WELLINGTON, New Zealand 1 May, 2023 – YY Nation, a sustainable shoe brand founded in New Zealand, launch the Plant Powered collection on EARTH DAY– vegan sneakers made from Bamboo & Cactus. This Bamboo + Cactus sneaker with plant lining is one of the world’s lowest carbon footprint sneaker’s, made using sustainable materials and processing to produce truly environmentally friendly footwear. Following three years of intensive research and development, YY Nation’s Nimbo shoe, made from plant-based materials including bamboo and Sugarcane, has a small carbon footprint of 5.45kg CO2e (ISO 14067 Certified), which has three times fewer carbon emissions than conventional sneakers. Further YY Nation shoes are Zero Carbon Certified[1]. The carbon footprint of YY Nation shoes are independently certified by thinkstep-anz[2] and verified by Ekos™[3].
“We’re on a journey to make the world’s most sustainable shoes,” said YY Nation Founding Director Jeremy Bank. “Our first collection included the World’s lowest carbon footprint sneaker, but our good was not good enough. We said these would be the worst shoes we’ll ever make in terms of carbon footprint, and we have continued to innovate and make improvements. It feels great to be making a difference, we just want to keep doing better. With today’s launch, YY Nation is committing to reaching a carbon negative future that combines rigorous sustainability standards with incredible design and comfort.”
Not only are YY Nations shoes some of the lowest carbon footprint sneakers in the industry, they’re also stylish, incredibly comfortable and durable.
Different by design
The latest designs are made from a combination of carefully selected sustainable materials being bamboo, cactus leather, algae, sugarcane, and recycled materials, with elements of YY Nation shoe being designed to be reused and repurposed to minimize waste, with a long-term goal of being 100% sustainable.
Materials include:
- Woven bamboo/nylon mesh The woven 70% bamboo/30% nylon mesh upper resists moisture to keep feet cool and dry through any weather conditions, and has natural antibacterial properties. The bamboo is grown in ethical, OEKO-TEK® certified and sustainable forests, and the nylon thread is made from recycled plastic. While our Bamboo upper material is super soft and lightweight, it is also incredibly strong by using special patented spinning technology.
- Cactus plant Leather: formed using the natural materials extracted from shaving the cactus plant nopales reduced the use of harmful chemicals and petrochemicals that are used in conventional leather and plastic based materials. Our cactus leather was developed as a sustainable vegan alternative to mass produced animal leather.
- Sugarcane: When pressed, the liquid is extracted from sugarcane is turned into bioethanol that becomes the base for our soft, durable, and flexible white soles, replacing harmful oil-based petrochemicals. YY Nation sugarcane soles are considered carbon negative, making your shoes not only light to wear but also light on the planet.
- Algae: Algaeis the fastest growing plant on Earth. In recent years, there’s been an uncontrollable rise in algae growth due to an increase in human activity, leading to the runoff of fertilizers that choke our waterways. By removing algae that is used in YY Nation soles, each shoe helps clean waterways and purify the air. With every sole, YY Nation clears 24 liters of water and cleans 49 cubic feet of air.
“Every component of the Bamboo Footwear Collection, from the soles, laces to the packaging, is made with sustainable, natural or waste material, and certified bamboo. The laces are made from post-consumer waste recycled plastics and the outsoles feature either sugarcane or algae combined with recycled rubber – a combination that can withstand any environment. YY Nation Bamboo shoes retail from $188 to $188, available in whole sizes ranging from men’s sizes 4 – 14 and women’s sizes 6 – 13.
The Plant Powered Collection includes:
- The Cirro: This standard lace-up shoe is a must-have for everyday adventures. Available in versatile and classic colors, from the playful Coral to traditional White and Black, the Cirro is now available in soft and lightweight bamboo in additional to the original Merino wool line.
- The Nimbo: A slip-on shoe featuring a sleek and functional design perfect for everyday casual wear. The Nimbo is available in classic Black White and Coral
The YY Nation Legacy Footwear Collection is sold at www.yynation.com.
Plant Powered giving power – choose the impact, giving back.
When buying plant powered sneakers, YY Nation provides customers with one of four impacts to choose from that YY Nation supports. This includes choosing between a ‘care’ cause such as giving shoes to Children in need, a ‘grow’ cause focused on reforestation, a ‘clean’ cause helping clean up our oceans, or a ‘purify’ cause like providing clean drinking water. We see YY Nation customers as being a force for good, part of the Nation of givers. By customers selecting a cause, they join us to be part of a brighter future.
About YY Nation
YY Nation is rooted in a desire to preserve the natural beauty of the environment and aims to help restore and protect the planet for all to enjoy. Based in New Zealand, YY Nation is committed to becoming a genuinely circular brand, conscious of its environmental impact during every stage of the manufacturing process. All elements of YY Nation shoe are designed to minimize waste, from sourcing to disposal, using credible third-party certified[4] materials. For its unique innovations and efforts YY Nation has been receiving international recognition winning several global awards including the prestigious Los Angeles based ‘Global Footwear Awards’ as global category winner for sustainable materials, the ‘Circle Awards’ and is now one of 3 finalist in the London based ‘Positive Luxury Awards’. For more information, visit www.yynation.com and join the movement by following @yynationofficial on social media.
[1] Ekos™ Zero Carbon Certified requires that any CO2 released into the atmosphere in the manufacturing process is balanced by an equivalent amount being removed
[2] thinkstep-anz Certified Carbon Footprint report, ISO 14067 standard
[3] Ekos™ a carbon trading social enterprise
[4] • Zero Carbon product certified by Ekos™ • thinkstep-anz Certified Carbon Footprint report, ISO 14067 standard • Global Recycled Standard certified ACEPORA Ecoyarn and ECOEVER 100% recycled plastic laces • Responsible Wool Standard (RSW) certified Merino Wool • OEKO-TEX® certified Bamboo •
