San Francisco-based Allbirds has teamed up with Blumaka, a leader in converting recycled foam, and textile-to-textile recycling specialist Circ, for the creation of new Remix footwear. 

With billions of shoes produced annually, the footwear industry generates a staggering amount of manufacturing waste trimmings, shaving and dust from the cutting and shaping processes.

In midsole foam alone, the industry produces 344,000 tons of waste annually – enough material to craft 2.5 billion midsoles – yet much of this high-quality foam goes unused and discarded. The materials, which are often non-biodegradable and notoriously difficult to recycle, are then routed to landfills where they take decades to decompose and emit harmful chemicals like methane.

In an industry-first, Allbirds, Blumaka and Circ are intervening in the process by taking the landfill-bound waste and refashioning it into two Remix styles – the Runner NZ Remix and Cruiser Remix.

Recycled foam blend

The Remix styles incorporate Blumaka midsoles, crafted from reclaimed foam scraps from athletic footwear manufacturing that are ground and molded into a high-performance, recycled foam blend. Not only does this process use 99% less water and emit 65% fewer carbon emissions than traditional foam production, it also creates a product that exceeds the expectations of durability, comfort and performance. Blumaka’s approach challenges assumptions about sustainability – these reclaimed materials are not just recycled but are revitalised into elite, performance-ready components that deliver all-day comfort and cushioning.

Additionally, the Remix styles use textile-to-textile recycled materials derived from polycotton waste using Circ’s proprietary hydrothermal recycling process that separates and recovers cotton and polyester fibres from blended garments. The resulting textile lends a luxurious look and feel, with like-new quality that meets and exceeds virgin synthetics.  

The materials combine to create two artful, visually distinct silhouettes that require no compromise on comfort, sustainability or style. 

“To us, ‘better things in a better way’ means that we’re not tied to one technology or one method of making – we have a limitless curiosity that inspires us to explore unexpected approaches,” says Adrian Nyman, chief design officer at Allbirds. “Remix is the latest step in our innovation journey.”

The Remix launches follow a decade of sustainable innovations from Allbirds, including Futurecraft.Footprint, an ultra-low carbon running shoe created in collaboration with Adidas and most recently, M0.0NSHOT Zero, the world’s first net zero carbon shoe made with carbon-negative regenerative wool. 

Remix styles became available online and in US and UK stores on August 19, with a retail price of $140. 

www.allbirds.com