Welcome sports innovators to the future of sport.

Let’s talk about shoes and our interaction with the climate. Shoes can make a big difference, and three brands are looking into how we work with the environment going forward.

FUTURE STAR

Allbirds: M0.0NSHOT

M0.0NSHOT is the culmination of years of work to reduce carbon across our business and products since day one.

In 2018, we created carbon-negative SweetFoam®, which informed the new foam used in M0.0NSHOT. Then, in 2020, became the first fashion brand to label 100% of our products with carbon footprints. One year later, our partnership with adidas created a 2.94 kg CO₂e shoe, the lowest carbon footprint in the world at that time.

So, what was our natural next step? Shooting for the moon with a net zero carbon shoe, of course.

Learn more here 👈🧠👀

GOT POTENTIAL

Rewild the Run

Kiki Grammatopoulos of London University Central Saint Martins created an over-mold for shoes that interacts with nature to spread seeds across the land.

The chunky appearance and treads of the outsole are a nod to the bison’s hoofs and their role in promoting the movement of other species in city environments. Grammatopoulos’ rewilding footwear encapsulates bison’s remarkable role and serves as a reminder of the symbiotic relationship between keystone species and their environment.

Learn more here 👈🧠👀

ON THE BENCH

Cub Cadet

Cub Cadet, a Stanley Black & Decker owned brand known for outdoor power equipment, is getting into the sneaker game.

According to the company, it will drop a limited-edition release of the “ultimate lawn mowing shoes” later this month. Called “The Ultimas,” the shoe’s design is inspired by Cub Cadet’s Ultima Series zero-turn riding lawn mower.

The style features a water-resistant upper and is grass-stain proof. Further elements of the sneaker include a lace-less “EZ-On” closure, LED light-up tongue and a step-out heel frame.

Erin Floto, brand manager at Cub Cadet, said in a statement that footwear is “usually an afterthought” when it comes to the lawn mowing experience. “We are helping to revolutionize the way we care for our lawns with the introduction of Ultimas by turning those worn-out, grass-stained pairs of shoes into another lawn care must-have that our Cub Cadet customers can show pride in,” Floto said.

Learn more here 👈🧠👀

What do your team-mates think? 👨🏼👩🏾‍🦱👨🏻‍🦳👳🏿‍♂️👨🏾‍🦱

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COACH CORNER

Climate change idea x Shoes.

Great idea! You have a natural situation that occurs millions of times an minute across the world which could help save our planet.

We can tackle it like allbirds where we try to extract or utilise as little energy / resources from the planet. Great and where we are today.

Or you can tackle it like Kiki Grammatopoulos where you use the footwear to give back to the land.

We think the latter is the future. Kiki has unlocked a plethora of ideas that could change our future. Imagine footwear that doesn’t trample grass but let’s it spring back after we walk on it. Imagine a spray of natural fertiliser that every conscious golfer in the country used before going out to play. Great business idea? No! Great initiative - yes? Sometimes we have to take the plunge and create a movement that will educate an industry.

Cub Cadet have got it wrong. The features are very human based. Coatings to prevent grass-stain (why not enhance grass staining on the shoe for an element of pride that you tend to your garden), meaning you don’t have to use the environment to create a coating. Does the tread help the earth or harm it? We don’t know, we can’t find any mention of designs that “care for your lawn” which is the essence of the brand. Unfortunately, for us, they have missed a trick.

Learn more about us

Thanks for your support!!!! 🙌💕

Dr Bryan & Peter

Kitradar Ltd nor its employees advocate the use of any products on this email. Please do your own research and consult a relevant professional and/or physician before consuming or using any products listed

None of the content is sponsored, we simply love the work they do and think it will spark a little bit of inspiration over your coffee break. If something is sponsored in the future we will let you know!

PLAYBOOK

• FUTURE STAR - Start-ups or innovators knocking it out of the park

• GOT POTENTIAL - Good idea. Just needs few improvements to make it to the big leagues

• ON THE BENCH - Back to the drawing board

• COACH CORNER - Our views based on 20 years at the cutting edge of sport