New Balance newSKY is the first running shoe to utilize material that is 95% recycled plastic bottles. The newSKY shoe replaces less eco-friendly components like leather, foam and manufactured plastics, with a this reclaimed fabric. The interior of the shoe is made of a fleece-like fabric manufactured from recycled PET. New Balance estimates it takes roughly eight recycled bottles to manufacture one shoe.
The new plastic material has been dubbed Eco-fi, which is created using flaked bottles that are heated and molded into fiber. The resulting material is durable and multifunctional. The vibrant sole that offers support to the shoe was borrowed from a previous New Balance model. The New Balance Nimbus first modeled the thinner sole that reduced waste, but still maintained the company's high standards for comfort.
New Balance is a favorite name among runners, so the company was only too delighted to learn that Eco-fi has the ability to change through heating. The newSKY shoes respond to the body heat of the wearer and become malleable molding their feet. This is great news for athletes looking for a comfortable workout, and great news for New Balance as the shoes required little reinforcement, which would have required the use of non-recycled materials.
Lighter than the average sneaker, far more insulating than nylon or wool and form-fitting, the New Balance newSKY is sure to keep even the most devote marathoners running back for more.
Salvaged Plastic Runners
The New Balance 'newSKY' is Made Using Recycled Bottles
Trend Themes
1. Eco-friendly Footwear - Companies in the footwear industry can develop sustainability initiatives by using recycled materials and creating eco-friendly footwear designs, such as the New Balance newSKY.
2. Recycled Material Innovation - Innovative recycled materials, such as New Balance's Eco-fi, can be used in various industries, leading to disruptive solutions and new product designs with sustainability in mind.
3. Personalized Athletic Wear - New Balance's newSKY running shoe that molds to the wearer's feet, highlights a potential disruptive innovation opportunity for personalized athletic wear in the sports industry.
Industry Implications
1. Footwear Manufacturing - Companies that manufacture footwear can explore ways to reduce waste and incorporate sustainable resources, such as recycled plastics, into their production processes.
2. Recycling Industry - The recycling industry can innovate and create new products from recycled plastic materials, such as Eco-fi, a fiber used in New Balance's newSKY running shoe.
3. Athletic Apparel and Equipment - The athletic industry can develop new products, like New Balance's newSKY, that respond to the wearer's body heat and mold to their unique shape, creating personalized and comfortable athletic wear and equipment.