Shoes are a huge burden on the environment, and as many as 300 million pairs end up in landfills every year. Salomon is on a path to help reduce that load by creating a recyclable running shoe that can be made into a ski boot. The largely thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) shoe is made from two grades of the stuff from toe to heel. It’s also breathable and resilient, and if you’re wondering about support from the non-EVA sole, Salomon says it’s even better than the materials found in conventional running shoes, a huge claim. Once it’s at the end of its usable life, it can be ground down and mixed with new TPU and then injection molded to become a ski boot shell. This footwear reincarnation results in significantly reduced waste and pioneering repurposing. Salomon hopes this technology will become a part of their lineup as early as 2021.
Salomon Recyclable Concept Shoe & Ski Boot
