German sports equipment maker Adidas has come up with new "environment-friendly" shoes. Made from biodegradable lightweight material dubbed "Biosteel", these shoes can decompose in 36 hours.
According to Business Insider, Biosteel is a biodegradable product developed by the biotech company AMSilk. It is reportedly made using the proteins that spiders use to make their silk. The shoes, dubbed the "Adidas Futurecraft Biofabric", were unveiled at the Biofabricate fabrics conference in late 2016.
Adidas claims that the biodegradable material that the Biosteel shoes are made of is 15 percent lighter than conventional synthetic fibers. However, the soles of the Adidas Futurecraft Biofabric shoes are made from the same TPU plastic foam that is used to make the "Ultraboost" shoes. Therefore, though the upper part of the shoes can be degraded using an enzyme, the lower portion will remain intact.
According to Men's Health, the Adidas Biosteel shoes come with at least 2 years of rigorous wear and tear. Because of this robust nature of the material, the shoes can handle rainy days and puddle jumps without putting any extra strain on the user's feet. Adidas claims that the biodegradable shoes will give the users 23 percent smoother transition while transferring potential energy into kinetic. The Futurecraft Biofabric shoes are also said to give 10 percent more cushioning and are 30 percent more responsive while doing activities.
The fabric Biosteel has been made from non-allergenic, vegan material. It includes natural carbon and bacteria, which helps it to degrade when in contact with the enzyme solution. The biodegradable Adidas Biosteel shoes have been made using Adidas' patented "Boost" technology. The Biofabric design makes the shoes lighter than other running shoes.
The lighter design, the breathable fabric that makes up the upper portion and the smoother running capability ensures that the Adidas Futurecraft Biofabric will give its users a top-notch training experience. These biodegradable shoes are just a prototype right now and it is expected to go on sale by late 2017. The price of the Adidas Biosteel shoes has not yet been disclosed by Adidas.
