We love to see big, mainstream brands taking steps toward more sustainable manufacturing. And with an Earth-friendly pitch, Reebok will likely sell a lot of its Nano X1 Vegan fitness shoes.
If you follow outdoor industry manufacturing, you know that sustainability, recyclability, and low carbon footprints are massive initiatives. Lead by brands like Patagonia, which launched recycled polyester, organic cotton, and dozens of other earth-friendly manufacturing practices back in 1996 – the outdoor industry has almost become a market of sustainability oneupmanship.
For example, take the brand Picture. Based in Chamonix, France, it launched some of the first fully recycled and recyclable jackets to hit the market. And they’re really good jackets! But the brand is relatively small, so even with this speartip technology, it’s hard for Picture to move the needle.
So when a mainstream brand like Reebok takes a step toward a more sustainable product, we take notice. As Corey Simpson, a spokesperson for Patagonia, once said, even one product from a huge brand can use more recycled material than an entire product line from a small brand. And in essence, that’s the long-term goal — to get more massive brands onboard and using recycled, sustainable products.
Reebok will certainly sell a lot of shoes with its Vegan pitch, and that’s a good step.
Reebok Nano X1 Vegan
So, what’s this shoe all about? The Nano X1 Vegan joins the list of several eco-friendly footwear releases from the brand this month. Reebok calls the Nano X1 its “ultimate training shoe.”
It manufactures the “vegan” edition with 100% animal-free materials, which should please animal-lovers. But it also uses other sustainable materials. As a USDA Certified Biobased Product, it has a minimum of 40% bio-based materials. That means using a cotton and wood spun yarn upper, castor bean oil and EVA foam midsole, and natural rubber outsole.
“At Reebok, one of our goals is to create innovative solutions that will help build a fitter planet without impacting product performance,” said Tal Short, Reebok Senior Product Manager. “We have a responsibility not just to design and create with our consumers in mind, but also planet Earth. Products like the Nano X1 Vegan are small but important steps we’re taking towards our bold future sustainability ambitions as a brand.”
The shoe itself aims for three functional attributes:
- Comfort: fusing Reebok’s Floatride Energy cushioning of a running shoe while maintaining the
performance and stability of a training shoe - Speed: the sleek shape and design allow for maximum speed and runnability
- Control: providing designed stability to support varied workouts
So, will these shoes move the needle toward a cleaner future? While they may be a drop in the bucket, they join other models in two of the brand’s biggest sustainability initiatives — [REE]GROW and [REE]CYCLED categories. Those include the Floatride Energy GROW running shoe and Zig Kinetica II [REE]CYCLED. All Reebok [REE]GROW products are made with at least 50% plant-based materials, while all [REE]CYCLED products feature an upper made of at least 30% recycled materials.
To learn more on how Reebok is committed to building a fitter planet, visit Reebok’s Sustainability Hub.
Consumers will have the chance to purchase the Nano X1 Vegan starting May 1, 2021, for $150 in men’s and women’s sizes, while Reebok UNLOCKED members will receive early access starting April 19th.
For more information, visit reebok.com.
