GREEN & HEARD
The ATL Trex Wally a.k.a. a rugged Wallabee.
Clarks Making Sustainability Strides ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGNS are not new to Clarks as the company has introduced several collections over the past few years that incorporate sustainable materials—like its Origins, Aceley and, most recently, ATL (All Terrain Leisure) lines. The latest installment, the ATL Trek Wally, is a hybrid classic Wallabee/hiker that hits the trail running—literally. “From responsibly sourced uppers and recycled-content underfoot cushioning, to part bio-based EVA midsoles featuring sugarcane and Rock rubber outsoles consisting of eight percent recycled regrind content, this new style is primed for performance and developed with care for the earth,” says Chief Marketing Officer Tara McRae. “Born from innovation and built for adventure, ATL is a performance-ready outdoor collection, perfected for every day, everywhere wear.” McRae says the ATL collection (SRP: $130) is aimed at active consumers. “People who are always on the move and see all terrain as their terrain,” she says. “Those who want comfortable performance footwear that enables them to get outdoors and seek new experiences. They also value authentic, responsible brands.” Speaking of which, McRae says sustainability is an essential pillar of Clarks. That includes the launch, earlier this year, of a sustainability advisory panel consisting of leading experts on the environment, sustainable materials and diversity and inclusion. The panel will work closely with the company, providing advice on strategy, plans and the execution of Clarks’ global approach as it continues on a journey towards lasting sustainability. “We’re known for acting with integrity, and it’s our collective responsibility to maintain that reputation through every aspect of the business,” McRae says. “We’re on a journey, evolving every single day.”
Did You Hear? IT’S DUBBED THE Air Baffle, a noise-reducing ceiling installation inspired by the modern lines of Nike’s legendary Air Max sneaker and, more importantly, filled with Nike Grind, a mix of recycled materials created from the company’s end-of-life footwear. Manufactured by Kirei, makers of eco-friendly interior designs, the Air Baffle marks the first time Nike’s new recycled Fluff material has been used in a commercial product. It’s only fitting that the Air Baffle is designed by longtime Nike designer, Michael DiTullo. Now creative director of Kirei, he has worked on hundreds of shoes for Nike, Jordan, Converse and other brands during his career. He’s also put his talents to Nike packaging, advertising and brand positioning projects. And now with his Air Baffle, DiTullo brings his design skills full circle, so to speak. “It was a real joy to design a product that helps rescue shoes from the landfill at the end of their useful life as footwear and find a new, long-lasting use for them as a visually striking architectural acoustic product,” DiTullo says. Just how many ground-up Nike shoes fill an Air Baffle? The short answer: a lot. For curiosity’s sake, though, DiTullo says a big, open area, like a hotel lobby, an office or a NikeTown might feature 20 medium-length baffles. “Each of those baffles are filled with more than 100 shoes, so a single installation saves more than 2,000 shoes from the landfill,” he says, adding that the exterior is made of 60 percent recycled plastic water bottles, or approximately 2,350 water bottles for an average installation. “Think if every NikeTown across the world used this. We’d be talking about a lot of shoes and water bottles!” (Not so) fun fact: the U.S. throws away up to 11.3 million tons of textile waste annually, according to the EPA. Worse, 87 percent of the total fiber input used for clothing is ultimately incinerated or sent to a landfill. To help address this issue, Nike stores feature collection bins for old shoes to turn into Nike Grind. Over the past three decades, about 130 million pounds of Nike Grind has been recycled into products like furniture, running tracks, skateboards and even space shuttles. DiTullo urges everyone to keep recycling their old Nikes, as there’s plenty of potential uses for Fluff in future Kirei designs. “It could be used to fill any acoustic product, and possibly for a lot of other products—maybe even cushioning for furniture,” he says. “Imagine sitting on a sofa filled with shredded Nikes!”
Noise reduction to the (Air) max.
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