02. Aug 2018
Braskem’s sustainable sugar-based EVA debuts in Allbirds’ new Sugar footwear line
A young San Francisco-based direct-to-consumer shoe brand called Allbirds has become the first company to use Braskem’s sugarcane-based EVA resin, marking the resin’s debut into the market – as a flip-flop.
Allbirds has just launched its Sugar Zeffer flip-flops, which retail for $35, and online, they have already largely sold out.
The proprietary SweetFoam material was jointly developed by Braskem and Allbirds and will be rolled out across all Allbirds’product lines. Already on sale in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, the new line combines comfort, design and sustainability.
"With this development, Braskem is demonstrating its leadership in sustainable manufacturing to the entire chemicals industry," said Joey Zwillinger, co-founder and Co-CEO of Allbirds, "Allbirds is thrilled to partner with Braskem to bring this incredibly sustainable alternative, and to share it with the rest of the world."
"The partnership with Allbirds is ideal for launching this new renewable resin, since, like us, it is a company that pursues innovation and sustainability in its products," said Gustavo Sergi, director of Renewable Chemicals at Braskem.
Closely following the industry's competitiveness and needs to arrive at the new solution, Braskem made adaptations in its plant located in Triunfo, Brazil, to produce the renewable resin. With characteristics such as flexibility, lightness and resistance, the resin helps to reduce greenhouse gases in the air by capturing and storing CO2 during its production process.
Allbirds launched its first product in March 2016, the Wool Runner, which was dubbed "the world's most comfortable shoe" by TIME Magazine. Allbirds has gone on to sell over a million pairs of shoes in the first two years of business and continues to introduce new proprietary sustainable materials, including Tree and now Sugar.
Meanwhile, a big name has signed on as the latest investor in the brand: Leonardo di Caprio. A statement released by the actor read: “Creating sustainable consumer products requires a deep commitment from brands that understand the role they have in helping solve our environmental crisis. Allbirds is on the forefront of developing new materials that will serve as a model for the footwear industry. This kind of innovation is crucial for creating a more sustainable future. I am proud to join the company as an investor.”
