Adidas’ futurecraft has dedicated the past years to develop innovative products from a sustainable point of view. Their porftolio includes sneakers made from Up-Cycled OceanPlastics and “Tailored Fibre” Shoes that can be modified to the individual’s specific and custom requirements. The latest addition is the world’s first performance shoe made using biosteel® fiber — a replication of natural silk.

Developed in partnership with German Biotech Company AMSilk — the first producer of nature-based spider silk fibers — the Adidas “futurecraft biofabric” prototype shoe features an upper made from 100% biosteel® fiber, a nature-based and completely biodegradable high-performance fiber. The material is ideal for sports performance as it is 15% lighter in weight than conventional synthetic fibers as well as having the potential to be the strongest fully natural material available. Continuing Adidas’ journey of sustainable innovation, the biosteel® fiber is 100% biodegradable in a fully natural process.

“In a year of ground-breaking innovations from Adidas, the announcement of our partnership with AMSilk — and the unveiling of the Adidas futurecraft biofabric shoe — is another step in our commitment to redefining the sports industry,” comments James Carnes, vice president of strategy creations at Adidas. “This concept represents premium innovation. By using biosteel® fiber in our products, we have achieved an unrivaled level of sustainability. We are moving beyond closed loop and into an infinite loop – or even no loop at all. This is a pioneering stride forward beyond sustainability into a new territory of bionic innovation.”

Design: Adidas

http://www.designboom.com/technology/adidas-futurecraft-biodegradable-biosteel-sneakers-11-21-2016/