Reebok has pulled the wraps off a new running shoe that is made using only plant-based products, including castor beans, algae, eucalyptus trees and natural rubber.
The ‘Forever Floatride Grow’ shoe ditches petroleum-based plastics for all-natural materials, to create an entirely more sustainable product. It’s set to launch in Autumn next year.
The shoe – which is a green-friendly version of Reebok’s Forever Floatride Energy sneaker – comes with a cushioned midsole made from castor beans, along with a naturally biodegradable upper made from eucalyptus. The sock liner is made from Bloom algae foam. The rubber outsole also comes from real rubber trees (and most importantly, it has been sustainably sourced).
“The biggest challenge in making a shoe like this was developing plant-based materials that could meet the high-performance needs of runners,” said Bill McInnis, Vice President, Reebok Future.
“During the three years we spent developing this product, we heard loud and clear that the idea of a plant-based running shoe resonates strongly with serious runners. But those same runners felt just as emphatically that they would never compromise on performance. The Forever Floatride Grow is the result.”
The new shoe builds on Reebok’s existing Cotton + Corn lifestyle collection of bio-friendly footwear.
“Our Cotton + Corn collection was the first step in making shoes from things that grow,” explained Matt O’Toole, Reebok Brand President. “Now, we have taken an award-winning running shoe, the Forever Floatride Energy, and reinvented it using natural materials to create what we feel is the most sustainable performance running shoe on the market.”
Reebok has vowed to remove virgin polyester from its line by 2025, replacing it with sustainable materials. The brand isn’t alone in attempting to create more responsible trainers – earlier this year Adidas unveiled Futurecraft. Loop, a 100 per cent recyclable performance shoe.
