American footwear brand Ugg just released a new capsule collection made out of plant-based materials.
Ugg, alongside their parent company Deckers Brands, made clear of their commitment to the environment with the launch of their sustainability platform Feel Good back in October 2020. They have even gone so far as to align their goals with those set out in the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement. Now, consumers get to see their environmental goals in action with the new Plant Power capsule collection.
Ugg’s Plant Power collection features sustainable men’s and women’s versions of some of the brand’s most popular and iconic shoe styles. The limited-edition line was manufactured with biodegradable materials that reduce carbon emissions.
Two of the standout styles from the collection are the Fluff Sugar Platform and the Fluff Sugar Sandals, both part of Ugg’s extremely popular Fluff sandal series. To recreate both of these shoes, the traditional petroleum soles were swapped out for soles made of SugarSole, a foam derived from renewable sugarcane. Ugg claims that sugarcane is fast growing and requires minimal watering, making it a sustainable crop in and of itself. The crop also absorbs 1.6 pounds of CO2 for every pound of ethylene that is replaced (ethylene is a widely used petroleum-based material in shoe soles). Further, the colourful “fluff” on top of the shoes is made out of Tencel Lyocell, which is sourced exclusively from responsibly-harvested trees in Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests.
The third style featured in the new plant-based Ugg collection is the Neumel Natural, an eco-friendly version of their best-selling Neumel chukka. This version features a Tencel Lyocell lining and an upper made out of 55% cotton and 45% hemp. The decision to choose hemp was due to the fact that for every pound of hemp fibre produced, the hemp plant absorbs 3.58 pounds of CO2 from the atmosphere. Further, the Neumel Naturals have a sole derived from Lactae Hevea latex harvested from the Hevea rubber tree, ensuring no forests were cut down in the production process. In addition, Ugg’s new and improved Neumel Natural style was handcrafted and made in a small batch.
Ugg has made clear that the release of Plant Power is just the beginning. They have given themselves the target of increasing their use of recycled, repurposed, plant-based, and bio-based materials by 35% between now and 2027.
The limited-edition Plant Power capsule collection is available on ugg.com, as well as in Ugg stores around the world and via their many retail partners. Prices range from $110 to $140 USD.
All images in this article are courtesy of Ugg.
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