Sustainable running products (shoes, apparel, etc) are the next big thing in the Run Industry.
If not then they should be.
Running creates a lot of waste, much is not recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable. Some companies have started to become more environmentally friendly, but friendly isn’t quite enough.
Sustainable comes in many different forms. It could be using biodegradable products, recycled materials, or even just making better quality that lasts longer. It doesn’t matter if you have completed 30 marathons or just started running this week, choosing options that are good for the environment will be good for you too.
What's Ahead
Sustainable Running Products
Biodegradable Products
Biodegradable is the best goal for any product being made. A great sustainable running product will be one you just throw away and it takes care of itself.
But most running shoes, apparel, and other products are not made to be sustainable. Most running shoes will take 1000 years or more to break down in a landfill. With 50 million runners in the US using 3 pairs a year (just for the sake of argument) That would be 150 million pairs of shoes alone in our landfills.
That is a forking ton of shoes. Actually it’s about 37,500 tons (75 million pounds) of shoes. For the most part those aren’t going anywhere for the next Millenium or so. We need more sustainable running shoe and apparel options.
Foams
There has been some improvements to biodegradable foams. Brooks Running has been using a foam, they call BioMoGo, in a lot of their shoes. This foam can actually break down in 30 years inside a landfill. 30 years is still a long time, but it isn’t 1000, is it?
Other companies have been experimenting with castor bean oil and other forms of Polyurethane (PU) foams. These foams can also be biodegradable, but not all PU foams are the same.
Fabrics
While many of the new foams are around the same cost as the non-biodegradable foams, apparel is a bit different. The garment industry in general is geared towards fast fashion, low prices, and cheap materials.
Biodegradable fabrics are not cheap. You will not find these at your local TJ Maxx or whatever. You will have to pay through the nose a bit. But, while you keep replacing those cheap shirts and shorts from the discount store, your nice biodegradable apparel will still be working well and going strong. You will save money in the long run.
Look for products made from Merino wool, Bamboo, and Lyocell. Lyocell is derived from wood pulp, cool huh? The cool thing about these natural fibers is that they are all moisture wicking, thermo regulating and anti micro-bacterial. Meaning they will keep you dry, cool or warm (whichever you want,) and smelling at least decent.
Cotton is a great natural and biodegradable fabric for lots of stuff. But not running. Cotton holds too much moisture and can cause a lot of chafing.
Recycled Products
I am all for recycled materials, can’t get enough. However, it is important to remember that most products made from recycled materials are difficult to recycle again. To be a sustainable running product (either shoe or apparel) you will have to make sure they get recycled.
Foams
EVA foam is becoming a popular recycled foam in running shoes. It used to be the primary shoe foam in all running shoes, until PEBA and other softer, more responsive foams were created.
Recycled EVA is making its way back into shoes as a component to the outsole. Many are pairing it with the lighter and faster foams to give runners softness and durability. Which is pretty awesome.
The problem is that not all foams are recyclable. And there is a lot of different ones out there. You know how hard it is to recycle plastic, even with that number system on there? It’s the same for running shoes.
The best you can hope for after you have maxed out your shoes is to donate them for someone else to use, or ground into a material for a running track. But, they will not become another pair of shoes again.
Fabrics
There are a lot of recycled fabrics out there and some are great for running. Recycled polyester is popular. For us older folks this isn’t the polyester of the 70’s or 80’s. This is soft, lightweight, breathable and moisture wicking. It’s pretty great.
Much of it is made from recycling old polyester products, but also water bottles. Many plastic containers could become your next running garment. These are used in shoes as laces, panels, and inserts.
Another is recycled Polyamide, which is basically nylon, made from old fishing nets and other products. It has many of the same qualities as recycled polyester, you just see it a little less due to availability. I mean there are way more water bottles out there than fishing nets.
What to Do?
Well, honestly, I don’t know. We can see that there are products out there that can reduce our landfill use, plus carbon footprint, and save the planet. But there isn’t many of them. Most running products are not sustainable. I’m sorry, let me rephrase that, a VAST MAJORITY of running products are not sustainable.
You can buy all the right things, but because there are still so many unsustainable products out there it will be but a drop in the running bucket.
You have to ask yourself one thing.
Do you want to give up?
If you do, no big deal. We can part ways now. If you don’t want to give up, if you believe it’s worth it then buy the most sustainable products you can. You don’t have to be perfect, not everyone can afford to buy five $80 shirts. I can’t. But buy one now, or next week. Then buy another next month. Ask for it as a birthday present, hell I don’t care if you blackmail someone to buy it for you. (Well, actually I do. Blackmail is a crime, don’t go to jail.)
Wear your shoes and apparel until you can’t anymore. I’m not saying you need to wear shoes until they are uncomfortable or cause an injury. Don’t do that. But wear them as long as you feel good in them, then use them for yard work or walking around on rainy days. Then donate or recycle them. Many local running stores will work with companies to recycle your shoes, it’s great, use it.
Be conscious of what you are buying and know what will happen when you are done using it. That can be as simple as knowing Whether you will recycle it or donate it.
Is There Sustainable Running Products?
Yes there is. But it is up to you to find them. I could list some off here, but there is always new ones coming out and old ones being discontinued. You have to ask for them, you need to talk about them, we need to keep the pressure on the manufacturers and retailers to produce and sell more options.
Because if there is no interest companies will not make them. We all know that. Write about it on social media, tell your running group, mention it to your local running store. When more of us do that, there will be more sustainable running products.