The new Nike running shoes are the brand's most sustainable product yet

Many sportswear companies have been moving toward selling more eco-conscious products, and a new pair of Nike running shoes marks a major milestone in this industry trend
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Recently, the shoe giant announced the Air Zoom Alphafly Next Nature, which, according to the brand, is Nike’s “most sustainable performance shoe to date
.
”

The sneaker is an eco-friendly upgrade to the Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%, Nike's premier running shoe popular among long-distance runners, including record-breaking marathoner Eliud Kipchoge
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Made from 50% recycled material (by weight), the newest addition to the range pays equal attention to environmentally friendly production and athletic performance
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According to a press release, Nike used innovative materials, circular design principles and input from athletes to design and produce the shoe "in a way that reduces material waste and impact.

" The idea is that the shoe will offer the same benefits as the technologically innovative NEXT% shoe without sacrificing sustainability
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” (Nike also doesn’t want to sacrifice functionality or performance
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According to the press release, product testing for athletes involved logging 400 miles.
or more rigorous activities to ensure good shoe performance)
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Materials account for about 70 percent of Nike's carbon footprint, according to the brand
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So we put a lot of emphasis on using low carbon materials to make this shoe, including those that are recyclable and those that require less energy
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For example, the shoe features a responsive ZoomX midsole, the same technology used in the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run, which was voted the most versatile sneaker at the 2021 SELF Certified Sneaker Awards, and uses at least 70 percent of the Recycle foam
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Also built into the sole is Nike Air Zoom Pods cushioning, which is partially made from recycled thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU); and Flyplate, which is made from at least 50 percent recycled carbon fiber
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Meanwhile, the upper of the Air Zoom Alphafly Next Nature is a combination of Nike Flyprint (a 3D printed textile made of at least 20% recycled TPU) and Nike Flyknit (a textile made of at least 45% recycled polyester) made
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The outsole is made from a mix of materials including Nike ground rubber
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The comfortable socks are made from 100% recycled PEBA, a flexible plastic, while the laces are made from a film coating made from 100% recycled polyester and 50% recycled TPU
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The Air Zoom Alphafly Next Nature won't be Nike's only sustainable shoe
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The launch of the shoe is an important step in Nike's Move to Zero initiative, the brand's initiative to drastically reduce and ultimately eliminate carbon emissions and waste
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"Every adjustment made during the production of the Air Zoom Alphafly Next Nature brings us closer to our goal of diverting 100 percent of waste from landfill back to our expansion," Nike said in a press release.
supply chain
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” The brand will soon roll out the sustainable production innovations used to make its latest eco-friendly sneakers to its entire running line
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