For more info about the materials we use in our products, please check out the Our Materials page!

Post-consumer plastic destined for a landfill, or worse (improper disposal), is given a new life. Polyester, basically plastic thread, is longer lasting than cotton and was developed specifically because it could handle more wear and tear. This is why approximately 50% of the world's clothing is made from polyester. Recycled post-consumer plastic thread is almost the same as virgin polyester in terms of quality, but its production requires 59 percent less energy compared to virgin polyester, according to a 2017 study by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment. Cotton also takes an enormous amount of water to grow. If we were to use cotton as opposed to recycled-post consumer plastic thread, 160 gallons of water would be needed for the cotton in a single pair of sneakers. That's a lot of water savings!

First, our post-consumer recycled plastic thread is Global Recycle Standard (GRS) certified to ensure that our fabric isn’t causing human or ecological harm, and we partner with the Better Cotton Initiative for sourcing materials that are the most sustainable option so we can feel good about making products that reflect our values and that our customers can feel good about purchasing. Below is a summary of what micro-plastics are, why they have some people worried, and why we confidently stand behind our material selection decisions.

Micro-plastics are tiny fibers less than 5 millimeters in length, with diameters measured in micrometers (one-thousandth of a millimeter).

Approximately 50 percent of the world’s clothing is made of polyester and Greenpeace forecasts this percentage to nearly double by 2030. Polyester is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a derivative of crude oil, and the most common type of plastic in the world. When you wash your clothing, fibers break loose and can get into the water stream. Naper and Thompson found that for an average wash load of 6 kg, over 700,000 fibres could be released per wash. Brown et. al. from the School of Biology and Environmental Sciences found that 1,900 fibers could be released from a single synthetic garment in a wash. Sustainability advocates worry that micro-plastic fibers are particularly hard to filter and the release of them in a wash can be extremely detrimental because micro-plastics can be toxic to wildlife. While some people debate this point, it doesn't seem far fetched- it isn't a good idea to eat plastic! Some sustainability advocates say the solution is for everyone to be wearing all organic cotton or wool clothes. Those options are good for apparel but don't come without their own issues, a big one being the enormous water strain. For instance, it takes more than 2,500 liters of water to grow the cotton for just one t-shirt and over 500,000 liters of water to produce a kilogram of wool, not to mention the methane emissions from sheep, which is a legitimate issue in New Zealand.

Recycled post-consumer plastic is almost the same as virgin polyester in terms of quality, but its production requires 59 percent less energy compared to virgin polyester, according to a 2017 study by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment. Because polyester is made from crude oil, using recycled post-consumer plastic also reduces the environmental damage associated with the extraction of crude oil and natural gas from the Earth needed to make polyester. Using recycled post-consumer plastic also means there is less plastic in our landfills and oceans. Should we reuse post-consumer material or not? For us, it seems like a no-brainer.

The main concern with micro-plastics isn't with production, it is washing plastic-based apparel in the washer, which can then get into our water systems and the ocean.

If you are concerned about micro-plastics, the solution is pretty simple. Clean your Nothing New sneakers with a shoe cleaner or rag and a bit of water, and do not put them in the washer.

Stitch construction may be significantly more expensive than cement construction, but it’s far superior for both your feet and the environment. Stitch construction creates a more flexible and durable bond between the outsole and upper and lessens the harmful byproducts of glue or sulfur emission caused by cemented or vulcanized sneakers.

Comfort is a function of the last, insole, outsole, and construction. The last defines the shape of the shoe and we custom developed our lasts to hug the foot in all of the right places. Our insoles are made in partnership with Ortholite, the leading manufacturer and supplier of open-cell foam insole technologies for the world’s leading footwear brands. Built with our signature recycled post-consumer plastic liner in addition to recycled rubber, recycled foam, and virgin foam for long-lasting, anti-microbial, high performance. Our outsoles were made with a leading manufacturer to balance our environmentally conscious mission with high performance and longevity. The outsole was built to be comfortable with a bit of bounce, while having flexibility and traction in all of the right places. Lastly, stitched construction helps a lot. By having a true stitch construction, the outsole is able to flex more easily with every step you take.

The majority of our post-consumer plastic is collected in Vietnam, Haiti, and Thailand. Our raw material supplier has over 3,600 full-time collectors employed in accordance to the United Nations Global Compact principles, International Labor Organization and other internationally recognized standards. The 'trash' is collected and sent to China where it is re-processed into thread, dyed for color and then woven into canvas.

Yes, our insoles are a removable molded Ortholite insole. If you wish to switch it out for your own footbed, you can easily swap it!

To clean your sneakers, we recommend using our All-Natural Sneaker Cleaner, but any all-purpose shoe care product should clean your Nothing New sneakers well. For the outsole, it can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol. We do not recommend washing any of our sneakers, especially not in the washing machine. We suggest air drying after cleaning or if it gets wet on rainy days.

For more details on how to clean your sneakers, check out our guide here.