“One small footprint for a shoe, but could be one giant leap for the shoe industry.”  - Allbirds


The fan favorite, sustainability footwear company Allbirds has announced and revealed sketches of their first ever net-zero emission shoe! To be launched in Spring of 2024, this collection becomes the world’s first fully net-zero shoe product. Believing that we all should be held accountable for our impact on the environment, Allbirds has set out to establish climate change programs, practice regenerative agriculture, use sustainable materials, and fund clean energy projects to offset the company’s carbon and become more integrated in the world of sustainability. Founded in 2014, this company has only grown in popularity in accordance with society’s need for sustainable products. 


After years of culminated work to reduce carbon across their business and production chain, the M0.0NSHOT shoe was born. From start to finish, Allbirds has created a fully sustainable and functional circulatory product. Many aspects and components collected in new shoes have been combined with elements from past shoes. Back in 2018 they developed the carbon-negative Sweet Foam, the foam used now in the M0.0NSHOT. Other elements include – regenerative wool, carbon-negative sugarcane-based foam for the midsole, and carbon-negative bio-plastic eyelets, wrapping the whole product in a nice eco-friendly bow. The shoe is packaged in carbon-negative packaging derived from sugar-cane, and is transported by biofuel powered ocean liners and electric trucks. 


This industry milestone could not have been executed without the help of nature and its resources. Allbirds partnered with the farming company, Lake Hawea Station, in the High Country of New Zealand in order to source and produce sustainable wool. Lake Hawea Station is a fully regenerative cattle and wool farm that produces premium merino wool for the locals, while understanding the importance of offsetting carbon emissions and respecting the natural given resources. Their highly developed farming program focuses on the responsible processes behind native plantings, ground clearing, new pasture species, and renewable energy sources. 


Allbirds believes that the shoe industry could benefit significantly from their design and production process so they are open-sourcing the toolkit that it took to get net-zero, so other footwear companies can get inspired and follow in the movement. The industry’s average carbon footprint per pair of shoes is about 14kg (30lbs), while the M0.0NSHOT has now been landmarked at 0.0kg, not relying on a single carbon offset. Let’s hope other companies follow suit! 

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