Adidas unveils 100% biodegradable trainers

Sportswear company Adidas has unveiled a prototype for new trainers made from 100 per cent biodegradable fabric – the Futurecraft Biofabric.

The new design was announced last week at the Biofabricate conference in New York.

Thanks to a water and enzyme solution called proteinase, the biodegradable fabric – a synthetic spider silk called Biosteel – decomposes in just thirty-six hours after its disposal.

An Adidas spokesperson said: “This process is 100% natural... The shoe would not dissolve if worn in rainy weather conditions, for example, as the presence of proteinase is all important to the process.”

Biosteel is sturdier and 15 per cent lighter than the traditionally used fabric for trainers and it also takes less energy to produce.

The fibre is described as 100 per cent vegan, and it allows moisture management.

Jens Klein, CEO of AMSilk, which produced the fabric, said: “With this development we are setting new standards regarding the functionality of renewable textiles.”

According to Adidas, the biodegradable shoe, which is for now only a prototype, is on track to be commercially released by next year.

Adidas also recently unveiled a new line of sneakers that are made from recycled plastic taken from the ocean ― again, the sole appears to be made out of foam.

Adidas has also recently announced a new line of sneakers made from recycled plastic from the ocean, which are soon to be commercialised.

According to the sportswear company, each pair of trainers from that line is made of eleven plastic bottles.

Adidas wrote:  “The shoes’ laces, heel cap base material, heel webbing, heel lining and the sock-liner cover are also made with recycled materials... Its design is inspired by ocean waves, to reflect the shoe’s unique story and Adidas and Parley’s commitment to end the cycle of pollution in the oceans.”

This topic will be covered further at Sustainable Innovation in Sport – a two day meeting bringing together stakeholders and influencers who are engendering positive environmental impacts through sport, on the 22-23 February 2017.  For more information and to register, visit the website by clicking here