Eco-friendly trainers made from cork, wool and ocean plastic

Naturally water resistant, the unisex shoes are washable, breathable and easy to wear

Spotted: The French shoe company JUCH is introducing its first eco-friendly collection. Called Element 0, the new shoes are leather-free and feature naturally odour-resistant insoles, recycled ocean plastic laces and sustainably sourced cork and rubber outsoles and yokes.

Having released nine previous collections, the company decided to focus on transparent production and environmentally-friendly materials. Through a blockchain partnership with Crystalchain, consumers can check the veracity and provenance of each aspect of an Element 0 pair of shoes. Manufacturing is based in Romania, rather than Asia, where most of the world’s shoes are made, which greatly reduces the brand’s transport emissions.

The entire shoe is constructed from naturally occurring or eco-friendly materials. The removable insole is made of a mix of natural latex, wool, wood and cornflour. The cork yokes provide lightweight strength, and cork is also used in the outsoles. The microfibre upper is tanned with water, and the integrated socks and laces are made from recycled fishing nets and plastic bottles.

Having recently closed a successful Kickstarter campaign, the company plans to begin production in May 2021 and start shipping the first pairs to supporters by July 2021.

Springwise has seen an interesting array of new materials on show in footwear, from dog hair and mushrooms to microbial brewery waste.

Explore more: Fashion & Beauty Innovations | Sustainability Innovations