If you thought Crocs had had their day, the latest resurgence of the comfort clogs would have been something of a shock. But now the brand is set to become even more on trend, with the group announcing the shoe will be made from entirely bio-based materials by 2022.
The new iteration of the footwear will be made from the natural product Ecolibrium, which is manufactured using renewable-based hydrocarbons – sourced from waste materials such as pulp paper and palm oil, in a process the company says is ‘carbon negative’. Given the natural nature of the new material, possibilities of recycling the shoes are opened up.
The new shoes, known as ‘Croslite’ will be manufactured in collaboration with global materials science company Dow.
The announcement marks the company’s first major milestone in its mission to reach net zero by 2030. Following on from commercialisation of its new low-carbon model, the company is also looking into sustainable packaging alternatives, as well as developing recycling and reusing schemes, encouraging customers to return their shoes for such purposes. Finally, the group will also be looking to harness renewable power at its offices and distribution facilities wherever possible.
“At Crocs, we recognize the important role companies play in creating a world where everyone is comfortable in their own shoes,” said Crocs CEO Andrew Rees. “By starting with our iconic product, backed by a first-to-market solution, we’re taking a bold step forward to create lower carbon footprint footwear while making it inherently simple for our partners and consumers to join us on our journey to net zero.”
A usual pair of crocs already has a carbon footprint of 3.94kg of CO2 per pair – an amount that is already relatively low. Under its new green push, the retailer is looking to reduce its carbon footprint by around 50%.
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