Eco-friendly running shoes – sports industry goes green.

For the past two years specialty running manufacturer Brooks has been utilizing production methods that reduce fabrication waste, effectively reducing the amount of materials needed to make a running shoe.  Now, Brooks is taking this socially conscious practice one step further to reduce landfill waste.  With the advent of BioMoGo material Brooks hopes to reduce landfill waste over the next 20 years by nearly 30 million tons.

 

In July, Brooks will unveil the first-ever biodegradable running shoe midsole: BioMoGo. Brooks claims that BioMoGo will have the same cushioning and ride of their long-lasting Mogo EVA midsole material with the environmentally sustainable benefit that BioMoGo will decompose in a landfill in 20 years compared to the 1,000 years or more it takes EVA to breakdown.

 

If you’re thinking that the 300-500 miles it takes you to destroy a pair of shoes is too short already, don’t worry – Brooks says that three critical elements need to be present simultaneously in order to begin decomposition.  Unless you do your training buried deep beneath a pile of landfill waste your shoes will see a full life.

 

Brooks will debut BioMoGo in their flagship shoe, the Trance 8, being released in July.  The Trance has long been a popular high-end stability trainer featuring moderate support and top-shelf cushioning.  All Brooks running shoes currently featuring Mogo midsoles will be made with BioMoGo by the end of 2009.

 

For more information on Brooks and their environmentally friendly practices checkout: http://www.brooksrunning.com/About+Brooks/Green+Room