The peculiarity of the new carbon-based Nike shoes is not only that they are biodegradable. This
Nike announced a partnership with Newlight,a biotech firm that specializes in developing carbon converters as alternatives to plastics and leather. One of Newlight's developments is the unique patented AirCarbon material. It's not just carbon neutral, but rather carbon negative.
For the production of AirCarbon Newlight materialextracts microorganisms from the oceans that feed on oxygen and carbon. They convert it to polyhydroxybutyrate, also known as PHB. After 10 years of research, Newlight figured out how to turn PHB into a special powder and then shape the material into different shapes.
At the time of writing, the company has tworetail brands that are bringing AirCarbon to the highest waste-producing industrial sectors. One of them, Covalent, uses the material to make wallets, bags, sunglasses and tech accessories. Another company, Restore, makes disposable cutlery and straws out of it. Now AirCarbon will also use Nike when sewing shoes.
“AirCarbon offers the opportunity even morereduce our impact on the planet, Nike's Chief Executive Officer for Sustainability Noel Kinder said in a press release. - Various materials account for 70% of Nike's total carbon footprint. Therefore, we are exploring new opportunities in this area. In the race against climate change, there is no time to wait for solutions, we have to work together and create them. ”
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