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Allbirds debuts new sneaker using 100% plastic-free Plant Leather

Allbirds has added a new material to its line-up of natural materials – Plant Leather. The new material is being showcased in its new Plant Pacer sneaker

Feb 10, 2023

Plant Leather is 100% plastic-free, 100% vegan, and only contains natural materials like rubber, plant oils, and agricultural by-products, such as rice hulls and citrus peels.

Allbirds says Plant Leather helps unlock a new category for the brand, allowing it to step further into the lifestyle footwear category.

Allbirds says its new Plant Pacer shoe offers a modern twist and sustainable push on the classic court sneaker.

The US-based company, co-founded by Kiwi entrepreneur Tim Brown, has added new material to its line-up of super natural materials – Plant Leather. The new material is being showcased in its new Plant Pacer sneaker.

Allbirds says that Plant Leather, created in partnership with NFW, is a material first in footwear: a sustainable alternative leather.

Unlike other leather-like materials, the manufacturer says Plant Leather is 100% plastic-free, 100% vegan, and only contains natural materials like rubber, plant oils, and agricultural by-products, such as rice hulls and citrus peels.

Allbirds says Plant Leather unlocks a new category for the label, allowing it to step further into the lifestyle footwear category.

“For way too long, fashion companies have relied on dirty synthetics and unsustainable leather, putting established ways of doing things and costs before the environment. We wanted to put an end to that, which led us to create the Plant Pacer,” said Allbirds co-founder and co-CEO, Tim Brown.

“Through the innovative use of natural materials, like Plant Leather and others, we’re going to continue stretching the limits of sustainable footwear.”

The Plant Pacer’s Plant Leather upper has a carbon footprint that is 88% lower than traditional bovine leathers and 75% lower than synthetic “pleather” alternatives on the market. The total carbon footprint of the Plant Pacer is 8.24 kg CO2e, which Allbirds offsets.

The shoe’s design was inspired by the shapes and curves of the natural world, the silhouette includes an expressive wavy midsole, clean and refined detailing, a unique tread pattern, and classic cup sole stitch. The Pacer, which also comes in a canvas made with organic cotton, kicks off Allbirds’s expansion into lifestyle silhouettes and represents a new and more contemporary line-up of footwear.

These products will continue rolling out in the years to come.

“The Pacer represents the next generation of our brand, contributing to a community of consciously-minded leaders who can wear their values on their feet as a wardrobe staple,” said Allbirds VP of Product Design, Ashley Comeaux.

“Our customers aren’t one dimensional, and we want our designs to reflect their unique style, and desire for depth and versatility in their closet.''

In recent years, Allbirds has partnered with style icons like Jeff Staple and Rosie Assoulin, developed an ultra-low carbon footprint shoe with industry peer Adidas, selectively expanded third-party distribution with style-focused retail partners like Nordstrom and Selfridges, and invested in innovative material partners like NFW - all in an effort to demonstrate that sustainability and style aren’t mutually exclusive.