Allbirds debuts waste-based shoes
Allbirds is pushing the boundaries of sustainable design with the debut of its latest footwear innovation: Remix. Developed through a groundbreaking partnership with Blumaka, a leader in recycled foam technology, and Circ®, a pioneer in textile-to-textile recycling, the new collection gives a second life to manufacturing waste by converting foam scraps and blended textile offcuts into brand-new shoes.
Every year, billions of shoes are produced worldwide, generating massive volumes of waste—including 344,000 tons of midsole foam alone, most of which ends up in landfills. This discarded material takes decades to decompose and releases harmful emissions along the way. By intervening in this process, Allbirds and its partners are reshaping the industry’s approach to waste, debuting two new styles: the Runner NZ Remix and Cruiser Remix.
The midsoles of Remix sneakers are crafted using Blumaka’s innovative process, which grinds and molds reclaimed foam scraps into a high-performance recycled blend. This method uses 99% less water and emits 65% fewer carbon emissions than traditional foam production, while delivering exceptional durability, cushioning, and comfort. Far from a compromise, Blumaka’s process reimagines waste as a resource, creating performance-ready components that rival virgin materials.
For the upper materials, Remix styles make history as the world’s first footwear to incorporate textile-to-textile recycled polycotton, processed through Circ’s proprietary hydrothermal technology. This innovation separates and recovers cotton and polyester fibers from blended garments, producing a fabric with a luxurious look and feel—matching or surpassing the quality of virgin synthetics.
The result is two distinct silhouettes that blend style, comfort, and sustainability with no trade-offs, giving consumers a fresh option they can feel good in, and feel good about.
