Allbirds M0.0NSHOT is the first zero-emission shoe

The prototype Allbirds "MO.ONSHOT" will be presented for the first time in June at the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen and is scheduled to go on sale next year

Allbirds zero emissions shoe M0.0NSHOT
Source & Copyright by Allbirds

Author: Ines Thömel

  • M0.0NSHOT relies on regenerative wool and bioplastics made from methane
  • The amount of carbon trapped balances the environmental impact of manufacturing, transportation, use, and waste
  • Knowledge transfer: Best practice as open source for everyone to see

The US label from San Francisco has been working on revising its shoe production for a long time - for the first time, climate compensation was no longer necessary for the M0.0NSHOT. However, Kate Ridley, marketing director at Allbirds, emphasized in a recent press release that designing and manufacturing a shoe that is carbon neutral was a huge challenge. While the company has been successful in reducing carbon emissions from the manufacturing of its shoes, avoiding all emissions has been difficult. The shoe brand emphasizes that it is not a miracle cure for the climate crisis, but a good start.

How does Allbirds create a low carbon footprint?

Allbirds was able to produce in a climate-neutral manner, primarily through the use of CO2-negative materials such as regenerative grown merino wool. The use of EVA foam made from sugar cane and bioplastics made from methane also played a major role. In the past, the company had already FutureCraft shoe, which it designed in collaboration with Adidas, achieved the smallest carbon footprint of 2 kg. The aim of the sustainable shoe brand is to produce all shoes in a climate-neutral or climate-negative manner in the future.

The company relies on full transparency and makes the approach available as open source after the release so that other providers can also use it. "Developing a net-zero emissions shoe that is commercially viable and scalable is the culmination of all of our past work," said Allbirds co-founder Tim Brown in a press release. “The M0.0NSHOT is not a miracle cure for the climate crisis. But it is proof that if we take sustainability seriously and really focus on reducing carbon, then we can make incredible breakthroughs.”

What materials are in the M0.0NSHOT?

Allbirds uses regenerative merino wool for its upper material, which is obtained at the Lake Hawea Station animal farm in New Zealand. The midsole made of sugar cane-based foam, which consists of 80 percent bio-based ingredients, is also CO2 negative. The bio-based plastic from the material developer Mango Materials was used for the eyelets. Mango Material developed a polyester that can be molded like regular plastic, but is made from methane in an “innovative new process”. Methane is a greenhouse gas produced by agriculture, bogs and swamps. It's basically 25 times more harmful than CO2 emissions.

Sustainability at all levels?

When it comes to sales, the brand also relies on climate-conscious transport. The products are transported to the warehouse by biofuel-powered ships and electric trucks. The packaging consists of Green PE. This is a bio-based and therefore biodegradable polyethylene, which is also made from sugar cane. To measure the carbon footprint, the brand has partnered with Lake Hawea Station and wool producer The New Zealand Merino Company. They are developing a new method that takes into account materials and processes that both capture and emit CO2.

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