New Balance is the latest company to get on board with reusing recycled materials. newSKY is their brand of shoes that is made from 95% recycled PET plastic bottles. The trend with New Balance started with their NB Minimus brand, where they were focused in giving the wearer a natural feeling of not wearing any shoes. Just like on those gorgeous summer days, when your running around the yard in your bare feet.
Taking their cue from that design, New Balance took the characteristics of the new material into account when they created the environmentally friendly design, so that they could maintain the minimalist approach and embrace sustainability. It’s pretty fascinating to find out how they managed to reform plastic bottle bits into the material that is used on the majority of the shoe. But it doesn’t end with the production of the shoes, because the tagline for newSKY, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” says it all. When the user is finished wearing these shoes, New Balance wants you to donate your gently worn shoes so that they cycle can continue and garbage is reduced.
It’s great to see more larger companies coming out with sustainable design. Every small step from one of us becomes one more healthy spin for our planet. It’s a win-win for us all!
– found in a DesignTaxi post -> New Balance site
