Allbirds and Adidas release their first low-carbon performance running shoe

Eight months after presenting their low carbon footprint sneaker concept, Allbirds and Adidas are now offering it for sale. The highly anticipated shoe, with a carbon footprint of no more than 2.94 kg of CO2 equivalent, will go on sale, initially as a limited edition, on December 15.

This low-carbon footwear went from an experimental project to full-scale manufacturing in just eight months. It was in May 2020 that Allbirds and Adidas announced their partnership to try to create a running shoe with the lowest possible carbon footprint, and then a year later the two brands were able to present a prototype.

With one day to go before its release, the "FutureCraft.FootPrint" remains a low-carbon sneaker with a footprint of 2.94 kg of CO2 equivalent. For comparison, a study conducted in 2019 by the sustainable brand Veja showed that two of its leather models, including one also made from recycled bottles, had a carbon footprint of between 16.60 and 21.5 kg CO2 equivalent, compared to 5.63 kg CO2 equivalent for an organic cotton model. In other words, this new performance shoe is already breaking many records.

"FutureCraft.FootPrint is an important reminder that we can achieve more together than we can separately, especially when it comes to the race against climate change. It's been incredible to see this go from a simple yet far-fetched idea of the world's lowest carbon footprint running shoe to a product that consumers can get their hands on in just two years -- it's a testament to the power of collaboration in the face of a daunting challenge," said Tim Brown, co-founder and CEO of Allbirds.

Featuring a midsole made from Allbirds' organic sugarcane technology, the performance shoe was built using the tangram principle -- meaning that each component was designed to fit together like a tangram puzzle. The goal is to reduce waste, and by extension, carbon emissions.

The "FutureCraft.FootPrint" will be offered in a limited edition from December 15 from Adidas, at a price of €120. A second, larger-scale launch will follow in the spring of 2022.