The Swiss outdoor company debuts ‘CloudPrime,’ a running shoe made from carbon pulled out of the air.
All shoes are made from carbon. But making shoes out of carbon emissions is unheard of. At least, it was until On announced its new CloudPrime running shoe. Made from CleanCloud, an EVA foam using carbon emissions as raw material, the CloudPrime is a pinnacle of sustainable footwear design, according to On.
Taking carbon pollution out of the air and turning it into a midsole might sound like science fiction. But it’s all part of On’s vision. It aims to create products that aren’t just fossil fuel-free, but that also contribute to a fully circular carbon economy.
To develop a running shoe with a carbon-neutral footprint, On partnered with LanzaTech, Borealis, and Technip Energies. All three companies are major players in biochemicals, process, and material innovation.
On CloudPrime: Carbon-Neutral Shoe
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LanzaTech’s process uses genetic engineering, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and mechanical and chemical engineering to suck carbon monoxide, emitted from industrial polluters, out of the air.
Fermentation transforms the gas into ethanol, which is then dehydrated by Technip Energies, creating ethylene. Borealis polymerizes the ethylene, creating the EVA plastic pellets.
From there, On turns that into the midsole of its CloudPrime running shoe.
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