Stella McCartney Partners With Balena to Launch Sustainable Sneakers With Compostable Soles
Fashion house Stella McCartney has partnered with material science company Balena to launch a new version of its sustainable S-Wave Sport sneakers. The soles of the shoes are made with Balena’s BioCir® Flex material, which biodegrades into renewable biomass when composted in industrial facilities and can be recycled for continuous use. BioCir® Flex is made from sustainable sources like castor beans, oils, and polysaccharides, which do not compete with food resources. It is dyed with natural cinnamon, and is claimed to be as durable as TPU and as flexible as rubber. The white version of the sneakers features Piñayarn® mesh panelling, made with pineapple leaf fibres sourced from agricultural waste. This material is a zero-waste, biobased alternative to fossil fuel-based plastics. The Wine version has …