Reebok unveils plant-based performance running shoe

By

Robin Driver

Published
Dec 3, 2019

Adidas-owned sports and footwear brand Reebok has announced the launch of a plant-based performance running shoe. The result of three years of research and development, the Forever Floatride Grow supports the brand’s objective to reduce the use of petroleum-based plastics.

 
An updated version of the brand’s award-winning Forever Floatride Energy model, the new shoe aims to use the most sustainable natural ingredients possible without compromising performance.
 
The running sneaker’s midsole is made from sustainably grown castor beans, offering cushioning that is intended to be both high-performance and lightweight.

The shoe also features a eucalyptus tree upper, which is sustainably sourced and naturally biodegradable, and a sockliner made from Bloom algae foam, which is harvested from invasive growth areas and offers natural odor resistance.
 
Finally, the Forever Floatride Grow’s natural rubber outsole is sustainably sourced from real rubber trees.
 
“Our consumers have told us they want more sustainable products, and the running community has been the most vocal and passionate on this issue,” said Reebok brand president Matt O’Toole in a release, explaining the reasoning behind the product’s development. “We want to help runners perform at their best, while also feeling good about the products they wear.”
 
The Forever Floatride Grow is part of a range of sustainability measures currently being explored by Reebok, which include the launch of its Cotton + Corn lifestyle footwear collection last year.
 
The brand’s sustainability efforts are organized around two pillars: [Ree]Grow and [Ree]Cycled. The first focuses on developing products with natural materials, while the second aims to use recycled and repurposed materials.
 
The company has also committed to reducing virgin polyester from its material mix and eliminating its use altogether by 2025.
 
The sportswear sector has not been immune to the calls for greater ecological and social responsibility that have been resonating in the wider fashion industry in recent years.

Earlier this month, Canadian athleticwear brand RYU announced that it was teaming up with Spanish manufacturer Nylstar for a new sustainability pledge, while both Reebok's German parent company Adidas and its U.S.-based competitor Nike are signed up to the UN's Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action.  

The Forever Floatride Grow launches in Fall 2020.