vegan Stan Smiths.  In the next year, Adidas also released Beastie Boys skate shoes made with vegan leather, and another sustainable innovation by using ocean plastic in high-performance running shoes. Now, it has teamed up with San Francisco based Allbirds to design a low-impact, high-performance sneaker. “Our brands don’t want to just participate in the sustainability conversation, we want to continue being catalysts and creators of substantial improvement,” said James Carnes, Vice President of Adidas Brand Strategy. The typical carbon footprint for a pair of synthetic running shoes ranges between 11.3kg and 16.7kg. Adidas and Allbirds desire to create a sports shoe with only 2kg carbon footprint. This is a not an impossible feat as both companies have admitted the use of animal products in their some of their existing shoes, they plan to adopt plant-based and recycled materials to maximize sustainability.

While, Adidas has expertise in manufacturing high quality athletic shoes, Allbirds specializes in monitoring its end-to-end carbon emissions.  James Carnes added “The recent progress that our brands have made in the name of sustainable innovation has created the perfect momentum for this partnership to influence industry practices forever”. Adidas aims to use only recycled plastic in its products by 2024 and is setting trends towards sustainability for other brands to follow. Its not certain whether these shoes will trigger the change in footwear industry, but it is these small steps towards sustainability that ultimately makes a sustainable future for all of us.