Last month, Sanuk, a division of Deckers Brands (its portfolio of brands includes Ugg, Hoka One One and Teva), launched the second version of its most eco-minded innovation, the SustainaSole collection. It develops the brand’s July 2020 debut of the SustainaSole line; the second collection has 55% total recycled material by weight.
Continuing on its mission ‘to protect happy places’, Sanuk again partnered with BLUMAKA to divert foam waste and turn it into quality, comfortable and sustainable shoes, addressing the footwear industry’s heavy, waste-generating reliance on virgin foams to provide a soft cushiony feeling.
Instead of sending foam scrap to the landfill during the manufacturing process, Sanuk and BLUMAKA collect scrap, grind it into smaller pieces and use it to create a comfy, durable filler for shoe soles. Beyond the foam content, the textile uppers are made with 100% Recycled GRS Certified Fibres, including recycled PET fibres, recycled cotton fibres and recycled polyester fibres.
New to this SustainaSole collection, these machine washable styles feature undyed uppers, an intentional decision to save both water and energy. The undyed upper saved 115 gallons per men’s Skuner model and 76 gallons per women’s Donna model. By skipping the dyeing process on the upper, Sanuk was also able to reduce greenhouse gas impact by nearly three pounds per men’s Skuner model and nearly two pounds per women’s Donna model.
General Manager Erik Ecklund said, “Sanuk is committed to seeking new materials and processes to create more sustainable products. These shoes mark a big step forward in our journey – and in the footwear industry – toward sustainable innovation.”
Traynor On The Trail 