This month, two of our favorite running and sportswear brands, Adidas and Allbirds, came together during Earth Month to create a new sneaker, the Adizero x Allbirds 2.94 kg CO2e. This recent launch is part of their ongoing Futurecraft.Footprint collaboration. When we think about climate change, much of it falls in the hands of a few massive corporations—not individual responsibility. But it’s still encouraging, no matter how imperfect, to see brands developing eco-conscious products in an attempt to create a more equitable, sustainable world.
Features of the Adizero x Allbirds 2.94kg CO2e
The running shoe is available for both men and women online and in-stores at Adidas and Allbirds (though nearly sold out on its site). It combines Adidas’s knowledge of running technology with Allbirds’s natural materials expertise. The entire shoe is made out of at least 25% recycled materials.
The upper is made from natural TENCEL, or eucalyptus tree fiber, plus adidas Primegreen proprietary high-performance recycled polyester. The midsole is produced from ultralight, plant-based EVA (Ethylene-vinyl acetate) made with 17% sugarcane-derived materials. The durable lining features recycled polyester embroidery for the toe box, midfoot, and heel reinforcement. The shoes are lightweight with a 9.5mm heel drop. A high heel-drop (over 7 mm) is ideal for runners who land heel first to allow for more shock absorption.
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The brands have collaborated on eco-conscious performance shoes before, but this new limited-edition shoe is a wider release, as it launched in four colors: Non Dyed/Cloud White/Carbon; Non Dyed/Core Black/Bliss; Non Dyed/Core Black/Acid Red (Adidas exclusive); and Semi Turbo (Allbirds exclusive). Each pair costs $120, which is reasonable industry-wide, further showing that sustainable initiatives can be accessibly priced.
What does it mean for a shoe to be low-carbon?
The Adizero x Allbirds 2.94 kg CO2e collab is both brands’ lowest carbon footprint shoe to date, clocking in at, you guessed it 2.94 kg CO2e. In comparison, Adidas’s RC3 running shoe comes in at 7.86 kg CO2e. But what does all of that mean? Well, low carbon means that something is producing less carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas that has proven to be key in exacerbating the effects of climate change.
When it comes to sourcing and manufacturing shoes, there are carbon emissions created by factories and tools. According to Allbirds, both brands avoided petroleum-based and virgin materials wherever possible in the creation of this shoe, instead leaning towards “natural” and recycled materials. What’s more, the brands used no dye to create these shoes, instead working with the materials’ natural colors to use less water in the production process. Learn more about Allbirds carbon footprint labeling and its commitments to reducing its carbon emissions.
The fashion and footwear industries have a long way to go when it comes to reaching carbon neutrality, but seeing notable brands taking small steps towards a sustainable world is promising.
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Source: SELF
