Plant-powered sustainable running shoes
Register for free and continue reading
Join our growing army of changemakers and get unlimited access to our premium content
These trainers contain enzymes that help them break down quickly in landfill
Spotted: For avid runners, high-quality shoes are a non-negotiable. But more often than not, the elements that make trainers bouncier and more lightweight involve materials derived from fossil fuels. And that’s not to mention the fact that, because running trainers go through a lot more wear and tear than the average shoe, they’re also thrown out more often. Now, Zen Running Club is proving that high performance is compatible with sustainability.
The startup was founded back in 2020 by Richard Rusling and Andy Farnworth and launched with its first shoe: the ZR01. With an upper section made from sustainably grown eucalyptus, a sugarcane midsole, and an FSC-certified natural rubber outsole, the ZR01 is vegan-approved by the Vegetarian Society. The breathable and reactive shoes are also designed to mould to the shape of the wearer’s foot, potentially helping reduce knee and foot pain.
Zen Running Club’s most recent commercial release is the FUTUREone. As well as achieving high performance, comfort, and responsiveness – which earned the FUTUREone a spot on Runner’s World favourite 20 shoes of the year – Zen Running Club also claims its shoes contain the highest bio-content in the performance running industry, with 68 per cent bio-based components. The startup also incorporates bio-based foam containing enzymes that accelerate its breakdown in landfill.
The company is working to build a 100 per cent compostable trainer over the next few years. In addition to increasing the amount of bio-based materials used in the shoes, Zen Running Club is also working to create a fully circular bio-based supply chain. The goal is to base the shoes on materials that can be harvested and re-grown sustainably.
Zen Running Club was recently selected from more than 1,000 applicants to join the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator. As part of the programme, the company received expert mentoring, financial support, and access to computing power from AWS.
Written By: Lisa Magloff and Matilda Cox