Reebok’s Newest Sneakers Will be Made with Corn
As part of their “Cotton + Corn” initiative, Reebok has designed a biodegradable shoe that uses corn in place of the traditionally used petroleum-derived materials. According to Popular Science, this is a project that has been in the works for the last 5 years. While using cotton was a “straightforward” decision, according to head of Reebok’s innovation lab Bill McInnis, landing on corn as a sustainable substitute for the soles was a much harder endeavor.
The soles are made from a material called Susterra propanediol, which is produced using mature, dry corn kernels. Susterra is found in a number of industrial products, including adhesives and cooling fluids.
McInnis notes that, while the entire shoe is biodegradable, the durability shouldn’t be affected. “They’re subject to the same test that we put any of our other products through,” he says.
Reebok joins other shoe companies in their efforts to develop sustainable footwear, including Nike, and their parent company Adidas. Sustainable shoes are a hot commodity, with customers willing to pay a slightly higher price tag for more carbon-friendly products. This effort joins other company’s efforts like Nike’s Grind program, which recycles old sneakers to make new sneakers, apparel, and track surfaces. Or the Adidas Terrex line made of recycled sea plastic.
