YY Nation, a sustainable shoe brand from New Zealand, is launching in the United States with its eco-friendly Legacy Footwear Collection, which includes what the company calls “the world’s lowest carbon footprint sneaker.”
Following three years of intensive research and development, YY Nation’s Nimbo shoe, made from bamboo and algae, has a carbon footprint of 5.45kg CO2e (ISO 14067 Certified), which has three times fewer carbon emissions than conventional sneakers.
The entire Legacy Footwear Collection has a carbon footprint ranging from 5.45kg CO2 emissions to 8.15kg CO2 emissions per shoe, which is 42 percent to 61 percent lower than conventional sneaker emissions of 14kg CO2.
YY Nation shoes are Zero Carbon Certified1 and projected to be carbon negative in 2022. The carbon footprint of all YY Nation shoes have been independently double certified by thinkstep-anz2 and Ekos3.
“We are on a journey to make the world’s most sustainable shoes,” said YY Nation Founding Director Jeremy Bank. “While we’re off to a good start, good is not enough. These are the worst shoes we’ll ever make in terms of carbon footprint but are a leading sustainable option. It feels great to be making a difference, we just want to keep doing better. With today’s launch, YY Nation is committing to a carbon negative future that combines rigorous sustainability standards with incredible design and comfort.”
Made from a combination of carefully selected, sustainable materials like wool, bamboo, pineapple husk, recycled post-consumer plastic, algae and sugarcane, all elements of a YY Nation shoe are designed to be reused and repurposed to minimize waste, with a long-term goal of being 100 percent sustainable.
Materials include:
- Merino wool – The ultra-fine Merino wool upper is soft, breathable, temperature-regulating, and moisture-wicking to maintain all day comfort. The wool is sourced and traceable from New Zealand growers.
- Woven bamboo/nylon mesh – The woven 70 percent bamboo/30 percent nylon mesh upper resists moisture to keep feet cool and dry through any weather conditions and has natural antibacterial properties. The bamboo is grown in ethical, OEKO-TEK certified and sustainable forests, and the nylon thread is made from recycled plastic bottles.
- Pineapple Leather – A natural textile made from waste pineapple leaf fiber, pineapple leather was developed as a sustainable alternative to mass produced animal leather. Pineapple leaves are the waste products of the pineapple industry and are typically burnt, producing massive amounts of pollution and carbon emissions. By turning them into “leather” for YY Nation shoes, is a sustainable, vegan alternative to leather and supports a new revenue stream for pineapple farmers.
- Sugarcane – When pressed, liquid from sugarcane is turned into bioethanol that becomes the base for soft, durable, flexible white soles, replacing harmful oil-based petrochemicals. YY Nation sugarcane soles are considered carbon negative, making shoes that are light to wear but also light on the planet.
- Algae – Algae is the fastest growing plant on Earth. In recent years, there’s been an uncontrollable rise in algae due to an increase in human activity, leading to runoff of fertilizers that choke our waterways. By using algae, YY Nation shoes help clean waterways and purify the air. With every sole, YY Nation clears 24 liters of water and cleans 49 cubic feet of air.
The Legacy Footwear Collection is launching with four styles available in 12 colors (color options vary by style).
