Swiss performance brand On is in the midst of something extraordinary – launching a circular, zero-waste running shoe.
They recently unveiled Cyclon, a fully recyclable shoe engineered out of castor beans.
In recent years, as On began thinking more about sustainability and the environment, they started to consider the possibility of creating a 100% recyclable running shoe that also offered elite performance. The brand sought to disrupt the traditional fashion cycle of “make, use, dispose,” which leads to endless waste each year.
This is where Cyclon comes in. Believe it or not, On’s Cyclon shoe is primarily constructed out of castor beans. Using an advanced synthesis process, the brand was able to develop a high-performance, bio-based polymer out of castor beans. This new polymer is referred to as PA11, and it has several incredibly useful properties in the world of footwear. These include that the material is tough and durable, but also flexible and lightweight. Best of all, the castor bean-based PA11 is entirely recyclable.
Cyclon has partnered with Arkema to ensure sustainable castor bean sourcing. Arkema adheres to strict sustainable agricultural practices, including only working with certified farmers and creating opportunities to make use of limited land.
While the bulk of the Cyclon shoe is made out of castor beans, the sole was designed from a close relative of the castor bean, called Polyamide 12 or Pebax. Pebax is also 100% recyclable, just like PA11.
Further, Cyclon is only available for purchase via a subscription service. This service is part of On’s circular system, which they refer to as a backloop. Instead of throwing away your pair of worn-out Cyclon shoes, On wants the consumer to send them back. From there, On will recycle the shoes and use them as raw materials to create new products.
In order to make this backloop circular system a reality, On came up with the subscription-based purchasing option. Such an option requires the consumer to return the shoes, guaranteeing that they won’t end up in a landfill.
Overall, On sees sustainability as a key part of the brand’s future. They are currently working to completely eliminate virgin plastics and reach 100% recycled polyester and polyamides in all of their footwear and apparel. By the end of this year, On plans to have every pair of shoes contain more than 50% recycled content, and each clothing item to contain a minimum of 30% recycled content. On has also dedicated themselves to investing in new manufacturing processes, specifically to improve the way they dye their items (a particularly harmful process that can account for up to 30% of a product’s environmental footprint during production).
On’s Cyclon shoes are set to be released sometime in 2021, although a specific date has yet to be announced.
All images in this article are courtesy of On.
