Last week we wrote about a new pair of sneakers from the brand Cariuma made from bamboo, sugarcane, and natural cork. This time around, we present another new sustainable option from the brand Native Shoes that makes use of algae foam from the algae blooms that have been occurring across the globe.
The shoe is made mostly from the same material found in Crocs, though 10 percent is sourced from algae. That may not sound like a lot, but getting enough foam for just 10 percent of one shoe requires cleaning 80 liters of algae-infused water, which prevents the equivalent of 15 balloons full of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
Native Shoes’ technology takes in 662 liters of algae-polluted water per minute and produces 140 kilograms of algae a day. The shoes are also fully recyclable after they have worn out, and the material is so versatile, its applications in the fashion industry and beyond are endless.
