A New Shoe Launches With A Never Before Seen Zero-Carbon Footprint - Mission

A New Shoe Launches With A Never Before Seen Zero-Carbon Footprint

Elizabeth Grace Coyne.

Allbirds is changing the way footwear is designed and paving the way for new sustainable innovations

The sustainably focused and fashion-forward footwear brand Allbirds, has introduced the M0.0NSHOT, a sneaker with a sleek silhouette and a guarantee that it is the “world’s first net zero carbon shoe.” The M0.0NSHOT, which comes in a slate gray base adorned with bright lilac accents, will be available for purchase in spring 2024.

In addition to launching a sneak peek at the shoe’s design, Allbirds has released a comprehensive guide which details the process behind the creation of their zero-carbon product. This guide, labeled as Allbird’s “RECIPE B0.0K” includes the brand’s progress over a five-year timeline.

According to these materials, in 2018 the brand created “SweetFoam,” a structural material made from carbon negative and sugarcane-derived green EVA (an extremely resistant and elastic based substance), which they used for the midsole of the new shoe’s design. In 2020, Allbirds began labeling all of their merchandise with the individual product’s carbon footprint, the first fashion brand to do so. One year later, they partnered with the activewear brand Adidas to create a low carbon footprint shoe and began the process of designing the M0.0NSHOT.

“So, what was our natural next step? Shooting for the moon with a net zero carbon shoe, of course.”

In addition to Allbirds patented SuperLight Foam, the M0.0NSHOT is designed with regenerative wool from Lake Hawea Station in New Zealand, a net zero carbon farm that produces superfine premium merino wool and sequesters more carbon than it emits. This is possible due to the farm’s in-class development program which focuses on native plantings, ground clearing and new pasture species. The shoes are also embellished with carbon-negative bioplastic eyelets, packaged in carbon-efficient packaging and transported with carbon-conscious biofueled ocean shipping and electric trucking.