London barefoot shoe company VIVOBAREFOOT has announced its partnership with San Diego-based Bloom. The US firm uses algae biomass harvested from freshwater sources around the world to make EVA foams out of this non-fossil fuel for the first time. An innovation in the global shoe industry, VIVOBAREFOOT shoes will be the first full shoes to use the material and will be available for purchase from July.
Founded in 2012, VIVOBAREFOOT is a global barefoot shoe company, offering men’s, women’s and children’s shoes for everyday wear, running, off-road adventures, and more. In addition to encouraging people to get closer to nature, the company prides itself on its sustainability practices.
Bloom is a performance-based materials manufacturer, founded in 2015. It offers the first sustainable alternative to the synthetic and petrochemical foams prevalent in today’s market. Using algae biomass helps offset the significant use of petroleum ingredients found in conventional flexible foams.
The collaboration will start with the shoe brand using the BLOOM algae-EVA foams in its Ultra shoes: an amphibious adventure line. It is stated that each single pair of size 42 shoes returns 57 gallons of clean water to habitat and reduces 40 balloons’ worth of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
“Our goal is to deliver the most performance-driven materials in the most environmentally responsible manner,” said Mike Van Drunen, CEO of Bloom. “It is a goal we constantly strive to improve upon, and we are excited to collaborate with VIVOBAREFOOT on the new Ultra line.”
“This is a true revolution for the footwear industry with the first plant-based alternative to the petro-foams in ubiquitous use,” said Galahad Clark, founder and MD at VIVOBAREFOOT. “We are thrilled to be the first company to use Bloom in our shoes and further our mission to make the perfect shoe… perfect for feet and minimal impact on the planet.”
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