Most people don’t realize the impact shoes have on the environment. Deforestation of Amazonian forest for cattle raising (to provide leather), large amounts of petroleum/toxic chemicals used for rubber and synthetic materials, and often times deplorable working conditions for workers are but a few of the darkly kept secrets of some your most favorite shoe brands.
Boston-based company New Balance has recently rolled out their 70 collection line of eco-friendly trail/running shoes. The line is New Balance’s first foray into environmentally-friendly shoe manufacturing and is aimed at those people who still want a good looking, and well functioning, shoe, but without all of the bad planetary karma that usually goes comes with them.
New Balance claims that 75% of new shoes’ upper components are comprised of “environmentally preferred materials.” The laces, webbing, rand, quarter, tongue and saddle are made of recycled polyester, while the other synthetic components of the shoe, that traditional require toxic solvents for their manufacture, are either manufactured with fewer or ‘less harmful’ solvents. The soles of the new 70 collection shoes incorporate rice husk filler in order to reduce amount of rubber needed, subsequently reducing the amount of petroleum needed in their manufacture. In lieu of solvent-based adhesives, water-based adhesives are used to join components together.
In addition to more eco-friendly materials used in their construction, the 70 collection line’s design centers around waste reduction. Many aspects of the shoe are constructed using the minimal amount of layers needed to successfully execute the functionality and aesthetics of the shoe. Also, the design is such that it maximizes as much of the original cutting material as possible.
The Good: The shoe addresses some of the negative ‘easier to solve’ environmental issues regarding shoe design and manufacture. It maintains a fairly good balance between form and function. The price range is more than reasonable ($80) compared to other shoe brands and New Balance is known by runners to be one of the best.
The Bad: The more difficult to solve environmental issues, such as complete removal of petroleum/solvents and shoe disposal, are still not addressed with this shoe. The 70 collection represents an incredibly small fraction of their entire line of shoes.
The Bottom-Line: Though the New Balance 70 collection may not solve all of the environmental challenges facing shoe design and manufacture, it certainly is a big step in the right direction towards the creation of a truly sustainable shoe.
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