Challenge
The typical shoe produces an average carbon footprint of 14 kg CO2e. With global annual production and sales exceeding 20 billion pairs, this represents a substantial environmental impact. In response, Allbirds aimed to create a shoe with a carbon footprint of 0 kg CO2e and collaborated with Mango Materials and used YOPP+ to achieve this goal.
Approach
The use of YOPP+ PHA derived from methane gas helps reduce the product’s carbon footprint. YOPP+ was incorporated into the plastic components, including the distinctive M0.0nshot emblem and eyelets. Additional materials in the shoe include a regenerative merino wool upper and a sugarcane-based foam midsole, both with carbon-negative properties. The combination of these three materials resulted in a shoe with zero carbon impact, representing a significant achievement.
Material Selection Rationale
Allbirds selected YOPP+ ST-101 due to its suitability as a rigid material for the plastic components in their footwear. During development, adjustments were made to the molding process as the design evolved, and YOPP+ consistently demonstrated reliable performance. As a result, this grade facilitated standardized manufacturing across multiple sites, ensuring efficient and seamless production.
Outcome
Allbirds embraced the minimalist style of their shoe, showcasing elegance through simplicity. They released a limited edition, available at select Allbirds stores and marked with a unique production number to highlight its rarity and significance as a milestone for the brand.
The collaboration with Allbirds on this significant product was an excellent opportunity for the Mango Materials team. It demonstrated that through effective partnership, we can achieve ambitious goals together.
"Creating a net zero carbon shoe that is commercially viable and scalable is the culmination of our entire back-catalog of work. M0.0NSHOT isn’t a silver bullet for the climate crisis — it’s a proof-point that, when we take sustainability seriously, and are laser focused on carbon reduction, we can make incredible breakthroughs,"
- Tim Brown, co-founder and co-CEO of Allbirds.
