Running sustainably

_{Saxapahaw, NC}

The running industry is a major contributor to the climate crisis. The fashion industry in general is responsible for an estimated 2-10% of total global carbon emissions, and performance apparel and athletic shoes in particular rely heavily on synthetic materials made from petrochemicals that are detrimental to extract and manufacture, the eventual decomposition of which leads to microplastics in our waterways and food supplies. An MIT study found that a typical pair of running shoes generates 30 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to keeping a 100-watt light bulb on for one weekend. With the average runner replacing their shoes every six months, plus all that apparel we toss after one too many heavy sweat sessions, the impact is substantial.

Thankfully many top athletic brands are finally taking action. Here’s how some of our vendor partners are working to mitigate the industry’s harm.

Brooks Running, which committed in 2020 to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, made some strides toward that goal by making the latest iteration of their best-selling running shoe, the Ghost 14, carbon-neutral. This is partly achieved through the use of recycled materials, low impact dyeing processes, and factories that use renewable energy. To offset for the emissions they have not yet reduced, Brooks engages in projects that avoid, remove, or reduce carbon from the atmosphere through actions like renewable energy investments, reduction of our reliance on fossil fuel energy, new forest growth, and land use change. 

Mizuno is similarly rolling out sustainable changes as its popular shoes update. The recently released Wave Inspire 18, while not quite carbon-neutral, is a big improvement on previous models thanks to the use of a bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) compound in the midsole. Traditional TPU foams (what most running shoe cushion is made of) are derived from petroleum or natural gas, while Mizuno’s bio-based plastic is made from renewable materials. Parts of the upper and the laces are made with recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

On the apparel front, one brand leading the pack is Janji, whose stated goal is "to create the highest-performing, longest lasting and most dependable running gear that requires less washing, minimizes maintenance and reduces waste." Janji addresses ways in which improvements can be made at all stages of a garment’s lifecycle, from fabric sourcing and manufacture to disposal. They are transitioning away from nonbiodegradable “virgin” synthetics to recycled materials or renewable sources like organic cotton and other natural fibers; and their pieces are more durable and less susceptible to odor (yes, even if you sweat a lot!) so your clothes last longer with less water wasted on washing.

Industry-wide, there are advocacy initiatives to encourage adoption of eco-friendly practices from the individual store level up to manufacturing and shipping by big brands. The nascent Low Impact Alliance intends to bring together brands and retailers like Fleet Feet to “promote transparency and ecological responsibility within the running industry by educating, advocating, and inspiring action.”

There is obviously still so much work to do. The same MIT study mentioned above found that about two-thirds of a footwear’s carbon emissions come from the manufacturing stage, meaning that simply replacing the materials used is not enough to make a significant dent in emissions. What good are recycled shoelaces if they’re made in a coal-powered factory? But we can hold cautiously to the hope that these changes and others indicate a long-term shift toward sustainability.