Biodegradable Shoes Offer a Greener Future

Quick Smiles:

• A new footwear design uses bacteria-grown materials and leaves no harmful footprint.
• The O° shoe is fully biodegradable, made entirely from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).
• The process requires no petrochemicals or synthetic glues and uses only natural pigments.

The OXMAN design lab has introduced the O° shoe, a fully biodegradable shoe built completely from PHAs, organic materials produced by bacteria. These bacteria use carbon dioxide, methane, or food waste, making PHAs a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics.

The shoe combines a knitted PHA yarn base with outer layers that are 3D printed, and the company uses only pigments derived from bacteria as dyes. No synthetic glues or petrochemicals are involved in the process, greatly reducing the product’s environmental impact.

“The technology seeks to minimize harm in its conception and nourish the environment in its afterlife,” said Neri Oxman, CEO and founder of Oxman.

The team is now looking for partners and investors to help scale production and bring these innovative shoes – and future textiles – to the market.

Stories like this remind us that every positive step helps create a kinder, more sustainable world. Stay tuned for more uplifting updates that celebrate progress and hope.

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