The German sporting goods supplier Puma SE has started an experiment on the biodegradability of its sneakers: For this purpose, the company is sending 500 specially made Re:suede sneakers to 500 previously drawn participants in Germany.
The sneaker should be worn by them for half a year and then sent back to Puma. Dutch composting expert Ortesa will then test for the brand whether the worn re:suedes can biodegrade “under controlled industrial conditions”.
“We were very happy about the many requests for the Re:suede experiment. There were many times more requests than sneakers available. This shows the great interest in sustainability issues. As part of the experiment, we will also collect feedback from participants on the comfort and durability of the sneakers, which will help us design future products if the experiment is successful,” said Heiko Desens, Global Creative Director at Puma, in a statement .
Company brand ambassadors such as model, actress and activist Cara Delevingne will also be testing the Re:suede as part of this project.
What is Puma’s Re:suede?
The Re:suede by Puma is made from suede sustainably dyed by Zeology, biodegradable thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and hemp fibers. “These materials were chosen because they also offer a high level of comfort compared to other biodegradable materials,” explains Puma.
The Re:suede pilot is part of Puma’s innovation platform Circular Lab, as part of which Puma’s sustainability and design experts work on circular projects. The Re:jersey project, Puma’s garment-to-garment recycling process, is also part of the Circular Lab.