This week, Reebok announced the Forever Floatride GROW, its first sustainable, plant-based performance running shoe. The new sneaker is built using castor beans, algae foam, natural rubber, and eucalyptus tree and will be available to consumers in Fall 2020.
The Forever Floatride GROW is the most recent example of Reebok’s commitment to reducing petroleum-based plastics by using natural ingredients in its footwear. The eucalyptus tree upper is biodegradable and sustainably sourced, and the cushioned midsole is built from sustainable castor beans. Additionally, the BLOOM algae foam sock liner is harvested from invasive growth areas, and the outsole is sustainably sourced from real rubber trees. Reebok’s Cotton + Corn lifestyle collection was the brand’s first experience using plant-based materials.
“With Forever Floatride GROW, we’re replacing oil-based plastic with plants,” said Bill McInnis, Vice President, Reebok Future. “The biggest challenge in making a shoe like this was developing plant-based materials that could meet the high-performance needs of runners. During the three years we spent developing this product, we heard loud and clear that the idea of a plant-based running shoe resonates strongly with serious runners. But those same runners felt just as emphatically that they would never compromise on performance. The Forever Floatride GROW is the result. Plant-based performance – with no compromise.”
Reebok’s new focus on sustainability efforts is a commitment to [REE]GROW, which focuses on the creation of products from natural materials, and [REE]CYCLED, which focuses on creating products using recycled or repurposed materials. It has also committed to eliminating virgin polyester from its material mix by 2024.
“The earth is a runner’s arena, and we have a responsibility to help detox the world for the athletes who run in it,” said Matt O’Toole, Reebok Brand President. “Our Cotton + Corn collection was the first step in making shoes from things that grow. Now, we have taken an award-winning running shoe, the Forever Floatride Energy, and reinvented it using natural materials to create what we feel is the most sustainable performance running shoe on the market.”
