Cole Haan this week debuted the brand’s first-ever sustainable shoe—a performance-lifestyle shoe dubbed the Generation Zerøgrand II with FlowerFoam, an outsole made with 25 percent (or more) dandelion rubber. Yes, that’s right: a rubber made of pretty little dandelions!
It’s not just the flora that makes Cole Haan’s Generation Zerøgrand II shoes more sustainable—the footwear also incorporates materials such as vegan microfiber suede comprising 21 percent recycled content, and reconstituted felt that’s mad from 85 percent recycled plastic bottles. Even the laces are sustainably-made—from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles.
“This is a significant step for the Cole Haan brand after setting the pace for innovation within our space for the past several years,” said Cole Haan Chief Creative Officer Scott Patt in a statement. “With FlowerFoam technology and our charter to create products with more naturally derived and recycled components, we are expanding our Natural Design philosophy to marry our beautiful, versatile products with the sustainability requirements our consumers have come to expect.”
The company has made the commitment that, looking ahead, all Cole Haan sustainable products will ‘include a minimum of 25 percent naturally derived or recycled content by weight.’
